I’d say the article makes 3 good points and misses 1 essential point
Points that are correct
The price of top end retail bikes is in some weird vortex where higher cost is better (but of course that doesn’t hurt anyone)
People are now spending more on bikes
Bike inflation has exceeded inflation overall over the last few years
But where it is wrong is to say that value has gone and there aren’t affordable bikes
I’m sure in real terms way you can buy as an entry level road bike in Halfords or Evans for less than the kid in the advert spent. In real terms it will out perform the bike in the advert
If you don’t need an actual shop then the value goes up again