The Tour de France is the biggest cycling event in the world, attracting the best cyclists from across the globe. The bike that a cyclist uses for Tour de France needs to be lightweight, aerodynamic and robust enough to handle all types of terrains.
For most people, buying a road bike may cost up to $500-$1,000 but when it comes to professional riders racing in events like the Tour de France, bikes cost way more than what you may possibly imagine.
In this article, we’ll detail just how much do tour de france bikes cost and what makes them so expensive.
Why are Tour de France Bikes so Expensive?
Before diving straight into numbers let’s first understand why these famed bicycles carry such an exorbitant price tag!
Considering they have been specially designed and built with state-of-the-art components made out of high grade materials; each component is tested rigorously before being integrated into one machine. Adding to it are preparation expenses incurred such as custom fitting/moulding/hand-painting/prepping which enhance performance along with visual appeal – use of lighter material (which incurs higher costs), engraved logos which are laser-etched on the frameset (saves few grams) or aluminium or steel components that can lift gears even at high speeds in addition to enhancing beauty.
What Factors Determine Prices of Tour De France Bicycles?
There isn’t really a definitive answer here however factors mentioned below give us some sense:
Frame: Frame often stands out visually & technically speaking could comprise upto 75% value proposition for industry leaders like Trek / Specialized / Pinarello etc.. Carbon fiber typically offers its unmatched advantage in terms of weight/stiffness over counterparts aluminium/steel/titanium/flax composites though obviously gets reflected on pricing front too.
Wheels: Most pro-cyclist prefer deep-rimmed wheels for better aerodynamics while flats suits them better during uphill climbs i.e. professional riders use this as per needs but this can heavily affect bike cost in terms of types of materials used be it carbon/titanium/aluminium.
Drivetrain: Often one of the most important component is gears set, it leverages the rider’s effort and transmits power generated to the wheelset at different ratios depending on terrain angle & requirement, high end stainless steel gears are way more superior than cheaper counterparts made from alloys however costs could vary widely based on these various factors.
Handlebars: Aero handlebars offer comfort with better grip quality; they also reduce air resistance significantly which cannot be easily resolved using cheaper models.
How Much Do Tour de France Bikes Cost?
A Tour de France bicycle would often fall under a range between $10,000 – $15,000 USD all inclusive including helmets/daypack/glasses etc.. Here’s a breakdown of prices based on some famous manufacturers:
1. Trek – Emonda SLR 9 Disc ($12,540) – Most personalization options i.e uses Alpha Aluminium/Carbon Fiber frame boasting electronics for gear changes shifting instantly while riding!
2. Specialized – S-works Tarmac ($12,500)- Uses FACT10r Carbon Fibre / Both Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifters and CeramicSpeed bearings brings in added advantage
3. Pinarello – Dogma F12 Disk Ultegra Di2($13,250)- The very same model that was ridden by former world champion Geraint Thomas employs its carbon fibre frameset paired with top-of-the-line Shimano components coupled with hydraulic disk brakes.
Bottomline
Looking at such an exorbitant price tag may seem ridiculous to someone who has never ridden a pro-bike before! However remember caveat emptor here apply quite literally as owners have not only already accepted certain level of risks involved but also take pride in their ownership akin to art aficionados.
It’s like owning a luxury car for everyone who has a passion and means to acquire it however some would even argue that having their hands on such high-end, precision-tuned bicycles is no less than an inspiring lifetime pursuit even if riding the Tour de France is out of question.
The Tour de France is considered the biggest cycling event in the world, and it attracts top cyclists from all across the globe. The bike that a cyclist uses for Tour de France needs to be lightweight, aerodynamic and robust enough to handle all types of terrains.
For most people buying a road bike may cost anywhere between $500-$1,000. Still, when it comes to professional riders racing in events like the Tour de France, bikes cost way more than what you may possibly imagine.
Tour de France bicycles carry such an exorbitant price tag because they are specially designed and built with state-of-the-art components made out of high-grade materials. Each component undergoes rigorous testing before getting integrated into one machine. Preparation expenses incurred include custom fitting/moulding/hand-painting/prepping which enhance performance along with visual appeal – use of lighter material (which incurs higher costs), engraved logos that are laser-etched on the frameset (saves few grams) or aluminum or steel components that can lift gears even at high speeds.
Several factors determine prices of Tour De France bicycles:
Frame: A frame often stands out visually & technically speaking could comprise up to 75% value proposition for industry leaders like Trek / Specialized / Pinarello etc.. Carbon fiber typically offers its unmatched advantage in terms of weight/stiffness over counterparts aluminum/steel/titanium/flax composites though obviously gets reflected on pricing front too.
Wheels: Most pro-cyclist prefer deep-rimmed wheels for better aerodynamics while flats suits them better during uphill climbs i.e., professional riders use this as per needs but heavy affects bike cost regarding types of materials used-be it carbon/titanium/aluminum.
Drivetrain: Often one of the most important component is gearset; it leverages rider’s effort and transmits power generated to wheelset at different ratios depending on terrain angle & requirement; high-end stainless steel gears are way more superior than cheaper counterparts made from alloys. Still, costs could vary widely based on these various factors.
Handlebars: Aero handlebars offer comfort with better grip quality. They also significantly reduce air resistance, which cannot be easily resolved using cheaper models.
Tour de France bicycles would generally fall under a range between $10,000 – $15,000 USD all-inclusive including helmets/daypack/glasses etc.. Here’s a breakdown of prices based on some famous manufacturers:
1. Trek – Emonda SLR 9 Disc ($12,540) – Most personalization options i.e., uses Alpha Aluminium/Carbon Fiber frame boasting electronics for gear changes shifting instantly while riding!
2. Specialized – S-works Tarmac ($12,500)- Uses FACT10r Carbon Fibre / Both Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifters and CeramicSpeed bearings bring in added advantage.
3. Pinarello – Dogma F12 Disk Ultegra Di2($13,250)- The very same model that was ridden by former world champion Geraint Thomas employs its carbon fiber frameset paired with top-of-the-line Shimano components coupled with hydraulic disk brakes.
In conclusion,
Looking at such an exorbitant price tag may seem ridiculous to someone who has never ridden a pro-bike before! However remember caveat emptor here apply quite literally as owners have not only already accepted certain level of risks involved but also take pride in their ownership akin to art aficionados.
It’s like owning a luxury car for everyone who has a passion and means to acquire it; however, some would even argue that having their hands on such high-end precision-tuned bicycles is no less than an inspiring lifetime pursuit even if riding the Tour de France is out of the question.”