BUYING A PRO RACING BIKE GUIDE

When is it time to spend 10G's and more on a bike...

            When should someone really buy an elite, purebred, $10K+ racing bike that would turn heads at the Tour De France? So as anyone really interested in cycling knows there comes a critical point when the bike you started on is obviously not as good as you thought. You may have sorted out the exact type of mountain/ road cycling you want to do, you may want less weight, it may be as simple as getting a bike that is properly fitted for your body to maximize comfort and endurance. All these feelings are normal, and reasonable. As the research begins with your new found knowledge of what you think you need, there is usually a temptation to look at the most elite bike designed for pure racing that fits the new criteria. Its fun to dream, and these bikes are beautiful, but really buying one is usually very unreasonable.

      Here is when you SHOULD actually buy one of these and not look like a rider compensating for their lack of prowess in the saddle so to speak.

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     1.      Not only do you really race often, and for a living,  but you really could win said races if only you had that $10K bike to get you over the edge.

       2.      The company who makes the bike, gives you the bike for free because you will make their company more money on it.

    3.      You win the lottery and justify it saying you bought it to last the rest of your life, and there will never be another bike that could catch your wondering eye.

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      And that folks is it in a nutshell. There are many variations of said race bikes that can be found much cheaper using slightly heavier components but not sacrificing the sheer quality of those race pedigree brands. In fact legit studies have shown that when professionals are put on a race bike with Shimano 105 series group sets at about $800 they can not tell the difference from a Shimano Dura Ace group set at about $3000 in a blind test. The only way they can tell is literally holding the parts in their hands and feeling the weight, and even then we are talking grams.  In my humble opinion, if you gave Tiger Woods your golf clubs and he gave you his to play through 18 holes, Tiger Woods is still going to beat the shit out of you. Why? Because you cant buy his dedication and tenacity when it comes to his craft. The clubs improve his greatness, they don’t make him great.  Last, anyone who really rides, and sees someone outside of the defined criteria on one of these race bikes looks at them and thinks man that’s a beautiful bike! What a waste.