Seeing as Spesh offers the Allez starting around $1200 USD, then Tarmac & Roubaix around mid $2k prices. Giant starts below those prices at around $1k or less for the Contend then heads to a similar price range for carbon TCR and Contends.
Those are generally representative of what I see in other brands for the pure entry-level road bike up to the entry-level carbon race or endurance ranges. You also mention “reasonable price” and that is a loaded phrase since it is largely open to interpretation from a person’s budgetary constraints combined with priorities and preferences.
All that fuzzy stuff aside, the current price range I see in these entry-level bikes seems to jive with inflation for the same bikes I saw roughly 10 years ago that ran around the $700-2000 split for the bikes covered above.
Still…I feel like entry level bikes have risen in price dramatically more than inflation.
My definition has been say a 105 AL frame bike…but I guess 105 isnt exactly entry level anymore. Or never was I suppose.
Shifting my stance a bit now that I’m thinking about it…I’d need to do some bike window shopping to get a more informed opinion…but I’d say companies have jacked prices and are fleecing ‘enthusiast’ level models…say 105/ultegra. You’re probably right true entry level models arent outrageous.
Edit: OK yea I looked it up…cheapest Allez is $1000. A lot…but not outrageous.
Within my roughly 20 year history around road stuff, 105 has been mid-tier and nearly dead center of the Shimano hierarchy. 2 steps clearly above (Dura-Ace & Ultegra) with at least 2 below (Sora, Tiagra).
Sort of a “working persons” race quality group just below Ultegra (and inheriting designs elements over time).
I always thought of 105 as the one to buy and feel like you’re not buying the cheap stuff any more. I know it’s kind of silly, but I was so proud when I would get a 105 full group and not just the RD. 105 felt like “you’ve made it to the good stuff!”
My first “real” road bike was 2003 Trek T1000 with Shimano Sora. It was the bike that helped me fall in love with cycling. Looking back, it was obvious not “nice” bike - but at the time I thought it was the bees knees and it was a huge upgrade from the huffy “mountain bikes” and old steel Schwinn road bikes I was riding at that time. Lots of fun riding it around and being able to explore areas I lived. After 3 years of riding more and more and longer and longer (including racing 2 tri’s on it) I decided I liked the sport enough that I decided to save up and get a carbon bike with ultegra. To me it was exactly what an entry level should be. Cheap, fun, and allowed me to see if cycling was something I wanted to spend time and money on.
Now fast forward 15-20 years later and I don’t even want to know the total amount of money I have sunk into this hobby. Clearly this is like drugs and the Sora alloy bike was the free sample from the dealer to get me hooked
Agree, my current bike ( 19 Cervelo R2 I bought used in 2021) has R7000 rim (the previous owner swapped on a 105 crank so its full 105) is great. If I could have gotten the SL8 in Di2 105, I would have went for that and upgraded the bars and wheels. I expect there eventually will be a Di2 105 SL8 but it will be released later and I’ve been trying to get a Tarmac since before I bought my Cervelo and when I saw the leak finally got the timing right for my dealer to get in touch with the rep and actually secure one for me before all the big Canadian bike shops bought everything up. Canadian Tarmac supply has been seemingly very limited the last few years.
With the Pro, no need to swap wheels, will swap the saddle and maybe next year look at getting a set of 36cm bars for it, if Spec doesn’t release one may go with Enve or Farsports.
My first “real” road bike (not long ago) was a decathlon road bike. I made around 5000km on it (outside) and it was pretty ok for that.
I switched out the tires for contis, tubes, better saddle and changed the stem for a better fit. I should have switched to better wheels somewhen since the radial trueness suffered a bit.
I’d say that putting money in a good set of wheels is more important than a ultegra Di2.
I started with a sora, and then jump to a claris 10S, which I put 30k km without it complained.
I had a Allez with full 105 rim brakes, it was excellent, but there was always a small issue with the gear changes. I couldn’t never get it 100%, there was always 1 cog (down or up) 1mm off. Tried everything since hanger alignment, change cables, etc. Sent to service as I might’ve been my installation the problem, and it kept 1mm (or less) off somewhere. Reading here and there it looks like a common thing with 105.
Now I ride a Giant TCR with Ultegra mechanical and it’s perfect.
Bottom line: 105 above will put you on the road with decent performance, and instead of a expensive groupset, put the difference on a good set of wheels.
You can find a new Tarmac SL6 with Tiagra mechanical for 2300$. And for 200$ and some wrench work, that can become Ultegra mechanical. I would say from a performance standpoint, you can get 99% of any high end bike out there with that. Considering that I paid 850$ for my wife’s hybrid bike, I am not so sure anyone can say that entry level is too expensive for cycling. The prices balloon up really quickly after that though
Anyone notice that besides the front end change on the SL8 that the rear has been adjusted too? The rear wheel appears to be tucked in closer to the seat tube as it was a pretty noticeable gap in the SL7.
I can say with first hand knowledge that the profit margins that those high end nutrition companies have are eye watering. It’s gross.
On topic: For as much of a bike nerd as I am, I just… can’t get mad about the headtube being slightly angled. For some reason I have that out-of-the-know “Looks like a bike to me!” reaction, ha.
I did get to see a non-sworks in the bike shop and it looks great in person. If I hadn’t just bought a Crux, I might have pulled the trigger. . But, gonna hold our for a RTP version.
Came back from a ride yesterday and a couple were walking by my house, the guy said “nice SL7, where did you go?” And after I answered he said “have you seen the SL8?”
I had to go with the Project Black. The color I’d have liked over that would’ve arrived in late October, so I am basically not riding it much this year anymore.
The only one available right away is matte white, which is 90g of penalty. Not happening.
. But, gonna hold our for a RTP version.