5 Reasons Why You DON'T Need A Super Bike!

There seems to be a torrent of new high end road bikes coming through from the big brands, all of them promising the latest and greatest developments in speed, compliance and weight but also each claims to have its own special way of getting a one up on its opponents. However, when you take a closer look at the top end road bikes that are being released and their associated price tags, you have to wonder if you actually need what's being put on offer and if really, the best 2023 road bikes can actually be found for a fraction of the price.

00:00 - Intro
01:29 - They Aren't Faster
02:53 - Value Still Looks Good
04:06 - They're Not Made For You
05:49 - They Don't Last
07:05 - Servicing
08:27 - Final Thoughts
09:05 - Outro

More at:

#cycling #bikes #bicycles

[timyaiser]

Back in 2014 I bought an aluminum Giant Defy 5 at my LBS for $680 out the door. Over the years I swapped out the Claris for 105 (52-36, 11-34), and the original hoops for 42mm carbon fiber hoops. I consistently ride this bike 450-550 miles per month. It’s my super-bike. I’ll never get rid of it.

[kevinc]

After riding on my Cervelo for the last decade, I went out and bought myself a superbike. I want to experience the joys of knowing that the only reason I'm trapping slow times is because of my fitness. You only live once and if you can afford it, might as well treat yourself and enjoy it.

[jeffreysaffir]

Came to road biking from 7 years of mountain biking. Thought road riding would help with my conditioning for technical mountain climbs. Initially purchased a 2020 Trek Checkpoint AL4. A 2020 Domane SL5 was also in the store but I convinced myself that was more bike than I needed. Well, I never planned on falling in love with road biking like I did. The LBS took back my Checkpoint after a few months and credited me as a rental towards the Domane. Since 2000 I have become a board member of a local riding club, become a ride leader for B rides and try to ride 60-100 miles per week most of the season. I have also upgraded to carbon rims, bar, new seat, tires and sold my 2017 Trek Fuel EX-8 27.5 plus mountain bike for a full group set swap from the stock mechanical 105 to SRAM Rival AXS (sold the 105 group set too). Yup, I'm now a full time roadie lol. Did I need the Domane? Probably not. Did I need to make the upgrades? Probably not. Do I have a bike I thoroughly love and enjoy? Yup. There are far worse things that I could be spending money on. I look at it as an investment in myself. I don't drink, smoke or gamble. At 59 I am probably in the best shape of my life from a life of resistance training plus the riding I have been doing. I've met some great people and ride with people I now consider my friends. We share the pure love and joy of riding. I say ride the best bike you can afford and stop caring what others think of your choices.

[Dan.]

Interesting take. I recently sold my Ultimate and kept my Specialized Allez (which is aluminium btw and it's quite a mediocre bike compared to the ultimate) because i couldn't justify the money I spent on that Ultimate and all the upgrades i've made over the last 2 years. I do not race and I put less than 100kms/week on the bike (maybe less than 50 in the winter) so for me personally it was just an overkill. Ofc it was a beautiful bike, a joy to ride but still, an overkill.

I think that it's really important to do a reality check from time to time and even before buying a bike and be honest about it. Everyone likes the electronic shifting, fancy deep section carbon wheels, top grade carbon frames..but at the end of the day, how many of us do actually need it? The bike industry is going in a weird direction, pushing new tech, gutting the entry-level market and raising prices to the point where a carbon bike with ultegra groupset can cost as much as a good second hand car. It's crazy

[bikeguyhk]

My 5 reasons:
1 Cannot afford them
2 I'm not a pro
3 I don't ride fast
4 Don't wanna get robbed
5 Too expensive to crash it😂

[wardieleppan]

Great video. Best value for me is an aluminum frame with regular Shimano 105 and no carbon wheels - at least for my use: commuting, exercise and the odd grand fondo with friends.

[joandvgv]

Awesome content! I defenitely believe 3-5k is where the good value for money is. Carbon bikes with 105-ultegra groupsets and light carbon wheels. Past that point, it's very hard to get good watt per dollar savings. Even on the cheaper 1-2k range, you can basically get a great bike that you're hardly going to outperform unless your FTP is well above the 4w/kg mark.

[ktube]

What ever happened to building your own bike? Piecing together stuff from sales or auctions? Or gasp, getting a last year (or earlier) model? You can do very well if you scour and know how to turn wrenches. A brand new bike is crazy to me at this point.

[laneromel]

I still ride my 1971 Peugeot PX10. I have upgraded the drive train over the years, I used to ride 150 Km a day, now I ride 50 Km a day. Still work fantastic.

[larsthorwald]

Not only do you not need a super bike, unless you're actually racing, you will probably be better off on something ergonomically friendlier. I have a fancy, handmade titanium road bike, but if I'm planning a really long day in the saddle (>150 miles), I get on my hybrid flat bar bike...comfy!

[dan]

At 75 I much prefer a soft riding but quite free rolling and fast steel framed with long wheelbase touring geometry.

[hifoad]

Cannot agree more! I got my previous bike with SRAM Force, then got my latest bike with SRAM Rival. There is no point in getting the highest specs like Red or Dura-ace - except for those in serious racing

[johntrussell]

There is so much more to it than that. Superbikes have the best carbon layups, full ceramic bearings everywhere, the best wheels, the best kit. It's nice to have that and it's a tangible difference. It increases enjoyment. Sure, you don' t NEED it but its nice to have if you can afford it.

[jamesmclean]

Makes good points for not splashing out on a "Superbike" but rides a 6.5k bike himself. A lot of people, including myself, would consider this a superbike also. I could make the same case for not buying a 6.5k bike and sticking with my 2.5k bike with similar features and if someone with a 1k bike argued their bike against mine and labelled mine a superbike then their point would be valid too. It's all relative and really depends on what you want out from cycling and prepared to or can afford to spend on it.

[ShortWheels]

Bought an end of line "superbike" a 2017 model in 2022 a huge reduction in price, it's the best I can afford and that I'm prepared to maintain. The difference from my £1200 bike is hugely noticeable, I loved every mile of the 3k I rode last year. If you want it and can afford it buy it. But 2.5k will get you an amazing bike. Turned 50, it's the best bike I'll ever own. Made an effort to get fitter to ride it. Improve your health and fitness and enjoy riding, you can make massive "gains" by looking after yourself first. But love the bike and you'll love riding it.

[unalteredcapture]

Great video.. seen too many people that have more money than sense.. there is more to cycling which include spending the money you save from not purchasing a super-bike on a PT, cycling trips, cycling wear & gear, etc…. and when drop it, because you will eventually drop the bike you won’t go nuts! 😁

[rotciv]

Every point you made is 100% correct. The point that you missed is people WANT a super bike. I do. I did not settle. Dogma F with SRAM Red axs, 404’s, oversize pulley wheels and custom paint. I fu*king love it. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

[haraldthenderupjensenesker]

The looks of my Wilier Triestina Filante SLR is worth the price on its own 🙈😄 many years of hard work went into it, really a dream coming true

[liamkaloy]

I don't own superbikes anymore, but I have decent ultegra based carbon bike which lately had frame issues (rear wheel was getting loose on every ride). Bike is on warranty repair/check now and store gave me replacement tiagra based aluminium bike (same race geometry, not endurance). Bike is over 1kg heavier and I can feel it while lifting the bike but except for that there are no other differences. Average speed on my standard 140km ride is the same, acceleration should be worse but in practice I could not feel it. Maybe the replacement bike is more stiff - it shakes a bit more and I can tell the granularity of the tarmac easier but it might due the fact of cheaper narrower tire. I live and train on flat terrain, maybe in the mountains this 1kg would make some noticeable difference. So my opinion is that unless you are TDF pro or gadget guy and you ride mainly on flats you definitely don't need super bike and probably not even ultegra class bike.

[greghart]

Yip, all I want is a reliable bike that doesn't cost an arm or a leg to buy or maintain. Cycling is about simplicity, the modern race machines (do you really need a highly strung thoroughbred?) have moved so far away from simple it's a bit un-nerving! It seems to me that 'trickle down technology' is suspiciously like passing the R&D costs of the high end products on to a wider range of consumers, rather than keeping things for the everyday rider simple, cheap and above all reliable.