Originally Posted by
UniChris
Manufacturing is drastically more automated today. Think about it, and there aren't really any more steps in producing a sound basic bike than a BSO - actually there are fewer parts to be made. They just need to be very slightly better, the heat treat of the BB axle needs to not end up screwed up in occasional batches to the point where it produces cheese or glass, etc.
Wait I thought you said you wanted some "kid" in a back room to put these bikes together for virtue or something???
So I'll explain again, for what - the fourth time - what I said in the post immediately above yours, which is that it would have to be a shift of all parties, not just a unilateral change by one. To repeat again what was in the post literally above yours, neither "hey buy this" or "I want" works by itself, it would take both together.
Right you want a granny bike We got it. No one else wants that bike.
No, that's near double what it needs to cost.
And looking at what they do sell, shows it's possible.
I am trying to follow your scheme here.
You want to start a bike brand that builds a kinda budget bike with features from the 70's that wont be as "cool" as a walmart bike.
You want to build the bikes and pay the workers with virtue.
You want a huge distribution network (this part I assume, I'm sure you don't want to leave out poor Appalachian Americans and only service mega cities.)
You want a dealer network for service so the consumer can keep this junk on the road.
I guess my question is did you survey these poor folks you are trying to help?
I work with people who think I am completely nuts for riding a bike to work everyday. I have spent most of life in horrible low income neighborhoods. I have never in my life meet a single mom who did her banking at the check into cash that said you know what would make my life better a bike to ride to my crap job/jobs. I have never meet a guy version of that person that had any interest in biking. those people need/want cars they have to transport kids carry tools time is not a resource they have riding bikes is wasting time(mega cities may be a exception)
You mentioned this isnt all about commuting. well that brings up the a question if its recreation. what makes you think poor people that are bike nerds want a feature less bike to play on?
Originally Posted by
Koyote
In other words: if the consumers would simply demand it, and the producers would simply produce it, we could have these bikes that you want at the price that you want.
Got it.
Sounds more like the government should mandate this to me. Its really the only way all the things described could ever happen in a country this size.