By blackmountaincycles,
Filed under: Industry commentary
Being a luddite, such that I am, is tough. I like to use paper maps. I have a car that has no touch screen, but it does have a CD player and a tape deck (the CD player is broken, but the tape deck works like a champ), manual transmission, and no touch screen. I don’t have a cell phone. All those photos that go on Instagram are taken with an actual camera and then moved to an iPod to upload to IG. Extra steps, but it works for me. That iPod does get plugged into my home stereo system, which is powered by vacuum tubes. At the shop, I listen to a lot of records – vinyl, LPs – played on my turntable. And as long as that stuff I like to use continues to be available, I’m happy.
Monday, however, was not a happy day. I learned that a few items I like to use and sell in the shop are being discontinued. Yes, there are alternatives, but I liked those things. They worked well for me. And they worked well for folks who bought my frames. And now, they’re gone. Discontinued by the companies who made them because they don’t fit with today’s throw-away bikes.
I don’t think I’m alone in the world out there missing these simple items that are no longer available. In some ways, it’s sad that the bike industry is phasing out what, at one time, used to be staples.
What am I talking about? Cantilever brakes and full size frame pumps. I needed to restock my inventory of the Topeak Road Master Blaster frame pump and needed to order some Avid Shorty 4 canti brakes for a build only to find that they were out of stock. Not only were they out of stock, they weren’t even shown. A call to SRAM and Todson confirmed they were being discontinued. There are options. But I like these. And just like that, they’re gone.
The bike industry is moving too fast in a direction that isn’t in-line with what I love about bikes. Change for the sake of change. First it’s ditching the full-sized frame pump, then it’s ditching all manual pumps in favor of CO2 cartridges. I hate the built in waste with CO2 cartridges. And now, fewer mid-range cantilever brakes. Time to update the specs for the Monstercross completes. Jeeze, I miss simplicity.
SRAM and Topeak discontinued these staples
(What’s playing: Eno & The Winkies Baby’s On Fire)
Passion
One response to “It’s Tough Being A Luddite”
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When we were specing out my bike, I asked for cork tape.
You mentioned that real cork is hard to find now, that most of it is foam with cork flakes. So that makes another “luddite” product to the list.
Wait… sugar frosted cork flakes for breakfast!
Mmmmmm….