Amen, bro Gillis, you describe well the path of (to this bike business
lifer's knowledge) intentional and deliberate consumer FRAUD that has been
practiced by the "Big Bike Companies." It will be interesting to see if,
with smaller but still visible brands like Surly and Gunnar selling
practical road frames and bikes, the big co's product planners are dragged
back to user-friendly reality in the next few years. CR relevance--every
industry product planner should have to ride one of their un-fenderable
jackhammers for three hours on Northwestern chipseal on a day when it's
going to rain half an inch, and the next day do the same ride in the same
conditions on a "classic" bike that has, like, fender room, non-aero wheels,
and a compliant frame!
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> CRs:
>
> About two years ago I read a couple of things that clarified my
perspective
> on frameset materials:
>
> 1. An article in European Car magazine that did a thorough analysis of the
> VW/Audi 1.8T engine. The article described that in practice there was
> actually fairly little in common between a passenger car engine and a race
> car engine (besides internal combustion) because the design requirements
> were so different.
>
> 2. A review in either Cycling Plus or Cycling Weekly of the UK based M
Steel
> framebuilding shop. The builders construct frames from almost any material
> they like, and for their Brevet rides they choose to ride steel, because
> it's the most comfortable, versatile and cost effective.
>
> So, since the Bike Biz markets bikes to the general public based on the
> newest Tour de France designs, the 'relevance' of their bikes to the
> majority of the non-racing public has progressively become less and less.
> Too-low threadless stems, aero wheels and harsh-riding oversized aluminum
> frames are three mass market items that immediately come to my mind.
>
> Within the CR time period, spending more money for a racing bike generally
> meant getting a bike that was both lighter and more durable at the same
> time. A top grade frameset was comfortable and lasted a good while, and
with
> it you also received much more durable running gear and the total
investment
> was generally well worth the $$. With a modest change of gearing and tires
> the bike was usually suitable for the non-racer as well.
>
> Now, with 200g aluminum handlebars that must be thrown away after a year,
> and $300 carbon fiber handlebars that must also be tossed if they are
> scratched (along with carbon fiber cranks and carbon fiber brake levers
and
> carbon fiber seatposts that crack) and my local friend who has had two or
> three Bianchi aluminum frames crack within a year of their use despite his
> much lighter than average weight... well you now spend a lot of money just
> so that you can throw it all away and then spend a lot more money after
> that!
>
> Yes, the new bikes are lighter, and that helps a slight bit. I do prefer
the
> comfort advantages of more gears and Ergo shifting, but excluding
> world-class racing where every gram and second count, the newest bikes
have
> little that is relevant to my needs. I'm not willing to sacrifice comfort
or
> durability to the extent that is 'expected' by the Marketing Guys.
>
> If I was buying another bike (and I'd have another steel bike made) I'd be
> sorely tempted to email the major corporate manufacturers and point out in
> specific detail why each of their top designs was irrelevant to my needs,
> and since I could afford to buy any bike I wanted, I had a custom bike
made
> to MY specs, to suit MY needs.
>
>
> Andrew Gillis
> (the rain in Long Beach doesn't bother me, just marketing-created
> 'obsolescence'!)