How much to spend on cycling
-
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:23 pm
How much to spend on cycling
Postby diggler » Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:26 pm
The average MAMIL aged 40 to 50 spends about $9000 on a road bike, which he'll replace every three years, Cook says.
I know I am a cheapskate but is this for real?
Cycling
Cycling has become a big-ticket sport for many of the Middle Aged Men in Lycra (MAMILs) who've taken to the highways and byways across the country.
Owner of the Clarence Street Cyclery in Sydney David Cook says the amount they'll spend has surged in the past decade. He says the high profile of competitive cycling has led amateurs to seek out the wheels they've watched the pros use.
The average MAMIL aged 40 to 50 spends about $9000 on a road bike, which he'll replace every three years, Cook says.
Bespoke bikes are popular and can cost more again. American manufacturer Trek allows customers to choose their own paintwork and wheels and have their name inscribed on the frame. Prices range from $7000 to $15,500.
Cyclists typically spend $500-$1000 a year on servicing and a few hundred more on making sure they look as schmick as their wheels. Cycling shoes cost $300-$500; helmets up to $350 and some designer bib shorts and jersey sets as much as $500.
MAMILs rarely scrimp on the gear, Cook says: ''They want to look the part.''
-
- Posts: 10316
- Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:10 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby Nobody » Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:43 pm
- Pax
- Posts: 1277
- Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:23 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, Qld
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby Pax » Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:46 pm
$1,500 on road bike in late 2007
$2,000 on road bike in late 2010
Still have both, still use both, doubt I'll buy another for at least a couple more years...does that mean I have an extra $15,500 up my sleeve to spend now and will have approx $24,500 to spend in a couple of years??
Hmmmmmm, 55th birthday next year....I feel a plan developing
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21324
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby g-boaf » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:08 pm
I only spend now on the little accessories that are inevitable.
Some people spend $500,000 on a new Ferrari 458 Italia in their middle ages. A nice car yes, but utterly useless on our heavily Policed roads and if they are somewhat more "spacious" - their new car won't change that.
I could start on sneering female journos throwing around old fashioned and offensive acronyms, but maybe I'll give her the benefit of the doubt before I open fire with all guns blazing.
But I know if I didn't take up riding a bike, I might have been over 100kg by now and in all sorts of health troubles that could have cost me heaps of money - even worse given I'm not all that old. Instead - I'm 60kg and reasonably fit.
You can indeed spend plenty of dollars in Clarence Street Cyclery, but you can squash them down on price as well.
- WyvernRH
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
- Location: Newcastle NSW
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby WyvernRH » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:11 pm
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21324
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby g-boaf » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:17 pm
I was going to say quite the same thing. Utterly rude and condescending from her.WyvernRH wrote:Total crap from whatever planet journalists exist on when they are short of a story...
- queequeg
- Posts: 6479
- Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby queequeg » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:27 pm
2008: First bike I had owned in 20 years. $1200 on a Trek Hybrid
2009/2010: Given an old steel Hillbrick Racing Frame that needed some TLC. Frame brought up to "as new" condition for $370 (strip, repair, respray, new headset). Bought all the components myself and built it in my spare time over 3 months. Total spend ended up being about $3,500.
2011: After breaking my original Trek Hybrid (twice), then moving house to a location no longer ideal or my Hyrbid, I splashed out on a Ti Frame CX Bike. Total spend, $5,000 (half of that is the frame & forks)
I could easily imagine a $9,000 bike, but I would be scared to ride it! I bought my bare metal Ti frame for the specific reason of all weather commuting in any conditions. It has not let me down, and there is no paintwork to worry about scratching. Just buff out any scratches and away you go.
- wombatK
- Posts: 5612
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:08 pm
- Location: Yagoona, AU
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby wombatK » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:34 pm
If you've got that much loose cash, you just pay someone for every bit of advice and/or
social networking you care for (at places where riff-raff without sufficient means don't
get in and can't bother you).
Cheers
Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia
- Xplora
- Posts: 8272
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:33 am
- Location: TL;DR
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby Xplora » Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:36 pm
- ColinOldnCranky
- Posts: 6734
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:58 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:20 pm
My unicycle only cost around $170 in 2005 and, these days, I could get it's equivalent for around $120. But I am still riding it. I'd guess that, in 7 years I have spent around $1,000-$1,500 - tyres, tubes, a few repairs, wet weather gear, other togs, meters and lights. It'd be only half or less if I didn't keep losing things.
- CXCommuter
- Posts: 1885
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:18 pm
- Location: Lane Cove NSW
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby CXCommuter » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:01 pm
- jacks1071
- Posts: 3068
- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:47 pm
- Location: Mackay, QLD
- Contact:
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby jacks1071 » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:48 pm
- g-boaf
- Posts: 21324
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby g-boaf » Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:55 pm
I'm not upmarket at all - and a lot of the people I've seen in there certainly don't meet the idea of upmarket. I got into bike riding through that store. They looked after me quite well.CXCommuter wrote:Good to see Clarence Street Cyclery hasn't changed in 20 years. Always upmarket and cashing in on the current so called MAMIL cycling craze... Never spent a cent there and can't see why I would in the future.
I went to a whole heap of different bike stores before going to them. The CBD bike stores were always going to get my business though - they are close to where I work.
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby RonK » Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:24 pm
Probably somewhat exagerated, but there are plenty of middle and upper management types riding these days, and many would have their bikes covered by their salary arrangements.diggler wrote:The average MAMIL aged 40 to 50 spends about $9000 on a road bike, which he'll replace every three years, Cook says.
I know I am a cheapskate but is this for real?
A $10,000 road bike is no big deal, although value has improved quite a lot in the last few years.
- andione1983
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:29 pm
- Location: SE Melbourne, Australia
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby andione1983 » Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:11 pm
Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2
MTB - Boardman Team Pro (2013)
- bychosis
- Posts: 7250
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby bychosis » Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:16 pm
- KenGS
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: Rosanna, Victoria
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby KenGS » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:46 pm
This article is for consumption by the other half so when you want to spend, say, $2000 just whip it out to show how much you are saving
Helmets! Bells! Rego!
- ZepinAtor
- Posts: 1558
- Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 7:46 pm
- Location: Brizzzzbane Everton Hillzzzz
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby ZepinAtor » Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:19 pm
Up here in Brisveagus there would be at least 4 shops I could name that would sell $5k-$10k bikes on a regular basis to Mamils & the more serious boy racer types. If you were to attend our local club race, out of 200 riders at least half would have a $5k bike with a set of Zipps or similar attached. Not to say that everybody follows this trend though. I have mates who are incredibly dedicated to their sport & can only afford a $2k bike, but given the chance they'd spend $10k + in a flash.
Most people with that sort of money to spend on their favourite past time wouldn't come on here & boast about it for numerous reasons. From my personal perspective I wouldn't want to flaunt my wealth (or debt depending which angle you look at it from) to those without the opportunity to do the same. Cycling has such a broad spread & variation of needs & wants. If you have a family to support & need to commute to work to save money to put your children through a decent school you may spend only $500 on an SS commuter. On the other hand if you're a dual income no kids type in their mid 40's a couple of $10k bikes & a yearly trip to Europe is spare change.
-
- Posts: 727
- Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:33 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby ausrandoman » Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:18 am
- Xplora
- Posts: 8272
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:33 am
- Location: TL;DR
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby Xplora » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:07 am
If you just want it, then fine... but unlike golf, you have to be physically fit enough to notice the difference between DuraAce and Ultegra as you slam the gears Golf clubs do their stuff regardless of how fat and unco you are. Then again, nice clubs just make the ball go further in the wrong direction if you are as bad at golf as I am.
-
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:00 pm
- Location: W.A
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby Marty Moose » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:17 am
You don't sell Giants;)jacks1071 wrote:$9000 worth of performance for $3000 is my speciality
Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk 2
- find_bruce
- Moderator
- Posts: 10579
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 8:42 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby find_bruce » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:26 am
- cyclotaur
- Posts: 1782
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:36 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby cyclotaur » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:04 am
I think this so called 'average MAMIL' they talk about must have a marketing budget to dip into ...diggler wrote: The average MAMIL aged 40 to 50 spends about $9000 on a road bike, which he'll replace every three years, Cook says.
I know I am a cheapskate but is this for real?
I think it's really just the media continually trying to depict 'average' cyclists as narcissistic wannabees clogging up the roads for regular 'average' people ie. motorists. It suits their car-based agenda to portray cyclists as a spoiled, selfish, overwhelmingly male minority they can tag with a pejorative label like MAMIL.
They might as well say the 'average middle aged car/home owner (MACHO)' lives in Toorak (insert appropriate interstate suburb...) and drives a BMW X6 - it's about as accurate.
On the other hand the only small independent bike shops that make decent money sell very high end bikes on low % margins, but make their big money on gear, accessories and servicing as most purchasers are too scared, time-poor or dis-inclined to take a allen key or spanner to their 'average' $9000 road bike,
My old blog - A bit of fun
"Riding, not racing...completing, not competing"
- ColinOldnCranky
- Posts: 6734
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:58 pm
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:30 am
Like a diet, starting to ride late in life is easy but too many people drop back off after a time. If high tech, glossy product and regular turnover and team gear are some of the things that motivates a rider to remain riding and they have the money then I am not going to judge them. It's their money.CXCommuter wrote:Good to see Clarence Street Cyclery hasn't changed in 20 years. Always upmarket and cashing in on the current so called MAMIL cycling craze... Never spent a cent there and can't see why I would in the future.
Good luck if you don't want to spend a lot of money - that's the camp that I am in. Apologies if you are not trying to condescend but it reads a little bit that way to me. However I have no idea what Clarence Street Cyclery business looks like and the prices quoted in the article seem somewhat steeper than what I would expect, even in cash-rich WA.
- CXCommuter
- Posts: 1885
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:18 pm
- Location: Lane Cove NSW
Re: How much to spend on cycling
Postby CXCommuter » Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:36 am
I am basing my experiences on this actual bike shop on mine and various other friends who have been snubbed whilst perusing the merchandise in this store. As a certified semi tight ass (due to circumstances) I like to buy good quality equipment for a reasonable price, not just the most expensive bike/kit around. As several people have stated the engine is the most important part of cycling and since I have an average engine a slightly better than average bike will do me fine. Apologies to any who do visit this shop but too many experiences there over more than a decade left me attending other shops (like Inner City Cycles) who where happy with my trade.ColinOldnCranky wrote:Like a diet, starting to ride late in life is easy but too many people drop back off after a time. If high tech, glossy product and regular turnover and team gear are some of the things that motivates a rider to remain riding and they have the money then I am not going to judge them. It's their money.CXCommuter wrote:Good to see Clarence Street Cyclery hasn't changed in 20 years. Always upmarket and cashing in on the current so called MAMIL cycling craze... Never spent a cent there and can't see why I would in the future.
Good luck if you don't want to spend a lot of money - that's the camp that I am in. Apologies if you are not trying to condescend but it reads a little bit that way to me. However I have no idea what Clarence Street Cyclery business looks like and the prices quoted in the article seem somewhat steeper than what I would expect, even in cash-rich WA.
Return to “General Cycling Discussion”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.