I live in an area that is completely un-bikable so the only bike shop near me only sells to enthusiasts who are driving their bike somewhere to ride it. It’s also in a nicer neighborhood than I live in, so much of their clientele are middle class or upper middle class. They don’t sell a bike under $2k. I know a few people with 300k cars, they’re very wealthy. I know a dozen people with 5k-12k bikes, they’re middle class enthusiasts.
The affect is widespread. My kids didn’t even learn how to ride a bike because there is nowhere to ride them. Nobody owns bikes, so they aren’t many on marketplace nearby. The ones that do go on marketplace are either worn out or rusty or still very expensive because they started their lives as $5k bikes. Even the thrift shops around here only sell nicer bikes and they’re at least $200.
Those prices are way too high. $250 gets you something decent off marketplace. $50 if it’s shitty but still works fine.
The people spending thousands are either very avid bikers or well off boomers going through their gravel bike mid life crisis.
10k is insanity, like spending 300k on a car
I live in an area that is completely un-bikable so the only bike shop near me only sells to enthusiasts who are driving their bike somewhere to ride it. It’s also in a nicer neighborhood than I live in, so much of their clientele are middle class or upper middle class. They don’t sell a bike under $2k. I know a few people with 300k cars, they’re very wealthy. I know a dozen people with 5k-12k bikes, they’re middle class enthusiasts.
The affect is widespread. My kids didn’t even learn how to ride a bike because there is nowhere to ride them. Nobody owns bikes, so they aren’t many on marketplace nearby. The ones that do go on marketplace are either worn out or rusty or still very expensive because they started their lives as $5k bikes. Even the thrift shops around here only sell nicer bikes and they’re at least $200.
I’m sorry, that sounds so awful.