Well, the newest bikes I have are a new Bates and an Arthur Caygill Artisan, both custom ordered new in the last 5 years. But both are very much KOF frames built with classic components. The most "modern" bikes I have are a pair of 1997 Bianchi TSX/UL's, celeste for me and midnight blue for my wife, bought when Bianchi was clearing out these, the last lugged steel frames they ever built. One was from a local Bianchi dealer LBS (no longer in business), the other mail order from Circle Cycle in SF (Do they still exist?). Mine is built with C-Record, hers with circa 1998 Campy Chorus. This Chorus gruppo was ordered new from Bob Lickton and is the most modern components I have ever dealt with. I think the frames were each $400-$500 new, and the Chorus gruppo was around $1000 including wheels custom built by Lickton's. So if you throw it bars, stem, tires, bottles, cages, etc., maybe my wife's Bianchi was all of $1700 brand new. I don't see any new off-the-peg bikes today I would pay more than that for, let alone $23,000. Now, a custom made Sachs or Baylis or Fattic or Weigle or Gordon, etc. frame would be about $1000 more than that entire bike, and that I could see paying, except one is usually talking a year or two or three wait. Just cannot see paying $23,000 or even $10,000 for what is stiil just an off-the-peg bike, not even if you get free Courvoisier, Shiraz and cappucino. I'd rather order a custom Weigle, buy my own bottle of Courvoisier, and pocket $7500 in change.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, West Texas
John Thompson <johndthompson@gmail.com> wrote:
Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> You just reminded me why I hate much of the "modern" bike scene. One
> comforting thought is that I don't think anyone will ever sell a
> $23,000 bike here in a small town in West Texas. Or $2,300. Most
> people here would consider a $230 bike extravagant.
Reminds me of why I haven't gotten a new bike in over 15 years.
Two $10,000 "custom" bikes for someone who barely knows how to ride? That's not "floridly insane" as the author suggests -- that's floridly ostentatious.
--
John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA