rpenmanparker 

Every now and then a really light, relatively inexpensive bike part will show up in the Performance Bike Shops and online store under their house brand. Then they just disappear. I'm wondering why. I have several of the carbon Professional seat posts at 150 g (350 mm) which cost $79 on sale and also one of the Kinesis-made forks with carbon blades, crown and steerer (350 g after cutting to about 9 inches) which I bought for an incredible $129. Nothing even close to these is available now from either Performance or its "evil twin" Nashbar . How come this stuff makes a brief appearance and then disappears. I find both products to be excellent for my needs. Not perfect of course. The seat posts are the one-bolt type which can be a pain if you lack patience and are still trying to figure out what seat angle you prefer. The fork is a little funky looking, but still functional. Why not either more continuity of offering the original product or replacement of it with something evolved to be even better? Anyone have any insight? Bdop?

Robert

RT

That is peculiar, and I have noticed it too. I tend to lean more toward the standard stuff more because of my weight rather than my inner weight weenie. Have you compared your fork to the one Nashbar sells, maybe Bike Island? I believe Kinesis stuff is spread pretty far and wide.

The things with the performance brand that I gravitate toward are the wheels and clothing.

rpenmanparker 

Yeah, both Performance and Nashbar only have aluminum steerer, carbon forks now as their no name or house brand offerings. I haven't looked for it at Bike Island, but most of what I have seen there is very heavy, steel steerer stuff. In all fairness, they may have very light forks, I just wasn't looking there for them. I will give it a try. Thanks.

Robert

RT

Nashbar has a full carbon for $139 at 350g. It does not state, but I would have to think that means uncut.

Bike Wagon also has a lot of good stuff on closeout. Got me a Ritchey carbon cross fork for $89. Feels like I stole it.

rpenmanparker 

Wow, I'd swear that one wasn't on Nashbar last time I looked. That is a nice deal! Thanks.

topflightpro

Performance has a history of buying things on close-out from manufacturers and selling them cheap. When they are gone, they're gone.

That's why you occasionally see something there that they don't normally sell.

rpenmanparker 

I thought that was only how they operated the Nashbar division, but that Performance practiced a more fixed offering. Regarding the evidence I think you must be right.