Originally Posted by
jeffpoulin
In Amsterdam or Copenhagen, or anywhere it's flat. Those bikes tend to last forever. In the Alps, OTOH, few people ride heavy bikes unless they're e-bikes. Most of the commuting bikes I see tend to be around 20-25 lbs and made from aluminum.
How many people bicycle commute up and down the Alps? Or Alps like terrain?
The benefits for the typical bicycle commuter gained by fenders, kickstand, cargo carrying equipment, reliable components IGH gearing, etc., may outweigh the time costs for commuters not obsessed with setting speed records or trying to earn Internet/bicycle club bragging rights for "efficiency."