The modern day cost of mountain bikes

Vonhelmet said:
If you think shops are making 50% on these parts, you're out of your mind. They have to compete with online retailers, who will frequently sell items at or below the costs that shops can even get the goods wholesale.
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All the bikes I've seen being sold at RRP are the same in shops and online give or take a few £, plus you picked the top end of the range which I'd expect is only on smaller items.

I doubt online retailers are discounting items below what shops get them for wholesale but I'd be happy to be proven wrong. Wholesalers don't sell goods to shops with no margin on them or the shops wouldn't be able to exist.
 
a1ex2001 said:
The number of fatties I see slogging round the peaks on uber expensive road bikes is hilarious they have clearly spent thousands for an ultra light weight bike when they could save much more weight by dropping the burgers!

Look at what you need as opposed to what you want and I bet the cost of a bike is much more reasonable!
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This place is great isn't it, you get people on here ****ging fat people for loafing around doing nothing and now you get a **** on here ****ging fat people for actually getting up and exercising. Who gives a flying one how much any body spends on anything, its their business.
 
The prices are fine as there are, there's such an abundance of manufactures all covering each and every price point that you can set a budget and get plenty of bike for the money. The Bossnut has been linked to already and the offerings from Boardman at that price point are also excellent, there's fierce competition at all parts of the market and this keeps pricing honest.

I started out in March on a £600 HT Boardman, it's served me well but I've surpassed the abilities of the bike and I want to upgrade to take on new terain hard and faster than before. I have the cash to upgrade so I have (most MTB'ers do, it's an industry fed by large disposable incomes) for something I can enjoy and know no matter what I ask of it, it will do it.
 
Bear said:
This place is great isn't it, you get people on here ****ging fat people for loafing around doing nothing and now you get a **** on here ****ging fat people for actually getting up and exercising. Who gives a flying one how much any body spends on anything, its their business.
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Wow there old boy! I didn't **** anyone off for exercising I'd openly encourage anyone of any size or weight to get out the door and get moving what ever form of exercise they choose! I just said I find it amusing when you see a massive fat guy riding a super lightweight bike and clad in lycra when his biggest weight savings and aero improvements would come from not being such a fatty! I've regularly listened to people agonising over tiny weight savings from pedals or shoes yet when you look at them they are carrying an extra 50lbs on there stomachs! Its not about money it's about rational decision making!
 
One More Solo said:
I think manufacturers rather than shops are the ones taking the pee. My perception is that comparable spec bikes have increased in price significantly in the last few years, certainly quicker than inflation. I may of course be wrong but that's how it looks.
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I'd have to agree. The shops are the ones who have to discount to compete which reduces the margins they make on the product, the distributor/brand still get what they want to sell the bikes at day in day out.

I'd point out the GP4000s ii tyre in 23mm size, £25.90 + postage from Acycles. That is cheaper than a shop can buy it before vat!

These big companies buy wholesale from the likes of Shimano and cut out the middle man which would be Madison in the UK.
 
I've heard similar. If anything's going to kill the LBS, it's the distribution model. They've got enough overheads as it is without having to pay a middleman who must be making a killing themselves. I remember buying one product from an LBS and was quoted an RRP of £160, after some haggling they knocked it down to £130 but were making peanuts on it. The same thing was available for £80 online. On that occasion I was OK to pay extra due to the service I received but that was very much the exception rather than the rule.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Wow there old boy! I didn't **** anyone off for exercising I'd openly encourage anyone of any size or weight to get out the door and get moving what ever form of exercise they choose! I just said I find it amusing when you see a massive fat guy riding a super lightweight bike and clad in lycra when his biggest weight savings and aero improvements would come from not being such a fatty! I've regularly listened to people agonising over tiny weight savings from pedals or shoes yet when you look at them they are carrying an extra 50lbs on there stomachs! Its not about money it's about rational decision making!
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If that is the case then I apologise I misread the intention in your post. I totally get what you are saying if that is the case but I doubt it is for most.

I think most overweight people know they are overweight and also know that the biggest contributor to performance is the lump sitting on the bike and that the biggest gains would be to lose the weight. Like most things in life, if people actually get into something as enthusiasts, they like to get the best things they can afford, which is why aspirational products sell so well.

Factor in there also seems to be a huge amount of snobbery associated with cycling then some will no doubt buy fancy kit because of that.

Also another factor could be that, there seems as enthusiasts, a will to spend on your hobby. Hence the idea of the n+1 bikes. If that is the case and people that enjoy cycling look to buy other bikes to fulfill other needs then why bother with a cheaper bike only to want to spend more money buying an intermediate bike, then onto an expensive lightweight one? Why not go and get the decent one to begin with?

It really isn't any different to people that aren't decent drivers buying lightweight drivers cars or super cars.
 
Back in 2000 I picked up an entry level GT Aggressor for £179, equivalent bike today at Wiggle is £209. Only one example but IMHO bikes represent better VFM today than 15 years ago.

I think the problem with the internet is that people have opinions on what you 'need' as a minimum specification but this is rarely the case. When I was less fit I'd get passed by everyone on the trails, now I'm doing a lot of the passing myself and I'm on that same old £179 machine!

It is only now I'm getting frustrated by the bike and really that is all down to the budget Mozo fork. Now I'm looking for another bike and a better fork is a must, I also had issues with my V Brakes in sloppy conditions so the next one must have disc brakes... and the internet tells me these need to be hydraulic. That is why my next bike will be three times the price, not because they are more expensive now.
 
A few years back we were selling Gt Palomar and outposts for around £250-
300. Now we're around £300 for an Orbea Sport 27 or £330 for a Felt Six 95.

So a slight rise in about 4-5 years for a similar spec.

The cycle to work scheme has something to do with it I imagine as people are willing to spend more as they are making a good saving.
 
I've been into mountain biking since last xmas - got myself a £180 bike from Halfords - didn't enjoy it - heavy, full of entry level tat, crap. Bike shaped object. Sold for £150 in Feb 15.

Bought new one for £300 reduced from £400. Components still entry level - but suddenly cycling felt fun - bike was 1.5 kilos lighter, felt like it was on the way to being a what I wanted - I'm also starting to get bitten by the MTB bug at this point - I'm riding twice a week, I'm getting out of bed at 7am Sunday morning to go out and ride, rather than to go downstairs put the grill on for a sausage sarnie and watch an hour of Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.

Started buying MTB magazines around May time. Big mistake. Magazines told me I needed a new bike with aggressive geo etc etc etc.

May sold £300 bike for £290 (go me :D ).

Wanted Saracen Mantra Trail but everyone wanted £800 full RRP - not happening so I notched it down and went for a Mantra Pro - spent £530. Friggin love it.

Ok so all is well except then two weeks ago I spot a Mantra Trail for £680 down from £800 - I email the shop - I can have it for £650 delivered.

I now own a Mantra Pro and a Mantra Trail.

Anyone want to buy a 3 month old Mantra Pro 2015? :p
 
merlin said:
I've been into mountain biking since last xmas - got myself a £180 bike from Halfords - didn't enjoy it - heavy, full of entry level tat, crap. Bike shaped object. Sold for £150 in Feb 15.

Bought new one for £300 reduced from £400. Components still entry level - but suddenly cycling felt fun - bike was 1.5 kilos lighter, felt like it was on the way to being a what I wanted - I'm also starting to get bitten by the MTB bug at this point - I'm riding twice a week, I'm getting out of bed at 7am Sunday morning to go out and ride, rather than to go downstairs put the grill on for a sausage sarnie and watch an hour of Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.

Started buying MTB magazines around May time. Big mistake. Magazines told me I needed a new bike with aggressive geo etc etc etc.

May sold £300 bike for £290 (go me :D ).

Wanted Saracen Mantra Trail but everyone wanted £800 full RRP - not happening so I notched it down and went for a Mantra Pro - spent £530. Friggin love it.

Ok so all is well except then two weeks ago I spot a Mantra Trail for £680 down from £800 - I email the shop - I can have it for £650 delivered.

I now own a Mantra Pro and a Mantra Trail.

Anyone want to buy a 3 month old Mantra Pro 2015? :p
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Sell them both and get something serious for over £1k :D
 
:p

Seriously the Trail is everything I need in a bike - I'd like to get a couple of years out of it before getting tempted with things of a carbon fibre persuasion.
 
lordrobs said:
Completely off topic but how did you find the Calibre 2.2? That is currently high up on my list of possible replacements for the GT.
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Really a heck of a lot of bike for the money - decent fork and Shimano everything. Just be careful about the set up of the bike - Go Outdoors do NOT possess highly skilled bike technicians - you will most likely need to get home and check every nut and bolt and also start adjust gears brakes etc.

26" is the only downside really.

Wait for blue cross sale - £300 in the blue cross sale (you'll need a members card too - but they're only £5 or so).
 
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