Social class of cyclists?

[Benotti69]

That has begun. The "cheap Chinese frames" and "cheap Chinese carbon wheels" threads have been getting huge numbers of posts on RBR. They have to keep closing threads and opening another. The frames are sub $500 shipped to your door from Taiwan. The deep section carbon wheels are about the same.

By moving all the manufacturing to Asia, bike companies in the West have become little more than marketing operations. It is only a matter of time before people start thinking that if they are going to buy a Chinese frame then they might as well buy from the source rather than pay a markup of several hundred percent.

Specilized are made in Taiwan!

 

[Benotti69]

You hit the nail on the head, Ferminal.
Not sure who's getting rich in the bike industry, but it ain't the bike shops. For the last two decades, the manufacturers have succeeded in making things more cheaply, yet the prices charged don't seem to follow.
It's really rather funny when some charlatan in Taiwan or China decides there is money to be made by side-stepping the primary supply channels. True entrepreneurialism.

On the topic:
Road cycling has always been an upper middle class sport in the US. Mountainbiking seems to have cracked the lower socioeconomic levels for a variety of reasons.

look how much it costs to sponsor a cycling team these days. How many bikes does a pro team require? Is that not a big cost? These costs have to be offset by sales.

It would be great if Gerard from Cervelo could give us an indication of what it costs in terms of money and time(which is money) to be involved with a top pro team nowadays.

 

[online-rider]

I hear the argument about cycling being expensive for poorer countries but here is another perspective. Traditionally people in many poorer countries have embraced the bicycle as a means of transport. I think bicycles are still pretty cheap in these countries.

Theres no shortage of bikes in China but the Chinese grapple with the idea of bikes being raced as opposed to being used as paupers transport

 

[ognacy]

Interesting thread. These days on amateur races I attend most bikes are semi-pro/pro level. I guess that means the marketing gurus employed by bike manufacturers scored a huge success making everyone believe that you need that top of the line carbon beauty to ride. But I wouldn't think biking is rich man's sport. Actually I think it is to the contrary, as biking requires time, and rich folks are usually distracted by the many other things they can do with their money. And of course, pro level gear brings no real performance advantage. The seconds and maybe minutes you can get from better shifting or lighter rig are always easily offset by sensible training routine, hard work and dedication. All of which are more common among the middle class than upper ;-)

Ognacy

 

[Señor_Contador]

Where I live in NY it is mainly an upper-class sport.

It's hard to see anyone riding a bicycle in NY, that is unless you're a messenger. If you want to see people riding bicycles you have to go to the suburs.

Westchester county is a good example. I've seen huge groups up there riding their $ 10,000 Scotts and Cervelos. Some of them are out of shape so it's mainly a status thing for them. Though the majority look like they really get their miles in though...