Hunter et. al:

It is true that there are many pieces on our bikes that were produced using chemical processes. It is true that synthetics aren't biodegradable. But like veganheart stated, this is not the issue at hand.

I for one wouldn't really have any issue with animals used for food and bike seats if the conditions for them were the same as they were 100 years ago. As veganheart accurately pointed out, the current factory farming conditions are atrocious, and if witnessed would probably cause many here to choose not to support the industry. Choosing veg*ism is a simple act of using our capitalist system to reduce demand for a product. These efforts have not been in vain, as attention has been given to factory farms and many stores/restaurants are choosing to go with farms that have a better history of treatment toward the animals.