Originally Posted by
squirtdad
Part of the issue is that a lot of lowend bikes have "features" like suspension that don't buy the rider anything, but still add to the cost. The features are there because that's what people buy.
Couldn't have said it better. What bugs me, around here at least, is all the people I see riding on bikes that are just too small for them. I've seen kids and grownups both riding bikes where their leg was at nearly 90 degrees at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Why? Because those (cheap BMX bikes, I think) are the bikes that everyone rides. It's like it's fashion.