If the sexiest bike to come down the pike in a long while is retailing for less than $4500, how are manufacturers going to justify prices that are thousand of dollars higher? This seems like a huge discrepancy in the high-end market, and I can’t see around it.
People may pay a premium for something a little more travel-worthy like a Litespeed Blade, for instance. Or some lust after a particular name such as a Colnago. But I hope that the end-result of the P3C pricing is to bring the high-end prices down a little.
In addition, although the retail price is $4,400, I’ll bet that based on demand, retailers will be marking it up another thousand or two. Unless Cervelo mandates what their retailers can charge the customers.
What’s to see? It’s all perceived value. I’ll bet the difference in manufacturing costs between a low-end aluminum frame and a high-end carbon frame isn’t more than a couple hundred dollars. So basically you’re paying a premium for cool stickers.
Furthermore, when one can ride just as fast on a $2,000 bike but one buys the $4,500 bike, it makes manufacturers, well, think that consumers are kinda irrational. And if you’re irrational enough to spend $4,500, why not $6,000? Or $8,000?
Simple.
The P3C is a $6000 bike.
$4500 is nice, but after you put the Zipp 999’s and the carbon vision aerobars on it that it so richly deserves your not sittin under six g’s.
The Lightspeed Blade/QR TiPhoon do come with race wheels.
People may pay a premium for something a little more travel-worthy like a Litespeed Blade, for instance. Or some lust after a particular name such as a Colnago. But I hope that the end-result of the P3C pricing is to bring the high-end prices down a little.
I agree…I remember pulling my Kestrel out of my bike case and making note of a few paint chips…not with my Blade.
To be honest once you get past a certain price point (retailers chime in here) you end up in a zone of diminishing returns. However, if you’re willing to spend serious cash like 4k+ than 6k is also an option. My take on this is if you’re willing to spend serious money than have whatever you like that fits. If you have to spend 1000 extra and the only difference is visual appeal - so what ?
This said, I have no family and I’m not married so I don’t have the same level of repsonsibility as a lot of other people. which makes it a little easier to justify.
My current rides are a Kuota Kalibur, a Giant carbon TCR, a giant OCR, and a GT I drive 2.
If people have it they’ll spend it. An M&A banker comes into a local bike shop plunks down 12G on two orbeas with full record for himself and the little lady. Both are into riding a bit but neither are what you would call in need of a bike like that.
I just got my one and only major purchase of the year, new set of wheels to replace the velomax vista’s on my P2K, that takes that bike close to 4K without touching anything but wheels. The difference between me and Mr. M&A banker guy is that he could go plunk down that kind of cash without skipping the monthly bill payments. I’d have to eat spam for 6 months to be able to do that.
Have you seen what people pay for diamonds or art?
It’s all about what people THINK it’s worth not what it’s worth.
Certainly a 20K bike is not going to make you all that much faster than a decent low end bike. Also certainly there are very few that reeeeaaaalllllyyyyy need that 20K bike in order to win.
~Matt
I agree with the law of diminishing returns. But it’s their money so let 'em spend it their way.
Neither can I.