Originally Posted by
mconlonx
I disagree. There are plenty of bikes out there that work very well and reliably, even with minimal maintenance. The majority of them are even on the more affordable spectrum: $400-600 bikes with 7/8sp-based drivetrains.
I don't disagree......for some people....but they still require some attention to be reliable. The non enthusiasts want to just ride like they would on a bike share bike, and bikes like that are few and far between here in the US.