Technical products aside (computers, cars, etc that are made in ultra modern factories), the majority of goods (tools, clothing, toys) are made in quite crummy factories with a “what gets by the inspectors is good quality” policy. my first factory visit where I saw families sitting in groups on the floor hand-building floor jacks (fortunately no young kids, but maybe that was hidden from the visitors).

One evening I asked our Shanghai office manager why the bills were in such small denominations…as I paid for our non-exorbitant dinner with a stack of relatively-high denomination bills. Turns the price of our dinner in Shaghai was about the same as a worker’s monthly pay outside the city.

As NF stated, the price we pay for some of these items may be low, but the term “low cost” is quite deceiving. Often these products are “dumped” into the market…sold to US/EUR companies for less than they cost to make. There are no retirement plans for the workers. No environmental guidelines. and so on.

We also tend to think these days in comparison to the lowest price alternative rather than to the highest quality alternative. Compare a Toyota to a Hyundai and you’ll think differently than if you compare that Toyota to a Ferarri.

It turns out this is not the case with bikes, based on my quick look.

A standard bike from 1914 cost roughly $20, using this:

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/eaa/ephemera/A00/A0055/A0055-05-72dpi.jpeg

as a guide.

That’s about $385 today, which is still roughly the cost of a decent mass market bicycle. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe that bike is super cheap or super expensive by 1914 standards.

But assuming about $20 was normal for a bike in 1914, a $1500 bike in 2009 dollars is indeed expensive by historical standards. You’re paying for the lack of scale.

The biggest problem is not that there are $1500 bikes (I don’t see why people are always affronted at the existence of products they don’t want), but that we don’t expect enough of our $400 bikes.

There is no reason not to demand quality out of everything you buy. If you’re inspired by the stuff on ACL that’s out of your range, with enough shopping around or you can get stuff just as good within your range.

Everyday, affordable stuff used to be of a lot higher quality. Apparant savings coming from cheaper processes, overseas labor, and the like aren’t necessarily being passed along to the consumer.

Ummm I know Tony, he is an awesome man, but his bikes are built in Taiwan, he only designs them.

“Gravel Racer? It’s a fixie. No gearing, no brakes. What does that have to do with gravel? I think it’s cool looking. Hang it on your wall. I ride 100 miles/week here in Seattle and my son rides 200+. This is a good bike for all the flabby assed cigarette smoking young poseurs riding their fixies on flat ground in their skinny assed black jeans, no helmets, and studded belts, all looking the same. This bike is a poor investment unlike the Rivendell that was mentioned, which has great shifters, derailleurs, & brakes!”

ummm what are you getting at? Fixies (I hate that term), can cover a lot of ground from track to cross to winter trainer. I’m sure the term “gravel racer” is a nod to “path racer.” but yeah saying all fixed gears should just be called “fixies” is pretty dumb.

Secondly rivendells are over rated over priced and not made in the US. If you want to compare this to something geared and brake made in the US it would be ANT bikes. Also what the hell are you getting at with your mileage and the way hippsters dress and other bullshit? Many of these skinny pants, cigarette smokers blah, blah, blahs put in as may miles as you. It does not make them more or less of a cyclist. I used to put in 110 miles a week commuting in NYC on a track bike in skinny black jeans (ok mostly jean shorts) and at least another 200-300 miles doing randonees, cross races or just tooling around on pub crawls. By your seeming logic I am more of a cyclist then you. You know what? I’m not I’m just another fool enjoying my bike.

Gravel Racer? It’s a fixie. No gearing, no brakes. What does that have to do with gravel? I think it’s cool looking. Hang it on your wall. I ride 100 miles/week here in Seattle and my son rides 200+. This is a good bike for all the flabby assed cigarette smoking young poseurs riding their fixies on flat ground in their skinny assed black jeans, no helmets, and studded belts, all looking the same. This bike is a poor investment unlike the Rivendell that was mentioned, which has great shifters, derailleurs, & brakes!

My kid builds super cool mechanically excellent fixie bikes all the time for a few hundred dollars, utilizing vintage parts. Where do hipsters get the $ for this thing?

If most people still can’t even hope to afford it, what’s the point?”

Because in the current climate, domestic companies can’t compete against cheap bikes from china, but they can compete against more sophisticated bikes from for example the Netherlands. It’s not supposed to be a bike for everyone, but rather a bike for people who want a well designed, us made quality bike.

Now lets sit back and daydream about owning one of them!