cycle-powered
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Munich Germany (formerly Portland OR, Texas)
Posts: 1,848
Bikes: '02 Specialized FSR, '03 RM Slayer, '99 Raleigh R700, '97 Norco hartail, '89 Stumpjumper
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actually, as far as the advertisers are concerned, it's pretty much just bottom line:
as far as i know most bike companies in the US and Canada don't make much profit percentagewise off of touring or commuting (a few North American companies do specialize in touring and Europe is different as cummuting is something of a sizeable market). touring is a small segment and commuting low-dollar, so bike companies concentrate on the high-end MTB and road sales b/c
1) they are high dollar and high profit with frequent replacement/upgrade (to have the newest latest coolest stuff)
2) they are cutting edge with research and visibility (i.e. extreme freeriding is "sexy" and trendy and riding an old ten-speed to work is "boring")
in most areas of business, companies promote their top high-dollar models and work on the "trickle-down" idea... e.g. in auto industry, advertisers promote the high dollar sports cars and SUVs more than the economy models --- in the lower-end advertising usually concentrates more on good price and savings whereas in the high end on feautures and coolness
but to count on advertisers to really do something good for society...
even if 25% of the US population bought a $400 commuter and starting riding frequently the profits would not be that high -- as commuters don't buy new bikes every 1 to 2 years and continually upgrade like MTB and road "weight-weenies" shelling out a grand for the newest XTR disc set or 2003 Dura-ace or the newest shock or frame or shifter or whatever