i long...

for the 'good old days' of the bike shop. when things were simple. where you could go into a shop and say i would like to buy 'x', and 'x' is what you got. or at least close to. now, things are not that simple.

i am speaking of road bikes. i hate them. there are too many. too many factors. too many variables. it used to be someone would come into a shop, and want a road bike, point them to the bike in their price point, talk to them about the difference between ultegra and one zero five, and you were off. even when the price points came down, all you had to deal with was different groups.

not now. now we have to deal with different composite make up. now we have carbon forks on al. frames. and why not carbon seatsays, with carbon seatpost. also, half carbon, and half al. 'why doesn't this one have carbon seatstays?' who cares? not to mention the overall geomerty of a bike. and then get two different companies in your shop...'we, what is the difference between the two companies?' 'well, one is a more relaxed geometry than the other' 'if this series is a relaxed geometry, and the other company offers a relaxed geometry, then what is the difference between the two relaxed geometries?' how the hell do you 'sell' that one? this is assuming that you get past the 'racing' geometry.

it is here that i just throw my hands up in the air, and say 'get your ass on the bike and tell me.'

the bike companies are making it too hard. they are trying to make the buying public happy; which is what any company tries to do, but the buying public is not that smart. sorry. it's true. not a lot of people do research anymore. if you look at what some bike companies are offering as far as their line goes, it's mad. too much. the consumer has too much to look to, and too much to take in. hell, i don't even want to take it in, and it's my passion/hobby.

i understand the 'logic' behind these companies, but not the practicality of it.

i hate road bikes.

oh, and make sure your quick release is in the 'closed' position.

namaste...