People can make up their own minds, but by suggesting this or that I am doing nothing different than what the industry does - and I think they should have more choice at lower price points.

This is what they usually get told they should have (unless they spend quite a bit more for a regular road or mountainbike):

Heavy overbuilt frame with large tubing.
Slow steering.
Front shock.
Overbuilt heavy adjustable stem.
Crank with chainring guard - sometimes with unremovable chainrings.
Very large spread heavy cogset with bail out gear - regardless of where they live.
Large lycra covered gel padded saddle.
Huge shifters.
V brakes.
Big treaded tires.
Large double bent flat bar.
Thick ergonomic grips.

Options I think they should have to choose from:

A standard butted steel or aluminum frame, with bosses for a rear rack and fenders.
Medium steering.
Solid fork.
A good saddle (can be wide or sprung).
Appropriate light to medium weight high rise stem.
Standard 110 crank, or mtn. equivalent.
Med to low gear drivetrain appropriate to location. (Shops CAN switch these out.)
3 speed or 7 speed hub with 1x drivetrain.
Single speed.
Installed lightweight fenders and/or rack.
Simple integrated front and rear battery powered light for visibility (not fancy).
Coaster brake.
Chain guard.
Drop, swept, or flat bars.
Caliper brakes.
Good 35mm to 42mm file tread, or touring tires.
26 OR 700c wheels.

For more money they shoud be able to get the following:

Dyno hub. (By special order, assembled and shipped with bike.)
Basket.
Panniers.
1,2, or 3 ring crank.


You can get some or all of these things, but the the price goes up significantly the more “standard” equipment you get. It doesn’t have to be that way, most of them don’t cost any more than the “budget” versions.

I think these are the sorts of things people want, smaller independent companies are doing well selling them at very reasonable prices, but you don’t see them so much from the big guys or in shops.