Originally Posted by
dddd
Believe it or not, the makers of these bikes very much want to satisfy the requirements of the box stores that buy them, and the box stores in turn very much want to offer the customer as much in the way of perceived value as possible. That's all there is to it however, and aside from liability issues and also the inevitable product reviews that may turn up on a box store's website, no evidence of any passion for added quality is evident.
Au contraire non ami....
During the early 70' the 10 Speed Bike Boom was such a big FAD that anything with 2 wheels and derailleurs were being thrown together and shipped out as fast as they could box em' up.
They were a WHOLE lot of people who tried to cash in and make a fast buck off of the FAD!
Many had no knowledge or interest in bikes or cycling!
Back then, most bikes were still considered "kid's toys". The majority of "lightweight' bikes sold during the bike boom were bought by high school and college students or their parents.
Most buyers had little or no knowledge about bikes. Why spend $70 to $100 for a kid's toy when you can get a new 10 speed bike from K-Mart or other chain or department stores for a lot less money! (you could still get a VW beetle for $1900 USD and a full size low end Chevy for $2300)
Schwinn dealer used the hard sell on parents, pointing out how their bikes were built like tanks! "Here, pick this up, it weighs 40 pounds! It's kid proof..."!
Most bikes built in the US in the 1950s were substantially welded or brazed. They became the beach bombers and MTBs in the mid 70's.
The companies that made those CHEAP department store bikes knew exactly what they were doing! It wasn't until lawyers stepped in that safety improvements took place!
So no revisionist history or apologies needed!
verktyg
Chas. Retro Grouch