lol. I use two diamond rated u-locks to keep my $150 90s mtb secure. The value of my bike(s) go well beyond their monetary worth.
So, if it was stolen, my insurance wouldn't pay out enough to replace it. Therefore, prevention is my priority.
But a $10k bike? Any tiny damage would not only devalue it considerably, but could end up costing hundreds to fix. I find no joy in entertaining that thought 😂
If someone has the desire and the means to drop $10k on a hobby they love then I won't judge. Plenty of folk spend that much or more on musical instruments, or photography gear, or motorcycles, or a hundred other things.
The current bicycle market appears to be operating under the assumption that transportation is a competitive sport. A thousand dollars? Ten thousand? I'm still clinging to a 2012 Diamondback Edgewood, a testament to a time when a bicycle was useful. It cost approximately the price of a decent dinner twelve years ago, and continues to function with an almost unsettling degree of competence.
I wonder if the pursuit of 'premium' has simply resulted in a more elaborate way to experience mechanical failure.
100% agree. I'm riding an early 90s Yokota Catalina as my daily driver and it's like a tank. That thing is going to live forever, and as long as I keep up on the basic maintenance, it's a dream to ride. There's no way in hell I'd be tempted to switch over to a new bike with a delicate and expensive to repair brake system, or electronic shifting that costs more than a set of winter (car) tires to repair.