Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 2,167
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Marriage writes, "Third, it’s just another example of something lovely, free and non-corporate being turned into a mega industry. And that makes me sad. Can’t we have some things which don’t get packaged up, branded and marketed?"
Excuse me, but where has this bloke been the past 20 years? And when was cycling free? When his parents bought him a bike?
C'mon...this guy simply laments change; it's nothing to do with cycing specifically. I'd bet he just doesn't feel his life is all that great, and seeks to externalize his frustrations on whatever's at hand, be it bikes, successful people, or popular businesses.
None of which is to say that there aren't legit complaints to be made about social and economic shifts; there absolutely are. But, cycling cannot be cordoned off from greater trends and blamed for what he thinks it has become. Even were Marriage's perspective more comprehensive, it wouldn't be right to consider cycling in a vacuum where Rapha is evil and Brooks saddles only cost £40 for unknown reasons.
Reading to understand the author, the article is characterized by myopia, resentment, nostalgia, and loneliness.