Fixed gears and consumerism
05-07-11 | 05:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Rhythm is rhythm
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City
Fixed gears and consumerism
It is unfortunate that my life, as I'm sure many of yours, is spent a great deal browsing bicycles and parts, completely absorbed in the capitalistic powers of the cycling industry. Too much money is spent on the newest, lightest, fastest bicycle; money that could be going to a more worthy cause.
But though it doesn't completely justify this overindulgence, I think fixed gears bicycles are the far end of the consumerist spectrum. At a base level, there are simply less parts and, theoretically, less money spent. Also, there is a huge interest in steel bikes, which are traditional, cheaper, and put comfort and practicality ahead of speed. It's also cool that most people's non-ss/fg bikes are old steel road bikes.
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say that we spend a lot of money on bikes, but because they are minimal and have a clean aesthetic they start to blur the boundary between consumerism and art, which to me, makes all the difference.
But though it doesn't completely justify this overindulgence, I think fixed gears bicycles are the far end of the consumerist spectrum. At a base level, there are simply less parts and, theoretically, less money spent. Also, there is a huge interest in steel bikes, which are traditional, cheaper, and put comfort and practicality ahead of speed. It's also cool that most people's non-ss/fg bikes are old steel road bikes.
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say that we spend a lot of money on bikes, but because they are minimal and have a clean aesthetic they start to blur the boundary between consumerism and art, which to me, makes all the difference.
05-07-11 | 05:14 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
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05-07-11 | 05:36 PM
#7
Veteran Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,854
Likes: 913
From: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Bikes: 34 frames + 80 wheels
05-07-11 | 07:40 PM
#11
Elitist
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,966
Likes: 94
From: Atlanta, GA
It is unfortunate that my life, as I'm sure many of yours, is spent a great deal browsing bicycles and parts, completely absorbed in the capitalistic powers of the cycling industry. Too much money is spent on the newest, lightest, fastest bicycle; money that could be going to a more worthy cause.
But though it doesn't completely justify this overindulgence, I think fixed gears bicycles are the far end of the consumerist spectrum. At a base level, there are simply less parts and, theoretically, less money spent. Also, there is a huge interest in steel bikes, which are traditional, cheaper, and put comfort and practicality ahead of speed. It's also cool that most people's non-ss/fg bikes are old steel road bikes.
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say that we spend a lot of money on bikes, but because they are minimal and have a clean aesthetic they start to blur the boundary between consumerism and art, which to me, makes all the difference.
But though it doesn't completely justify this overindulgence, I think fixed gears bicycles are the far end of the consumerist spectrum. At a base level, there are simply less parts and, theoretically, less money spent. Also, there is a huge interest in steel bikes, which are traditional, cheaper, and put comfort and practicality ahead of speed. It's also cool that most people's non-ss/fg bikes are old steel road bikes.
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say that we spend a lot of money on bikes, but because they are minimal and have a clean aesthetic they start to blur the boundary between consumerism and art, which to me, makes all the difference.
lolwut?
There is no major capitalistic power in the cycling industry. Name one person (non-athlete) of the Bicycle Industrial Complex that is a Billionaire. Millionaire? Ok, there has to be a few Thousandaires...right?
It's a bike, not a statement against consumerism. It's your fault that you feel guilty about spending money. Excuse me, *thinking* about spending money.
The same Taiwanese worker that built your Kilo TT also built Andy Schleck's Trek.
https://allanti.com/articles/where-wa...made-pg328.htm
05-07-11 | 09:32 PM
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 698
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Leader 722TS, Surly Cross Check, GT Outpost, Haro Z16, Trek 1000
I dont own a car. havent in almost 5 years. The money I would have spent on insurance, maintenance, payments and gas would have been far more than what I have spent on bikes. Yea I buy too much bike stuff. But hobbies cost money and mine happens to keep me fit to boot.
05-08-11 | 12:54 AM
#19
Butt-Nekid Wonder
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Portland,OR
Bikes: 93' bridgestone rb-1
If you feel guitly about buying a bicycle you might as well go chop down some trees, build your house in the woods, and turn your back on civilized life. Unless you hoard bicycles (and some certainly do) I think you have no reason to feel any guilt about buying and riding any bike. Buying a new 150$ crankset has exponentially less impact on the environment, global economy, and any REAL concerns that we are dealing with today than say, buying a turbocharger for your honda civic... Seriously don't chastise yourself for looking at shiny chunks of metal/carbon on the internet and occasionally buying some of them. If you really want to be a more conscious consumer of the bike industry, you can buy only US-made frames and serviceable components which is going to be a b**** if you're not comfortable spending lots and lots of money...
05-08-11 | 01:18 AM
#20
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins, CO
Consumerism is buying for the sake of buying, or buying simply to have rather than to use. Buying something because it works significantly better or because you're going to use it for the useful life of whatever it is you're buying is not consumerism.
One aspect of avoiding consumerism is to buy quality and longevity when you spend money, rather than fuling a culture of disposable possessions.
One aspect of avoiding consumerism is to buy quality and longevity when you spend money, rather than fuling a culture of disposable possessions.
05-08-11 | 11:24 AM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 158
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From: Denver
05-08-11 | 01:43 PM
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Consumerism is buying for the sake of buying, or buying simply to have rather than to use. Buying something because it works significantly better or because you're going to use it for the useful life of whatever it is you're buying is not consumerism.
One aspect of avoiding consumerism is to buy quality and longevity when you spend money, rather than fuling a culture of disposable possessions.
One aspect of avoiding consumerism is to buy quality and longevity when you spend money, rather than fuling a culture of disposable possessions.
I think, as a whole, consumerism is the general societal phenomena whereby previous spheres of social importance, i.e. church, family, community, are replaced by capitalist spheres of sociality, i.e. the boardwalk, mall, Amazon.com, even spaces of fetishized lifestyle like bikeforums.