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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
"Luigi de Guzman" wrote in message
om... I love google. It gives me new toys every day. I stumbled across an inflation calculator today: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ According to this, US$ 100.00 in 1979 is worth US$ 265.28 in 2002 dollars. So I'm curious--what did you oldtimers pay for 'good' road bikes back in the day? Have prices risen or fallen in real terms over the past twenty, thirty years? Or have they stayed even? If this fellow's calculator is correct, then, I've got some interesting findings: In 1979... A *mart special bike costs around $30.00 An entry-level road bike costs around $225.00 A racer or a tourer costs $336.00 Fascinating. -Luigi "rerum cognoscere causas" -motto, London School of Economics & Political Science When I was a tyke, I saw a Cinelli road bike for $2200CDN..that was in about 1983 or so. That was probably a pretty good bike in its day, but it's also a pretty good bike today. I don't think the prices have risen that much in the last 20 years. When I first started working in a shop, also around 1983, the Raleigh Grand Prix was about $275 here in Canada. An equivalent bike today is probably around $350 or so. So the prices have risen, but overall, probably lower than inflation. I mean, think of the Giant OCR3. A GREAT bike for $700. 20 years ago, that would have bought a Miele Bici VII, probably the same level of bike, but the OCR3 works better. I would think off-shore labour has kept prices down, along with advances in automation. My CDN$0.02 worth (only worth CDN $0.012 in 1979...) Scott... |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
"Luigi de Guzman" wrote:
So I'm curious--what did you oldtimers pay for 'good' road bikes back in the day? Have prices risen or fallen in real terms over the past twenty, thirty years? Or have they stayed even? In 1984 I bought/built up my current bike. It's built on a "Palo Alto Bicycles" Columbus SL lugged frame (made in Italy). Here is the cost breakdown: Frame/Fork/Headset.....................................$340.0 0 (Plus got a $34 coupon for my next purchase) Cinelli 64 handlebars.................................... 12.45 Cinelli Model 1A stem................................... 16.50 Campy SR crankset....................................... 89.99 Campy NR BB............................................... 36.95 Campy NR rear der........................................ 43.95 Campy NR front der....................................... 24.10 Campy NR DT shift levers............................... 8.99 Campy der cables.......................................... 3.00 SR LaPrade seat post...................................... 10.50 SR Silstar Pedals............................................ 10.90 Christophe Toe Clips....................................... 2.90 Christophe toe straps...................................... 2.50 Sedisport chain............................................. . 3.95 Shimano Dura-Ace brakeset (incl levers)........... 48.50 Concor Superleggera saddle............................. 22.50 Campy NR hubset 36h...................................... 45.50 Super Champ Arc-en-Ciel s/u rims (pair!)........... 23.20 DT spokes............................................ .......... 15.90 Wolber Invulnerable sew-ups (pair)................... 31.00 Seat post binder bolt....................................... 2.95 Benotto handlebar tape.................................... .99 Sun Tour New Winner Freewheel (6sp)............... 18.90 Total..................$816.12 (Minus $34 coupon) - 34.00 Grand Total.............$782.12 Art Harris |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
"Luigi de Guzman" wrote in message om... I love google. It gives me new toys every day. I stumbled across an inflation calculator today: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ According to this, US$ 100.00 in 1979 is worth US$ 265.28 in 2002 dollars. So I'm curious--what did you oldtimers pay for 'good' road bikes back in the day? Have prices risen or fallen in real terms over the past twenty, thirty years? Or have they stayed even? If this fellow's calculator is correct, then, I've got some interesting findings: In 1979... A *mart special bike costs around $30.00 An entry-level road bike costs around $225.00 A racer or a tourer costs $336.00 Fascinating. My first "road" bike with derailluer shifting was a 10-speed Motobecane Grand Tour purchased at Velo bicycle shop in Berkeley in 1975. I paid $210 and rode it for 25-30K miles on numerous centuries, tours, weekend rides, and commuting trips. The old steel horse still runs and I ride it occassionally. -Luigi "rerum cognoscere causas" -motto, London School of Economics & Political Science |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
Luigi de Guzman" wrote in message
om... In 1979... A *mart special bike costs around $30.00 An entry-level road bike costs around $225.00 A racer or a tourer costs $336.00 The bikes are so much better engineered today that a comparison just on cost will be hard to do. I bought two new bikes last year and it was surprising how much the bikes had improved in twenty years. The last time I had seriously looked at bicycles was in 1982. If I had known how good they had gotten, I wouldn't have waited so long. I might even get one or two more as soon as I can build a storage area for this many bicycles. |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
Luigi de Guzman wrote:
According to this, US$ 100.00 in 1979 is worth US$ 265.28 in 2002 dollars. So I'm curious--what did you oldtimers pay for 'good' road bikes back in the day? Have prices risen or fallen in real terms over the past twenty, thirty years? Or have they stayed even? Prices have risen much less than inflation, depending on how you value technological improvements. Keep in mind that the entry-level $300 bike is now a MTB or hybrid rather than a road bike, and you get more for the money now. The good old days weren't that good. I have a Consumer Guide bicycle book from 1980. A Raleigh Super Grand Prix 10-speed was $269. It had a high-ten frame and fork, barend shifters, Suntour VGT and Compe derailleurs, aluminum cotterless cranks 52/42, a Suntour 14-34 5speed freewheel, Weinmann center pull brakes, QR hubs and aluminum rims. If you stepped down to the Grand Prix at $239 you got steel rims and stem shifters. The Record Ace at $197 had steel rims, a QR only in front, and a heavy steel seatpost. This is about what I remember from my first real "10-speed", a Raleigh bought a year or two later. A Reynolds 531-framed Raleigh Professional with Nuovo Record and sewups listed at $925, a Competition was $499. Price points for other manufacturers listed were similar, although the Motobecane Grand Touring looks like a good deal relative to the Raleighs - for only $295 you actually got double butted Vitus 172 tubes rather than gaspipe. |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
It certainly does put things into perspective.
htttp://www.jimlangley.net/spin/bikeman.html#p -- _______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------ in.edu__________ |
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One for the Economists: inflation, road bike pricing, etc
It certainly does put things into perspective.
http://www.jimlangley.net/spin/bikeman.html#p -- _______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________ ------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------ in.edu__________ |
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