I would like to through my own observations into this discussion. I rode PBP this past August and was amazed at the bikes I saw. There were many Europeans on top of the line Treks, Cannondales, Colnagos, Pinarellos and Merckxs with complete Dura Ace or Record gruppos. I was amazed at the number of French on shiny new Giles Berthoud bikes - while this is not a racing bike. It is definitely a $4000+ bike. I saw a few riders on relatively low cost bikes, but most riders I rode with were on $3000+ rides. It appeared to me that most riders were riding the best bikes they could afford. -not much difference between Americans and Europeans in that peleton.
Steve Rice Shelbyville, KY
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