Man, I think both those bikes look great and if the buyers know what they’re getting into than I’m all for it.
LOTS of riders, newbs and experienced alike, don’t have any interest in working on their own bikes and aren’t too fussed about the cost of their annual maintenance going up by $50-$100 if it means their new toy looks great.
The basic roadie there is a cool looking bike with a functional group, the coolness factor increases the initial stoke and if the newb wears stuff out or wants to upgrade they have a “worthy” frame set to do so on.
I have a couple buddies with aero road bikes in a similar price category to that mountain bike - they all bought em because they love the design and engineering involved, know they don’t “need” the aero advantage, and lack the time to work on their bikes but not the money to have someone else do it. I don’t see how their indulgent bike choice is much different than a fancy custom welded frame set other than style really. Metal or carbon, integrated or otherwise, bikes are just fancy toys for rich people and some like their toys high-tech, some like them with a backstory and an artisanal paint job.
Dec. 17, 2022, 8:32 a.m. - tashi
Man, I think both those bikes look great and if the buyers know what they’re getting into than I’m all for it. LOTS of riders, newbs and experienced alike, don’t have any interest in working on their own bikes and aren’t too fussed about the cost of their annual maintenance going up by $50-$100 if it means their new toy looks great. The basic roadie there is a cool looking bike with a functional group, the coolness factor increases the initial stoke and if the newb wears stuff out or wants to upgrade they have a “worthy” frame set to do so on. I have a couple buddies with aero road bikes in a similar price category to that mountain bike - they all bought em because they love the design and engineering involved, know they don’t “need” the aero advantage, and lack the time to work on their bikes but not the money to have someone else do it. I don’t see how their indulgent bike choice is much different than a fancy custom welded frame set other than style really. Metal or carbon, integrated or otherwise, bikes are just fancy toys for rich people and some like their toys high-tech, some like them with a backstory and an artisanal paint job.