March 5, 2014, 9:21 a.m. -  bigmike9699

#!markdown Morgan, I generally really enjoy the pieces you write (this one included), but I have to ask (and am asking seriously, but I am genuinely curious), how much of the over-priced (albeit amazingly functional) cycling gear do YOU actually pay retail for? I hardly believe (and please, correct me if I am wrong) that working for NSMB pays you enough to be able to afford $7000+ bikes and the top of line kits that we can see you riding locally wearing… and I don't mean that to be offensive, I honestly don't, because you consistently provide us with well written reviews and product details that are hard to find elsewhere on the net. I worked in shops for 10 years (most recently until 2010), and I am quite familiar with mark ups, distribution and importing (when necessary), and while I still ride fairly high-end stuff (thanks now to a high-paying health-care job), I still buy most of my stuff online/used. If companies want to charge such significant prices for products (which may or may not be justifiable given R&D, production and shipping costs), they no one is to blame but those companies for the 'death' of the LBS… because lets face it, bike shops aren't really making much money these days as 'brick and mortar' establishments… All that said, I did really enjoy this article… I do love Arnold.