skibum69
slave to gravity
Been pedallling since I a kid and didn’t get my first Moto until 25. I’m down to 7.5 bicycles, (one’s a tandem), amd 4 motorcycles. Unfortunately I haven’t done squat on my push bikes in a few years except to ride a cruiser to the beach with my surfboard.
My newest bike is an ‘09 Intense VP Tracer custom build and my roadie is a Litespeed Palmares that was a custom build about 15 years ago and was insured for $15K for replacement. When I rode DH bikes over 10 years ago most of those builds were in the $10K range. The VP was about an $8K build.
From the little I’ve looked it seems the prices have come down quite a bit in certain areas in the last few years. I was surprised to hear 26” wheels are totally old school now too.
People’s jaws drop at what you can spend on 2 wheeled machinery but almost get it when you explain custom vs production builds and low number high end manufacturing etc.
I’ve always liked the good stuff and a big part for me is that I just love the technology and aestetic of a beautiful well made machine. Building up your own bicycles to your own specs is a special kind of joy too. I used to be a sales rep for a bunch of distributors, getting my hands on the goods was too easy therefore I was perpetually broke.
If I ever get around to another bike I like the look of the Surly Ice Cream Truck fatty which would be perfect for my neck of the woods. That or touring bikes for the missus and me, maybe Surly Long Haul Truckers.
I wonder what the weather will be like when I get home in November, maybe I’ll go for a ride.
My newest bike is an ‘09 Intense VP Tracer custom build and my roadie is a Litespeed Palmares that was a custom build about 15 years ago and was insured for $15K for replacement. When I rode DH bikes over 10 years ago most of those builds were in the $10K range. The VP was about an $8K build.
From the little I’ve looked it seems the prices have come down quite a bit in certain areas in the last few years. I was surprised to hear 26” wheels are totally old school now too.
People’s jaws drop at what you can spend on 2 wheeled machinery but almost get it when you explain custom vs production builds and low number high end manufacturing etc.
I’ve always liked the good stuff and a big part for me is that I just love the technology and aestetic of a beautiful well made machine. Building up your own bicycles to your own specs is a special kind of joy too. I used to be a sales rep for a bunch of distributors, getting my hands on the goods was too easy therefore I was perpetually broke.
If I ever get around to another bike I like the look of the Surly Ice Cream Truck fatty which would be perfect for my neck of the woods. That or touring bikes for the missus and me, maybe Surly Long Haul Truckers.
I wonder what the weather will be like when I get home in November, maybe I’ll go for a ride.