Originally Posted by
Diode100
Just because you don't personally want a hammer doesn't mean that there isn't a substantial market for them. Is it beyond the realm of imagination that there are people who quite like the idea of having a bike to throw in the back of the car for a ride once in a while, or for a pootle down to the shops, but who baulk at the cost of "premium bikes" ? There was a time when Downtube was considered a low priced option with good potential for upgrading if the need was there, so where is todays Downtube, where is today's ubiquitous U-frame folder ?
I have no problem with purchasing a lower cost quality option IF it will do the job. But there is no point in buying on price alone, too many people want the cheapest thing they can get whether it will do the job or not. If I want a hammer to a job I will buy a hammer that will do the job, but I don't buy a hammer to do the job of something else.
Downtube is still around, the U-tube folders went away for a reason, they were bulky, heavy and not particularly durable, they are still being made, just don't see them as often.
I happen to have a couple of for the occasional Sunday afternoon cruise about town. I have mine because they are an oddity, not because they are great bikes. I rode my Dahon about 12 miles this past weekend around old town Savannah. If I had been planning a longer harder ride, I would not have used that bike, it can't handle it.
Aaron
