Amgen tour of California 2012

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$10,000 bikes - What's the point?

  • Specialized's top-end S-Works + McLaren Venge carries an enormous US$18,000 retail price - and yet the company says the entire stock is presold.

    Specialized's top-end S-Works + McLaren Venge carries an enormous US$18,000 retail price - and yet the company says the entire stock is presold.

    Photo credit © VeloDramatic

  • A team replica Trek Madone 6.9 SSL Leopard/Schleck Edition similar to this one will cost you US$11,623.47 at full retail.

    A team replica Trek Madone 6.9 SSL Leopard/Schleck Edition similar to this one will cost you US$11,623.47 at full retail.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • A Trek Madone like this isn't all that far off in terms of performance, however, and costs less than US$5,000 thanks to some impressive trickle-down tech and a less expensive component group.

    A Trek Madone like this isn't all that far off in terms of performance, however, and costs less than US$5,000 thanks to some impressive trickle-down tech and a less expensive component group.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Cervélo's ultra-exclusive R5ca is one of the lightest road frames currently available and is built in the US by company engineers - not factory workers. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most expensive at US$9,800 for just the frameset.

    Cervélo's ultra-exclusive R5ca is one of the lightest road frames currently available and is built in the US by company engineers - not factory workers. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most expensive at US$9,800 for just the frameset.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Scott offers a full range of its impressive Foil aero carbon road bikes. Top-end ones get premium kit and the highest grade carbon fibers while midranged ones use a more economical spec and a slightly heavier fiber blend that doesn't detract too much from performance but saves an enormous amount of cash.

    Scott offers a full range of its impressive Foil aero carbon road bikes. Top-end ones get premium kit and the highest grade carbon fibers while midranged ones use a more economical spec and a slightly heavier fiber blend that doesn't detract too much from performance but saves an enormous amount of cash.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Giant certainly hasn't lost sight of its bread-and-butter customers, though. A second-tier TCR Advanced like this one is a kissing cousin to the top-end SL version but costs almost two-thirds less.

    Giant certainly hasn't lost sight of its bread-and-butter customers, though. A second-tier TCR Advanced like this one is a kissing cousin to the top-end SL version but costs almost two-thirds less.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Felt is no stranger to the high-end game, either. Though its bikes still often offer better value than many competitors, bikes like this top-end F1 Di2 model still command a substantial US$9,999.

    Felt is no stranger to the high-end game, either. Though its bikes still often offer better value than many competitors, bikes like this top-end F1 Di2 model still command a substantial US$9,999.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Felt is sometimes thought of as more of a value company rather than a performance one but that perception is turning around thanks to impressive hardware like this Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-equipped DA time trial machine.

    Felt is sometimes thought of as more of a value company rather than a performance one but that perception is turning around thanks to impressive hardware like this Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-equipped DA time trial machine.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Cervélo offers the S5 aero road frame in three different levels, all with the same aerodynamic performance. The top-end S5 VWD frameset costs US$5,900 but the standard version is half that at US$3,000.

    Cervélo offers the S5 aero road frame in three different levels, all with the same aerodynamic performance. The top-end S5 VWD frameset costs US$5,900 but the standard version is half that at US$3,000.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Cannondale's SuperSix Evo Ultimate costs a whopping US$12,100 but more budget-minded consumers can still nearly the same performance in the US$5,500 SuperSix Evo 2 Red.

    Cannondale's SuperSix Evo Ultimate costs a whopping US$12,100 but more budget-minded consumers can still nearly the same performance in the US$5,500 SuperSix Evo 2 Red.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing

  • Giant Bicycles once built its business model on offering primarily mainstream bikes with exceptionally high value. Now the company also offers top-end race bikes costing upwards of US$10,000 like this Rabobank team-issued machine.

    Giant Bicycles once built its business model on offering primarily mainstream bikes with exceptionally high value. Now the company also offers top-end race bikes costing upwards of US$10,000 like this Rabobank team-issued machine.

    Photo credit © James Huang/Future Publishing