Yeah I also have been looking at the Propel (prefer the press-fit of the SL8, SL8 is likely lighter and less harsh), the S5 (more aero than SL8 but a bit heavier, more proprietary and the same price, maybe 24 S5 will be more expensive), Evo HiMod 2 was likely the next closest but I think the only dealer that carried Cannondale is moving to all Trek (they used to carry Cube and Cervelo too), its $1000 cheaper than the Pro SL8, better hubs but maybe slightly worse rims? Probably would have been fine with the stock saddle on the Supersix (swapping the 155mm Power on my SL8). To get the SuperSix though I would have had to order from a shop outside of the province. and would need to add a power meter, which narrows the price gap. I expect the HiMod 2 in 2024 will be closer to the 11.5k CAD of the SL8 Pro, especially if it has a power meter.
Companies will keep raising prices until consumers finally stop buying.
Cycling shoes are routinely $300-$400. Tires are now ~$100 for many. Nutrition companies are charging $3-4 / serving and recommending you consume 2-3 per hour.
Yes, the sport skews disproportionately to the wealthy, but is just crazy now……but S long as we keep paying for the stuff, they will keep charging us for it.
There was a good term on Nerd Alert this week and I’ve forgotten it. A better word for price gouging. They were talking tire prices too. And you’re right. Those frozen N2 gels are $5 each. Just crazy.
I mean I can’t blame companies for doing it…it is their job to make as much money as possible. So if we are willing to pay what they are asking, that is what a product is worth.
I’m just not playing along……the one thing I know about this industry is that they suck at forecasting, so if you are patient, you can find stuff cheaper eventually. Sure, you may need to cobble some stuff together to make a complete bike, but there is zero reason to spend $14k+ on a new bike, IMO ( other than “want” and convenience).
Yeah, for comparison, my LBS built me an S-Works SL6 in 2018 with full UDI2 and CLX50 wheels for $7500 out the door. Half of todays prices. I just can’t justify it.
I don’t mean that as judgement on others though. I’m happy for the folks who are getting the new ones!
100%…none of my business how others spend their money. Whatever makes them happy….more power to them.
It’s out there. Doubt they’re selling it though.
Also, I know bike prices are crazy in general. But I’m actually surprised there wasn’t really a price increase in the US for most models. SW frameset is still $5,500. The Pro went from $3300 to $3500. I was expecting much worse TBH.
If it was a vastly different, groundbreaking design, I think you could get away with that. With it being very similar to the SL7 with different bars, and also very similar to the bikes their competitors are selling, I don’t think you could get away with much increase.
The Pro version (ultegra or force + powermeter + CL 50 wheels) is also down $500 USD from the SL7
Just looked and they’ve dropped the price on the SL7 expert (UDi2, C38) by $1800 to $6500. Not quite as tempting as the Supersix UDi2 which is $5500. But pretty close. If I knew I could sell the C38 pretty easily for a decent price to get something deeper…and replace the bars with something aero and narrow…
Honestly if this keeps up, the industry will have severe problems in the future, you are pricing out newcomers, since even the entry level has moved up so much. It also doesn’t help the diversity of the sport, which is already bad enough… Can only hope that chinese brands will come up with decent full builds and brands like Decathlon keep up the pricing they have currently at least in europe. I really dislike the argument that the bikes and group sets got so much better, that doesn’t really help the consumer if the entry level Carbon race bike is now 105Di2 for nearly 5000$, yeah it is now electronic and 12spd, but I don’t even have the option to buy it with a mechanical 11spd group set for 3500$ .
For shoes, at least there are really good entry and midrange options out there, I really like my DHB Aeron shoes and they cost my sub 100$. The pricing of Nutrition products is just hilarious for what it actually is…
I really dislike what Specialized did with the SL7 during the pandemic here the comp and Expert were so expensive that even at MSRP you could build up a Bike for considerably cheaper, but the problem was getting components during that time, so they took full advantage…
As for the SL8 I’m interested to see what the Tour testing says, sadly it’s the only somewhat independent Aero Testing that exists, to justify the prices of the non S-works models and Framesets it really needs to be on the level of pure aero bikes and beat stuff like the new Supersix by a decent margin and even then we are talking 3-5 Watts.
This. I just wait til stuff goes on sale when it comes to consumables.
- Thanks to Black Friday sales I pieced together an XO1 group set for under $750.
- Picked up some XC1 shimano mtb shoes for $35.
- Welch’s fruit snacks at Costco are 90 packs for $10 (17g carbs per package). Tub of Red Vines is great too.
It’s already an expensive sport… but it’s all gone to crazy extremes.
685g claimed weight for the S-Works vs 703g for the R5 that came out last year. Presumably the SL8 is appreciably more aero at that lighter weight.
While I appreciate good tech these types of marginal gains are well beyond what matters for my middling performance, but I do think about how they matter to the top pros from the different super teams. Interesting that the 2 biggest budget teams may not have objectively the best equipment.
Man, that front end looks odd based on those pics. I think they can fix that first picture with adjusted spacers to fit that profile better.
The R5 doesn’t seem to perform too well aerodynamically, leaving a lot to be desired.
Hence everyone but Vinge is on the S5, shielding him from the wind, and then when the road is steep enough, he can go.
Additionally, Jumbo Visma is also using SRAM Red AXS, which doesn’t have the greatest ever shifting performance, is a little heavier than Shimano, and also is less efficient (mainly the chain itself, not the cog size).
Apparently, none of this mattered for Vingegaard so far, but they are riding with equipment, that isn’t the out and out fastest.
Then again, there are several Shimano sponsored teams using their faulty power meters, and heavy wheels.
There is probably no team that has all the fastest parts outright, but that’s the one advantage we, the paying and slow folks have, we can get all the fastest gear possible (to whatever end…)
More importantly, what have you ordered yesterday @Aeroiseverything ?
The “GLOSS CARBON / VIAVI MAGANTA GOLD / CHAOS RED PEARL / WHITE” is the bike that Demi Vollering rode in the commercial, or?
Life was easier when the ultimate bike was the Pinarello with kris dagger forks.
By far the best (as in most insightful) article on the bike so far:
I don’t think that will happen. If anything, the opposite.
Top end bikes cease to be bikes…they’re luxury objects of wealth. The POINT of them is to spend a crap ton of money. When this happens…the higher prices attract more customers, not less. No normal person is spending that money for a bike. A millionaire will spend it to to make sure everyone knows they’re a millionaire though.
Agreed…this is the real problem. It’s awfully tough to just get “a bike” now for a reasonable price.
That, 5LB bags of gummy bears, and sour patch kids are my go to for solid on the bike food 