In the bygone days of yesteryear riding a bicycle was at one moment entertainment, fitness, adventure and transportation (be it great distances or not; think your ride to fill-in-the-blank childhood friends house or leaving work to get to the local pub). With non contrived pedal strokes we made our way to new places both literal and figurative, all while utilizing the one (maybe two) bicycles that we owned that somehow managed to get us to and from most places with relative ease (think myriad bicycle sub genres). Sure, perhaps the early ATBs (insert snobby acronym correction here) could not and never will handle the speed and terrain which most uber-shredders ride today. Of course the same argument can and should be applied to the anal, weight-weenie road bike crowd who unjustifiably concern themselves with speed and aerodynamic trends.
Forgotten entirely are the 27 1/4" and early 26" wheeled, steel bikes that many cut their teeth on and probably had a hell of a lot more fun riding than the high price-point entry level bicycles that all of us "need" in order to gain entry into the "legit" world of cycling. There is no question that we won't ever ride as quickly or gnarly as the next guy or girl on the super-bling, ultra-future bike; but the point here is that having fun, maintaining some fitness and getting around town (or from city to city for that matter) has never seemed less accessible while simultaneous being so far from the truth.
Forgotten entirely are the 27 1/4" and early 26" wheeled, steel bikes that many cut their teeth on and probably had a hell of a lot more fun riding than the high price-point entry level bicycles that all of us "need" in order to gain entry into the "legit" world of cycling. There is no question that we won't ever ride as quickly or gnarly as the next guy or girl on the super-bling, ultra-future bike; but the point here is that having fun, maintaining some fitness and getting around town (or from city to city for that matter) has never seemed less accessible while simultaneous being so far from the truth.
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| Cant we try to be more like this guy.... ? making it happen on an old steel steed. |
Not for me
There is a huge problem in the bicycle industry; that problem is one that underscores virtually all categories of cycling; accessibility. Today the talking heads of the cycling world will lead you to believe that in order to crack open the wide world of bike riding one must splurge massive amounts of dollars toward what is a seemingly unforgiving cycle of "next best thing" inspired marketing gimmicks, planned obsolescence and compatibility irregularity. We have and will continue to be sold the notion that we must dive deep into our bottomless (?) pockets of cash for what might be something that in all truth is far from what we actually want, need and can within reason actually afford.
Without question there have been massive improvements throughout the decades within the bike world, but the reality of the matter is that such refinements happen at a substantially slower pace than the year-over influx of new product to hit the market. Most bicycles still utilize the same geometry, use two wheels with pneumatic tires/tubes, saddles, handlebars and chain driven gearing. Brakes come in either rim, or or disc braking options: shifting is typically either derailleur actuated via external gear clusters or internally geared hub drives while steel, aluminium and carbon fiber remain the dominant three frame building materials. So what the hell is the big deal here? Are we really to believe that each and every year our previous kit has been rendered inoperable? The bottom line is that if we are to submit to the notion that what we have is no longer usable/cool/durable/interesting enough and that we must dispose of our previous acquisition for what are seemingly pennies on the dollar more often than not, we are both literally and figuratively buying into the next consumer driven marketing hype.
Without question there have been massive improvements throughout the decades within the bike world, but the reality of the matter is that such refinements happen at a substantially slower pace than the year-over influx of new product to hit the market. Most bicycles still utilize the same geometry, use two wheels with pneumatic tires/tubes, saddles, handlebars and chain driven gearing. Brakes come in either rim, or or disc braking options: shifting is typically either derailleur actuated via external gear clusters or internally geared hub drives while steel, aluminium and carbon fiber remain the dominant three frame building materials. So what the hell is the big deal here? Are we really to believe that each and every year our previous kit has been rendered inoperable? The bottom line is that if we are to submit to the notion that what we have is no longer usable/cool/durable/interesting enough and that we must dispose of our previous acquisition for what are seemingly pennies on the dollar more often than not, we are both literally and figuratively buying into the next consumer driven marketing hype.
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| Your commute is more than likely not a sanctioned TT event, so why play the part? |
Riding for everyone
Riding a bicycle is fun, affordable, healthy, physically low impact, mentally stimulating, relatively maintenance free (automobiles coming to mind) and insurmountably less detrimental to the environment (automobiles also coming to mind). Bicycles, tricycles and recumbents among various other HPVs (human powered vehicles) are so capable of being put in the hands of most who can turn pedals that it is amazing to believe that we don't have more kids, adults and seniors riding for the aforementioned reasons. Casual/recreational riding constitutes most of the cycling done on earth and simply can not be overlooked when someone is looking to acquire a bicycle that will get him/her from point A to point B with relative ease. We simply have to abandon the mentality that a super trick BMX, race'd out road or burly as hell mountain bike is necessary to fit the bill. Bicycle mechanics, sales people, parents and youth organizers simply have a moral obligation to do the honest thing by encouraging purchasing decisions to be made inline with such realities. While the mega manufacturers will lead us to believe that anything sub "entry level" is inadequate, we must be discerning while exercising patience and restraint with regards to a future purchase be it new or used.
Though through trial and error one might figure that they prefer a BMX bike to a road bike for tooling around cycling the city streets, most will never have the inclination or means to be the next Matt Hoffman or Lance Armstrong. To be lead to believe that we need such pro-level tools in order to achieve mundane-level tasks is simply deceit in the name of a dollar.
Though through trial and error one might figure that they prefer a BMX bike to a road bike for tooling around cycling the city streets, most will never have the inclination or means to be the next Matt Hoffman or Lance Armstrong. To be lead to believe that we need such pro-level tools in order to achieve mundane-level tasks is simply deceit in the name of a dollar.
