Bike Trends and Spending Money
 

How many of you feel the trends in the Bicycle Industry has passed you by, even after you invested so much into bikes, parts and accessories?

popcorn

You know which forum you're in, right? Your question could be the name for this forum.

I have tried to experience them all, if not embracing them all.
Maybe a better question in a different Forum would be, "How much of The Best of Cycling's History have you not experienced?"

Trends like these?
Downtube levers over previous 'suicide shifting' of earlier systems - check
CroMoly and other steel alloyed frames - check
Non-aero to aero brake hoods - check on both
Water bottle bosses (0/1/2/3/5) - check
Rigid mtn bikes w/ flat handlebars for offroading - check
Heart rate chest strap - check
Suspension stems/forks - check
Full suspension frames - check
triathlon frames & time trial bar extensions - pass
Clips&straps - check
Clipless pedals - check
Aluminum frame - check (briefly)
Full carbon fibre frame - check
Titanium frame - check
Mixed metal/material frames - pass
Integrated brake levers & shifting - check
Tubeless tires - pass
Custom frames - check
Single speed - check
Fixie - pass
Tandem - check
Mixte - check
4/5/6/7/9/10/11 cogs on freewheels and cassettes - check
Electronic shifting - check
Disc brakes - check
Hub motor - check
Carbon stems, handlebars, aero bars - not yet.
Throttled e-bikes - pass, not really bikes but still a trend.
3" tires - pass
650b - pass
bikepacking - isn't SAG'd better?
Gravel bike - check, by another name
Hybrid - check, by another name
Indoor cycling - check
Spin class - check (briefly), but really more mash than spin.
Data recording & extensive analysis - is this cycling or just personality disorder?

Never had an ice bike or a hydrobike - how narrowly trendy can we get. :twitchy: :D
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d2be9fbc1a.jpg

isn't that sorta the whole point of consumerism?
You buy stuff and get to liking it, and then the manufacturers come out with something newer and shinier and with one more cog on the back.
You buy it, and it's fine, but you're not sure that it's that much better than the old stuff.
The next year, they add another cog in back and hide some cables or change the shape of a frame tube, and they tell you that you really need it. Maybe you buy it?
The next year they tell you that you don't need so many chainrings up front, and that you need to simplify your life and buy a new bike with fewer chainrings and a special new derailleur.....

After a few cycles of this, I think it's normal to realize that you were happy enough in the early days and don't need this constant cycle of buying new stuff just to have the newest stuff.


Steve in Peoria
(but I did buy a nice digital oscilloscope a few years ago to replace my 30 year old analog 'scope. Who's looking for a nice analog Tektronix scope?)

This is stupid question. Please move on.

Not too stupid at all. Undefined.
Innovations might be a better word in the C&V Forum if talking hardware trends.

I avoided most of the fashion trends, but lycra, padded shorts and (at least) semi-form fitting on a road ride work for me.

Split or cutout saddle trends have suited me.

But I still like cloth bar tape on vintage roadies.

The trend away from sexy ladies in bikes ads, that one kinda pisses me off. But I fully recognize the social trends required by most companies to avoid unnecessary/unwanted controversy.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...459e4f4304.jpg

@Wildwood, you forgot sewups!
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I have only ever bought what i like.....trend or not, so pass my by, I am happy.
Still driving cars from 56, 58, 71with the newest being a 1990 etc.
Trends be Da**D, buy and enjoy what you like., in the long run, one will be happier.
Best, Ben

The cycle industry has passed me by along with many other things in life.
The thing is that I just don’t care.
I embrace the new things I like such as spd pedals and shoes. I pass on things I don’t such as electronic shifting and disc brakes.

Yeah, I have been experimental with some of those new-fangled clincher rims. :innocent:

No.., I feel like I have passed THEM by. I'd walk right past a 2023 Scott Foil to get to a 1933 BSA:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...10bd8eb1cb.jpg

Dang, I was so distracted by her ankle, or what I imagine her ankle looks like..., that I overlooked that she was laughing at the poor guy with the broken chain while she pedaled onwards on her shaft-drive bike. Another example of technical improvements, or at least a technical option!
Plus, you don't get chain lube on your bloomers.

Shaft-drive bikes were an interesting idea and did solve one or two problems. Still, most folks said "meh" and found the chain to be adequate or better.
People still get inspired to replace the chain, though, with the latest innovation being the belt drive. Most folks still say "meh" and stick with chains, but there is a market niche for a drivetrain that won't get lube on your bloomers.

I suppose that innovations for the sake of marketing (i.e. that newest additional cog on your cassette) are different from ones that are trying to satisfy a real consumer need, so most of us will find new tech that we can use now and then, but I like to imagine that most of us outgrow the urge to buy whatever is the newest and shiniest gadget just because it is the newest and shiniest.

Steve in Peoria
(I seem to go for the oldest and shiniest)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dc1691_z_d.jpg

Yes.

Is this a trick question?

You can't be "passed by" if you've chosen not to participate in the first place.

I think that the reason I'm mostly stuck on mid-80's bike technology is that's when I left the bike industry and went back to school.

Bottom line, it's what I know how to work on!

Just the opposite... I feel like I've beat the system that was created to make society feel like buying something makes their life better, or their status greater, or their sex appeal more appealing. But, often, very often... it doesn't. I feel like everything shunned by myself has actually made things better.

This is a zen question: can you be passed by if you don't care (and/or mix and match taking advantage of the best for you)

tubeless: don't care and don't want as an example

Current trends like move away from mechanical shifting and rim brakes just drives the option to use smaller suppliers like velo-orange, rivendell, rene herse..... not limiting in anyway

well....

not to be too nit-picky, but while there may still be some options, the options are reduced.
I can get T.A. Cyclo-touriste rings for my SunXCD clone cranks, but anyone wanting to run their Stronglight 93 cranks are not anticipating buying a bunch of new chainrings.

Heck, even my bike running an 8 speed Shimano cassette.. I'd love to still be able to buy a 12-27 cassette, but all that's on the market is 11-28. The 11T cog is worthless to me, so I'm down to a 7 speed.

I do appreciate the folks who are making repro parts, though! Kool-stop gets my love for keeping pads on more than a few of my bikes! Nitto is making some great stems and bars. MKS is producing low cost equivalents (mostly) to some of our favorite pedals. And of course, T.A. produces an amazing array of chainrings for some of our favorite cranks, and they are high quality products.

Steve in Peoria
(and let's not forget Brooks, maker of my favorite saddles)

Since joining the grown-up cycling world about 9 or so years ago, a number of trends have come and gone, others have become fixtures. I've dabbled in hydraulic disc road bikes with internal cabling, 11-speed (then new), etc. It wasn't for me and still isn't, mostly because rim brake systems are much easier and overall cheaper. Di2 is neat though.

Now, the whole '80s bike thing came and went without me knowing it because I was born then, BUT the resurgence in 'vintage' bikes, what, 10-15 years ago(?), I got in on the tail end of and have definitely spent money and still spend money on that 'trend' even though most of the buying public has very much left it behind. Sigh. Hoping the overpricing (for what one gets) of many new bikes means the cheap/cheaper seats sellers like me get more action. I have...a few things to sell. :lol:

While I think the number of cogs on new bikes is ridiculous what I really don't like is the trend to hide hydraulic lines in body work. It totally sucks for the mechanics and means zero to any rational transportation type cyclist. I'm not really a grant Peterson follower but us unracers do get overlooked by newer fads. Thank goodness old bikes are cheaper.

Is it my imagination that shops are serving people who are recreational riders who don't work on their own bikes?
Granted, I don't even know how much work you can do on a modern bike... but I imagine if folks were working on their own bikes, they wouldn't be buying bikes with hidden hydraulics.

I'm also guessing that most transportation cyclists do a lot of their own maintenance?? If you are counting on your bike to be ready to take you to work, you can't really afford to leave it at a shop for a few days. There are brands that seem happy to cater to commuters and utility cyclists, such as the line of Surly frames and bikes (if they are still around), but that's a small segment of the overall market.

I agree with the general sentiment that "unracers" get ignored, but I'd say that most of the folks I know that ride on the road are not racers, but they are recreational riders trying to go as fast as possible, and are willing to buy a modern bike in order to do that. In the local area, I'm a weirdo because my fast bikes were made in 1982 and have six speed freewheels. The local shops aren't really trying to cater to me, because I only buy weird stuff. I did buy some new SPD shoes at Bushwhacker a month ago, though, and do pick up stuff like bar tape and tubular glue.

I do try to convince folks that they don't need the latest tech or the highest tech, but that cuts down their purchasing options and does require that they understand what the different levels of technology are about. A buddy who is a bit younger than me and rides bikes that are not much newer is just incredibly strong and fast. He makes a good advertisement for the idea that it's not the bike that makes you fast! :)

Steve in Peoria

Just my opinion, but it all went to hell in 1885 with the advent of the safety bicycle.

Wine is now in my nose.