From my neighborhood Specialized dealer:



We've come a long way in 40 years.

I just need to walk into my garage for that comparison. One of the bikes I ride often is over 40 years old.

Interesting display idea, though, but one might think the dealer could pick a more modern bike for the "now" example. Steel frame, threaded quill stem, and SS/FG don't exactly scream "40 years of progress"!

Not that there's anything wrong with the way that new display bike is set up; it's just that you could've built a pretty similar bike 40 years ago. Carbon fiber, threadless stem, brifters, indexed shifting (electronic, even)... those are things that have changed in the past four decades.

I believe the "Now" sign is taped on and meant for humor. I doubt that was entire display and more than likely there is a "Now" bike to the right of the "Then" bike that is out of frame.

I guess it went right over my head. That would make sense. Too much thought for me. If I was in Chico, I'd skip the bike shop display window and head for the Sierra Nevada brewery. :-)

There's not. The fixie is the "now" bike.

That shop doesn't really carry fixies. Not sure if there are any on the floor. Pretty much your normal selection of road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrids. I wonder if one of the mechanics stuck their sole fixie in the window as a joke?

The brewery doesn't sell pints of pale for a buck though.

...but I'm willing to pay more than a buck for the selections they usually have on tap.

They're not even that good. Just big.

Go to the north bay and wine country if you want beer that's worth paying more. Lagunitas, Russian River, Bear Republic...

I'm originally from the North Bay. Got it covered. ;-)

The concept of a bike is pretty much mature. Materials, weight, number of gears will change but a bike is a bike.