Originally Posted by
oddjob2
Who actually knew what a ports tourer was 30-40 years ago? As a teen, it was an upright bike, a ten speed, or a real racing bike. You didn't have access to the Internet to learn about all the bike design details, just the glossy brochures.
The real racing bikes, the PX-10 or Paramount were so expensive and priced for adults. As a kid, if you had some money, it was UO-8, Grand Prix or Super Course, otherwise a department store junker like a C. Itoh or a Ross. I remember then, the brakes were hard to keep setup because I didn't have the hand size or strength, and getting the bike to the LBS wasn't easy because we had a series of sedans, not a station wagon.
Mountain bikes were an instant hit as they were perceived as rugged, easier to balance on with wider tires, and wide gear range. To this day, there are many who find the skinny tires and drop bar ergonomics intimidating.
Yep, no one would have know what you were talking about if you said sports tourer. It was 10 speed, simple as that. You were lucky to have one. My first bike was a department store 3 speed that weighed about 45lb, which wasn't much less than me at the time. Eventually I dropped about a year's paper route money and whatever xmas cash I had on a motobecane super mirage. It was a good 10 speed!
By 15, I was working in my LBS, and got to see the mountain bike phenom first hand. Like you imply, people were sort of afraid of skinny tires and dropped bars. They were more comfortable with the upright bars of a mountain bike, and didn't have to worry about hitting a pothole or whatever. It didn't really matter that they never intended to ride off road. I suppose it's kind of like how 90% of the people who own 4wd SUV's never drive on dirt ever.