Posts
2102
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
Durango, CO
US
Edited Date/Time
8/16/2014 1:54am
I read an interesting piece from Seth Godin recently that applies to the mountain bike industry very well:
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Small differences, looming large
"As we get more technologically advanced, more civilized and more refined, differences get smaller.
The Nikon SLR was in a different universe than the Instamatic. Just about anyone could instantly see the differences between pictures taken with these cameras. Taking pictures for online use with the Sony RX1 and the 80% less Canon pocket camera--not so much.
The rough peasant wine available on your table at a local restaurant was a totally different experience than a vintage Burgundy. Thirty years after that vacation, it's pretty tough (in a blind tasting) to tell the difference between a bottle that costs ten dollars at the local store and one that costs $200...
The speed difference between a Mac IIfx and a Commodore 64 was no contest. One was for professionals, one was a game for kids. Today, there's no dramatic functional difference for most users between the speed of the cheap Android tablet and the Mac Pro.
But of course, for those that care, the difference matters more than ever. For those that care, the premium available to be paid for a better camera, wine or computer is actually far greater than it ever was before.
As the differences get smaller, the purely functional reasons for premium goods fade away, and instead they are purchased for the reason we've always purchased luxury goods: because of how they make us feel, not because of what they actually do. The fur coat is not warmer than the down jacket, it's merely harder to acquire." - Seth Godin
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I think Seth raises a few great points. Is the functional difference between a Shimano Deore disc brake and an XTR, for example, that big for most riders? Now think back to the brakes from 5-10 years ago - does the difference seem as big?
Not long ago pro-level components weren't available to the masses, which I believe is a big part of the reason why the best bikes now cost thousands more. In most cases a buyer with a big budget can build himself a bike on par with what what many of the World's best riders use. This wasn't really possible a few years ago.
While the premium bits will always cost an arm and a leg more, it's great to know that there are still thousands of products that will do the job well for a fraction of the cost. We often get caught up in the latest and greatest components, but it's good to take a reality check sometimes. Has MTB really gotten that much more expensive, or are we just focused on relatively minute details that drive up costs thousands more?
________________________________________
Small differences, looming large
"As we get more technologically advanced, more civilized and more refined, differences get smaller.
The Nikon SLR was in a different universe than the Instamatic. Just about anyone could instantly see the differences between pictures taken with these cameras. Taking pictures for online use with the Sony RX1 and the 80% less Canon pocket camera--not so much.
The rough peasant wine available on your table at a local restaurant was a totally different experience than a vintage Burgundy. Thirty years after that vacation, it's pretty tough (in a blind tasting) to tell the difference between a bottle that costs ten dollars at the local store and one that costs $200...
The speed difference between a Mac IIfx and a Commodore 64 was no contest. One was for professionals, one was a game for kids. Today, there's no dramatic functional difference for most users between the speed of the cheap Android tablet and the Mac Pro.
But of course, for those that care, the difference matters more than ever. For those that care, the premium available to be paid for a better camera, wine or computer is actually far greater than it ever was before.
As the differences get smaller, the purely functional reasons for premium goods fade away, and instead they are purchased for the reason we've always purchased luxury goods: because of how they make us feel, not because of what they actually do. The fur coat is not warmer than the down jacket, it's merely harder to acquire." - Seth Godin
________________________________________
I think Seth raises a few great points. Is the functional difference between a Shimano Deore disc brake and an XTR, for example, that big for most riders? Now think back to the brakes from 5-10 years ago - does the difference seem as big?
Not long ago pro-level components weren't available to the masses, which I believe is a big part of the reason why the best bikes now cost thousands more. In most cases a buyer with a big budget can build himself a bike on par with what what many of the World's best riders use. This wasn't really possible a few years ago.
While the premium bits will always cost an arm and a leg more, it's great to know that there are still thousands of products that will do the job well for a fraction of the cost. We often get caught up in the latest and greatest components, but it's good to take a reality check sometimes. Has MTB really gotten that much more expensive, or are we just focused on relatively minute details that drive up costs thousands more?
If I have to ask- maybe I don't get it?
There are a lot of exotic, high-end car manufactures out there that make vehicles that most of us drool over and very few of us can afford, but car enthusiasts do not speak negatively of the car or company that makes them just because they are out of reach. In fact, I have never read a comment on the release of a new high-end car where someone said "too expensive," but have have many times with mountain bike products. Why is that? Could it be that high-end mountain bike products are technically still obtainable, just more than we want to spend, whereas high-end cars are generally more than what we can spend? Even if that is the case, why say anything? Isn't saying nothing and not buying it a more powerful statement than just saying to the world "too expensive" on a forum?
even though the high end bike prices have soared past the $10k range, it seems like a $2500 bike now will perform a lot better and be more durable than a bike in the same price range 5 or 10 years ago.
Also, when I talk to people who don't participate in the sport and I tell them the value of my bike, they are usually surprised at the "high price." They are used to seeing a bike that costs $200, not $2,000. I think that those of us in the sport have a similar reaction to the price of new, high end bikes. We think, "well I love my bike, I haven't reached it's potential yet, and it only cost me two thousand, five hundred hard earned dollars to get. The latest and greatest can't really be four times better! Maybe a little better, and probably just lighter and fancier, but certainly it doesn't warrant four times the money!" Then those of us who feel like the Internet is our channel to release our anger log on, and rant for all the world to read.
And maybe the complaining is just a part of the growing pains of the sport. Either way, I will continue to obsess over stats and figures and marketing witchcraft that comes with the latest and greatest. I will continue to dream about owning the latest and greatest someday. And I will continue to ride whatever bike I have, and I will love doing so regardless of the price of any of it.
aside from modern X9/SLX being less expensive than m950 was a decade ago, its also about 1000x better performing.
Bottom line, we love our sport. That is why we are on this and other sites in the first place. Better is better. Speed costs money, now the question you have to ask yourself is; "How fast do you wanna go?"
Similar to how the average Joe, who is not very Deep into the mtb scene, is pretty much knocked over when I tell him my mountain bike cost $ 3000 .
Or what, you're not going to buy their high-end products? Good, that seems like a wise buying strategy; don't pay extra for anything you don't see the value in. But that statement is also evidence of my complaints about us bike consumers; if you don't trust that high-end components are better or are worth their value, don't buy them, but why complain about it?
couldn't have said it better myself.
very expensive bike parts don't really bother me. I love my ride, even with its fork from 2008. that said, if I suddenly had lots of disposable income, a new Pike would be one of the first things i'd buy.
more expensive means that the same thing (i.e. $500 then) requires more money now (i.e. $1000 today). that is not the case. bikes are so radically better now they are not comparable to what was here in the recent past. comparing prices is meaningless.
a $4000 mountain bike 10-15 years ago is pretty equivalent in performance to a modern $500 bike now. a $4000 bike now blows the doors off that old thing with z-max tires, v-brakes, 517's, seatposts that fail, etc.
there certainly were $10k+ bikes 10 years ago, you just couldn't buy them (i.e. honda dh), or only a very few companies sold $3k+ frames (colnago, de rosa, indie fab). now every bike company sells ultra expensive bikes, so that price point its way more visible.
you could easily spend $10k on a carbon record equipped derosa 10 years ago… its just the equivalent in performance and spec to a $3k bike now.
i would argue that means the VALUE in bikes has never been higher. you certainly get a lot more for your money these days.
Specialized has it right; "Innovate or Die" ® Or perhaps, "Innovate or lose market"
So the MTB companies have to constantly create new product.
We just need to decide if that 1% in performance gain (looking at you 650B ) is worth it.
P
On a side note, my best upgrades in 20 years have been:
1. Lee McCormack's Mountain Bike Skills book
2. proper spring for my weight
3. great geometry
4. fitness
Unsexy, but those items created more speed for me than any part has.
Tires are another thing altogether, but because the MTB tire market is pretty small compared to other tire markets, I can somewhat understand the prices
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