WTF with all the fancy pants bike clothes?

[Rico in Flag]

What's with all the super expensive cycling clothes these days?
Kitsbow, ACRE, Danny Shane? WTF?

Yeah I signed up for the Kitsbow raffle. I mean, who doesn't wanna win a carbon XTR Ibis Ripley? But after getting all their emails, I finally had a look at their swag. Holy jeebus.

Who in their right mind would pay $240 for these? Only to get filthy and torn up.

And Facebook thinks I should be buying shit from ACRE and Danny Shane. Have a look.

The ACRE Meridian waterproof jacket. $385. Fuck that.

And the Danny Shane Haymarket jersey.

Not only is it ugly as fuck, but $139. Again, fuck that shit.

I know this a expensive game we play in. but WTF? Who buys this stuff? Obviously I'm not their target demographic.
I'm pretty sure my thrift store synthetic shirts, and sale rack shorts allow me to achieve the same experience as any of their shit will.
Is the market for this stuff really that big?

[/rant]

[Benny Profane]

Huge in Europe. Probably much more than here.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

Same people that pay 5-10k for a bicycle. Seems like a ripe market.

Sent from my SM-G900V using TGR Forums

[kidwoo]

I hope you never encounter the sport of skiing. You're in for a shock!

[El Chupacabra]

[Sutter]

If they held together and that jersey didn't look like a Payne Stewart hand-me-down, I might consider them. I wash my bike clothes in the washer and never put them in the dryer because that might as well be a death sentence. Most mainstream brands are shitty and start to fall apart after a couple months. But I guess if they last forever, we'd never buy more?

[Canada1]

Someone hear a few years ago posted that many on this site spend as much on Hubs as most do on their whole bike. That person was wise.

[iscariot]

Same people that pay 5-10k for a bicycle. Seems like a ripe market.

This times 4 because biking is the new golf.

[gravitylover]

On my ride earlier today I was wearing a $90 sleeveless merino top and $130 bib liners with $130 shorts. It's really nice stuff and fits great. Unfortunately I don't know if any of the three pieces will last even as long as through this year. If I had to pay for them I wouldn't so I guess it's a good thing the store sells them so well and the reps love me I do find it amazing that we can sell as much of it as we do...

[Meadow Skipper]

I hope you never encounter the sport of skiing. You're in for a shock!

Beat me to it.

But I'm glad that at least there isn't a lot of writing on ski clothes.

[Swine]

I hope you never encounter the sport of skiing. You're in for a shock!

I think skiing is way cheaper overall (bike parts included) in comparison, plus it makes sense to use high tech fabrics in clothes. But I'm not the target, I ride in cotton t shirts and shorts I find on steep and cheap.

[Rico in Flag]

Same people that pay 5-10k for a bicycle. Seems like a ripe market.

Oh I know this quite well. I'm shopping for a new ride, 5-10k is way above my limit.

I hope you never encounter the sport of skiing. You're in for a shock!

I remember the big price run up in skiing related stuff. Then just as now, it seems like the price increases don't seem to match the utility.

The Kitsbow stuff in particular seems to be unashamed of its target; the wealthiest riders in this sport, who like to look better than they ride.

Oh well. Not for me.

[kidwoo]

I think skiing is way cheaper overall (bike parts included) in comparison, plus it makes sense to use high tech fabrics in clothes. But I'm not the target, I ride in cotton t shirts and shorts I find on steep and cheap.

Skiing obviously CAN be cheaper in terms of apparel. But you're looking at the upper end of bike crap, do the same for skiing. Them fur lined bogners ain't for everyone.

Plus, you'd be surprised at the number of bikers who think that high level of tech fabric junk applies to pedaling a bike around. You already know how to buy cheaper but not worse in quality ski clothes. You can do the same for bike stuff. And I still don't know of 700 dollar bike jacket.

[Rico in Flag]

Wise friends tipped me off a while ago, invest in the bike/bike parts, or skis/boots/etc that will actually make me a better rider/skier/etc.
I'm pretty sure $240 shorts will not make me a better rider.

[Meadow Skipper]

And I still don't know of 700 dollar bike jacket.

Here's a sweet little number in Arc'teryx' skiing line that seems to run around $850:
http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?lan...l=Macai-Jacket

[flatlander#2]

the wealthiest riders in this sport, who like to look better than they ride.

Oh well. Not for me.

Because you ride so much better than you look and you're poor? Not everyone shreds the gnar in the ghoul class. Some people ride the piss out of bikes, and get this crazy shit, they make an ass load of loot. I know, how whacky is that. Here's another one, they make bikes for these guys and some of them, they own more than a few. But really, they can't ride as well, right? I mean, they're wealthy so, they just look better.
Shred on.

[Rico in Flag]

Because you ride so much better than you look and you're poor? Not everyone shreds the gnar in the ghoul class. Some people ride the piss out of bikes, and get this crazy shit, they make an ass load of loot. I know, how whacky is that. Here's another one, they make bikes for these guys and some of them, they own more than a few. But really, they can't ride as well, right? I mean, they're wealthy so, they just look better.
.

Ha, no. I'm just your average rider with an average income.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous, I don't wish to buy any of this stuff. And yeah, I have friends who make an ass load of loot, have multiple carbon bikes, and ride the piss out of them.

I'm just blown away how some companies are driving up the high end of mountain biking. Nothing more.

[jamal]

And I still don't know of 700 dollar bike jacket.

This one is close:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/as...AAS000V-BK-XLG

My problem is that it's only rated for 32f. What do I do when it's colder than that? Do I need to buy two?

[Hugh Conway]

I hope you never encounter the sport of skiing. You're in for a shock!

I guess you are too far in the Tahoe bubble to see that Bicycling is the disposable stupid shit sports market? It's so far beyond skiing it's not funny. People buy Wood Bar End Caps:
http://www.adarga.net/store/bike-acc...-end-caps.html

pointing out "fur lined Bogners" suggests you don't understand who buys fur lined bogners or why. which is to be expected. Mountains with 500 fur lined Bogners (usually in the base village) are way more fun than mountains with 5000 bros in $500 ooops they bought it "on sale for $200" so it's a $200 jackets. Unless you need the bro-nod for validation.

[stuckathuntermtn]

By that logic, Deer Valley is epic.

I just got some athletic shorts from Walmart for $8 to wear over my undershorts that I have from shorts that have failed and cost way more.

[huckbucket]

This one is close:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/as...AAS000V-BK-XLG

My problem is that it's only rated for 32f. What do I do when it's colder than that? Do I need to buy two?

Assos is full on retard. As is Rapha.

[abraham]

By that logic, Deer Valley is epic.

It can be, you just have to accept that it's different than what you're used to.

I think skiing needs hardwood ski pole tips with anodized buckles on the straps to start competing with the gear fetish in the bike scene.

[Meadow Skipper]

I think skiing needs hardwood ski pole tips with anodized buckles on the straps to start competing with the gear fetish in the bike scene.

Maybe, but besides Arc'teryx and Bogner, skiing has DPS, Panda Poles, Daleboots, and...the whole fucking Gorsuch catalog.

Still, the lack of lettering on ski clothes comforts me.

[Hugh Conway]

By that logic, Deer Valley is epic.

well, you'd be skiing instead of smelly stinky wannabe bro's. but I'm thinking of other places.

[abraham]

Maybe, but besides Arc'teryx and Bogner, skiing has DPS, Panda Poles, Daleboots, and...the whole fucking Gorsuch catalog.

Still, the lack of lettering on ski clothes comforts me.

Yeah but most of those are one piece items. What's holding skiing back is the lack of places to put anodized screws. Maybe custom boot buckles and ladders, but then the cut of the pants needs changing so you can show off your special snowflakeness while on the tram dock.

And someone made jackets with big brand letters going over the shoulder a few years ago.