Interesting observation. It seems that things like this tend to go in cycles (pun intended) with fashions (yes, you can argue that bikes are "fashionable") revisited over and over. So as Brandon has predicted I too think we'll see a bit of a come back in steel (already happening ? Look at LeMond's lineup of steel bikes for example - may not be lugged but they're high end bikes are steel). And then who knows ? Some small company will bring out a titanium, carbon fiber, plastic even (??) "wonder bike" and we'll watch the next "fashionable" material come around. And round it goes back to steel as the wonder material is discovered to be not that wonderful after all, and round it goes again...
Of course, the components are bit more of a mystery to me. Not that I want them but I would've expected electric shifting to have taken off much better than it did with Mavic's failed (marketwise) attempts. Who knows ? Will single speeds be the next big thing ?
John Price
Denver, CO
Disclaimer - I have nothing against some of the wonder materials touted for bike frames - heck some of my best friends ride ti, carbon, and aluminum (well maybe not aluminum) frames... ;^)
-----Original Message----- From: Brandon Ives [mailto:monkeylad@mac.com] Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 7:30 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Things are looking up
One of the things thrown around quite a bit on this list is how the bike industry is going to hell in a hand basket. Well I'm here to prove to you it isn't. To start look at the newest Colorado Cyclist catalog. This is the bastion of high-end cutting edge cycling. 10 years ago it was almost all steel road bikes, then slowly things started to change to the catalog we all know. A little over a year ago they introduced the Tommasini Sintesi all steel, all lugged bike to the catalog. I was blown away very classic and sexy bike. I have awaited more and they added the De Rosa Primato lately. Many of you are saying, "who cares?" Well somebody does or they wouldn't have those bikes and if the Tommasini wasn't selling they wouldn't continue to carry it. Just as carbon and aluminum crept in many years ago it looks like steel may be making it's eventual return. I don't think we'll ever see a day where steel is the dominant material for bikes, but I think you'll soon see it coming out more and more. Mark my words, in the next 5 years you'll start seeing a lot of steel bikes re-enter the market, particularly at the high end. I also see "classic" looks on modern bikes, like the Merlin discussed yesterday, coming to vogue.
I hope this has given some of you faith that all is not lost. All things go in cycles and desire to achieve balance. Next time we'll talk about components. ciao, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Must get back to my new CD of Salsa versions of Kraftwerk songs in Santa Barbara, Calif.