New Stuff

I got up early to watch the World MTB championships this morning.  But it was the womens race, so I went for a ride for a few hours, got home, and the men had just started their first lap.  It was a good way to waste a couple of hours on the computer. 

After watching that race I started checking out all the bike companies websites.  The new 2012 stuff is all coming out.  The main thing I notice, is that everything is too expensive.  Specialized has a $10,500 retail on their Epic 29, the frame only for a nice 5,000.  Jamis has a new Carbon 29 full suspension, how about $3100 for that frame and its really nothing special.  GT has a new Carbon 29 dually, $5500, and its on XT and weighs a hefty 27 lbs.  The new Treks are out as well, $7000 for a XX equipted Superfly 100, which seems cheap compared to essentially the same bike in a Specialized.  I could go on and on as every company is scurrying to come out with a carbon 29er full sus.  A few companies still sport aluminum versions of these bikes, how about $1650 for a Giant or Kona frame that weighs only a pound more than the high zoot carbon bikes.  To keep that in perspective, a full bottle of water weighs 500 grams, which is more than a pound.  So only carry one bottle and youve got it made.

So the real question is, can I ride as fast as someone on a $10,500 bike if I built up a complete bike that would cost much less than that bikes frameset alone?  Might be a good challenge.  But then again, its always fun to have the fancy carbon hot rods.