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I consider the bicycle market to be totally a lemon market, so why not get the cheapest lemon, sometimes. The most irritating part is the lack of standardizati

by Decade 10y ago

I consider the bicycle market to be totally a lemon market, so why not get the cheapest lemon, sometimes. The most irritating part is the lack of standardization. Every bike needs its own cassette remover and its own bottom bracket and its own brake pads. I’ve had 3 different road bike wheel diameters, 5 different crank standards, and 10 different axle standards. And then the big brands like Shimano are all too happy to have their name and parts associated with everything from crappy BSOs to luxury bicycles. Rarely do these details appear in the Craigslist ad, nor the bike store ad, even if I had the inclination to memorize the Shimano part list. Many ads don’t even list the length of the bicycle. I’m not sure about the “plenty of life” thing, either. Usually, I ride a bike for a couple years, and then some part of the frame cracks. Disappointingly, this almost never happens to the cheap department store “mountain” bikes. Usually, for those, the bottom bracket breaks.

jdietrich 10y ago
The lack of standardisation is frustrating, but it's certainly no worse than the car or motorcycle industry. The good news is that replacement parts never really go out of production, even for completely obsolete standards. Parts tend to get much cheaper with time - you can buy a perfectly usable 7-speed freewheel for $9 or a square taper bottom bracket for $12. >I’m not sure about the “plenty of life” thing, either. As long as it isn't left out to rust, a lugged steel frame will outlive its owner. Aluminium frames might be corrosion resistant, but they'll inevitably fail due to fatigue cracking. A properly maintained set of quality wheels will last ~30,000 miles before the rims wear out. Quality tyres and chains are usually good for at least 3,000 miles, cassettes are good for 10-12,000 miles if the chain is replaced before it stretches.

by Decade 10y ago

jdietrich 10y ago

The lack of standardisation is frustrating, but it's certainly no worse than the car or motorcycle industry. The good news is that replacement parts never really go out of production, even for completely obsolete standards. Parts tend to get much cheaper with time - you can buy a perfectly usable 7-speed freewheel for $9 or a square taper bottom bracket for $12. >I’m not sure about the “plenty of life” thing, either. As long as it isn't left out to rust, a lugged steel frame will outlive its owner. Aluminium frames might be corrosion resistant, but they'll inevitably fail due to fatigue cracking. A properly maintained set of quality wheels will last ~30,000 miles before the rims wear out. Quality tyres and chains are usually good for at least 3,000 miles, cassettes are good for 10-12,000 miles if the chain is replaced before it stretches.