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Browsing Competitive Cyclist, the price of a road bike frame got me off guard. A Wilier frame was going for $5400...frame, fork and seatpost. That’s bonkers.
When compared to top of the line MTB frames, we‘re talking about $2k difference. What gives? Are they using a different/special carbon fiber process? It makes little sense when looking at the frames as it would seem like MTB frames require a lot more R&D with all of the moving parts and subsequent stresses placed on the frame.
Or is it just that there is a bigger market(?) for road bikes due to the TdF and other high-profile, televised events.
Note: I’m a MTBer turned Roadie turned MTBer so this has little to due our spandex brethren.
When compared to top of the line MTB frames, we‘re talking about $2k difference. What gives? Are they using a different/special carbon fiber process? It makes little sense when looking at the frames as it would seem like MTB frames require a lot more R&D with all of the moving parts and subsequent stresses placed on the frame.
Or is it just that there is a bigger market(?) for road bikes due to the TdF and other high-profile, televised events.
Note: I’m a MTBer turned Roadie turned MTBer so this has little to due our spandex brethren.
In MTB, often the “Top Level” might be allegedly superior “lay up/technique”. EG Santa Cruz “Carbon C” v Carbon CC” (Probably still made in Taiwan or China.)
Roadies often have another “level” again - EG “Made in Italy”
It could also be a features thing, since road bikes are typically either a) very lightweight (more meticulous layup), b) aero-optimized (lots of time spent in a wind tunnel which is expensive), or c) have comfort tech (like the Specialized Roubaix's suspension or the Trek Domane 'suspension'. Compared to MTB, that's a lot of extra time and money to have to recoup. Full suspension designs have to be more complicated (with pivot placement and the like) but I wonder if that cost has not been 'written off' after most brands using the same/similar platforms for so many years.
Overpriced? Sure the high end ones but there are lots of VERY good road bikes at price points way better than a lot of Mtb bike hard tails for the same type of build. Also there are lots of overpriced mtn bikes.
A rigid MTB and a road bike should be about the same price, for same “quality”.
Virtually every MTB has suspension forks, and many have sophisticated rear suspension, so they logically should be more expensive.
I think there is a fair bit of fact in the “what the market will bear” thought.
And the “Mystique” about frame stiffness/flex/magic.
“Do you want the same frame that won the Tour De France?”
“It’s not cheap, but it won the TDF. Maybe it’s all that’s stopping you!”
After reading this, I’m ready to pay A$6000 (US$4000) for a MTB frame.
Impressive construction tech. (No Chinese build here!)
https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Lightest-Ever-Enduro-Frame-…
In all seriousness, this is where my head was going as I was writing the original post. From an outsider's point of view, it seems like mountain bikes would need to go through so much more R&D because of the pivots and suspension design, not to mention the overall forces affecting MTBs in today's day and age.
While I don't agree with whoever said road bikes are a joke, the evolution of mountain bikes over the past decade is far more drastic than road bikes. This alone perplexes me when it comes to looking at the coasts of road bike frames versus mountain bike frames.
As well, road cycling has been around over a century, MTB only about 40 years. Road has had 60+ more years to evolve. I'm not expecting MTBs to change much from 2070-2080.
But, it's a matter of perspective too. To a roadie, a 2010 MTB probably doesn't appear radically different to a shiny 2020 model.
But to the point, yes, high-zoot road frames (with rare exception) are not quantifiably or justifiably better than mid-tier ones. The performance gap between a $2,500 and $10,000 road bike is many magnitudes smaller than an MTB equivalent.
My 2012 Trance (AM) has geometry closer to a 2017 Anthem (XC) (I bought a 2017 Trance)
2012 32mm forks 26” wheels
2017 34mm forks 27.5” wheels
2020 36mm forks 29” wheels (Reign - “Enduro”)
The rake on the Reign would have made it a “Chopper” when I was young.
My Reign Pro 0 cost more than my car. Priorities.
1st the road bikes are built to fit in a UCI box literally and the bike manufacturers build them for UCI racing not for riders my point being I’m 6’4”(Big Bird will never fit)of all of the real world riders how many can actually fit properly on a modern road bike(high end race sled)downhill racing may actually be the leading edge of all bicycle racing as it is truly”Run What You Brung “racing at its finest any wheelbase different sized wheels no limits on handlebars with everything that is known about bicycles now it seems a much better bike could be and should be built.
It was this article dated September 2015 that really got me going on these feelings
Master Bicycle Designer Introduces the fUCI Concept Racing Bicycle - Industry Tap
Until we start seeing road bikes built for real bike riders & not the UCI I’m building up what I feel is the best compromise for me.
https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/a5d96b4/2147483647/strip/true…
There’s more
https://www.outsideonline.com/2053331/specialized-fuci-proof-your-bike-…
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