Bike design is full of cascading effects: Now we can make wheels out of carbon fiber. But they delaminate on big descents, because the brake track gets too hot.

Bike design is full of cascading effects: Now we can make wheels out of carbon fiber. But they delaminate on big descents, because the brake track gets too hot. And this is worse on clincher rims which are displacing tubulars on high end bikes. So now road bikes need disc brakes. But the cheap mechanical disc brakes are worse than rim brakes on alloy rims. The effects of these changes are different at different price points. The game is to sell "sporty" bikes to a mass market of riders who want a racy feel but who seldom if ever race. Every year both technologies and prices change and product formulation is driven by these changes.