[sjkelly]

This article confuses modern with high end. The ultra high end of cycles is just like the ultra high end of auto mobiles. There are bespoke tools and techniques required for maintenance. The average bike sold today is probably easier to maintain that those of the past. Disc brakes don't come out of alignment as bad, aluminum frames don't rust, rims are far stronger, etc...

[cheeze]

Spot on. This is the equivalent of OP being surprised his Ferrari has expensive and difficult maintenance. The bike he's swapping parts for retails for ~12k USD

[HPsquared]

Indeed. 10k for a bike is what, 10-20 times the price of a 'normal' bike, just as a Ferrari is 10-20 times the price of a normal car.

[ehnto]

Agreed, and I think a lot of people find themselves with high end cycles by using price as a buying guide. Relatively speaking it's a smaller purchase than say a car, so it's easy to end up with more bike than you needed.