Cycling Thread

Originally posted by timnoyce That's cool Chris! on another note... who recently said this...<span id="Deion" ="Normal"><span lang="EN- US">"It's always a no brainer if I want to ride a product myself and as for the Transition Bikes team, anyone who would divert during a business trip to visit Slough as fans of the Office have to be on our business wavelength, we're looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship."</span></span>

Nice Video

Originally posted by getafix not doing down the technology or the general pimpy- ness of these bikes at all, but how easy is it to start a bike company and quickly start charging £1000+ for just a frame?? cost of these things is barmy....might sound like "glass houses" coming from a dinghy sailor but even at the micro-manufacturing volume scale most dinghy gear is made at, the margins and competition keep most gear at reasonable levels, whereas I'm wondering who's spending £5k+ on a new MTB?  c'mon hands up!

The majority dinghy market as I constantly point out, is not really image
driven.

If it were then brands like "Rooster" "Musto" "Magic Marine" "Gill" etc etc
wouldn't stand a snowballs chance...

But then again nor is the majority bike market.

But the bike offers more than just a hobby/action leisure pursuit, it is
more multi faceted than sailing from a leisure stand point.

If you consider the sport from a slightly altered perspective and view it as
another 'wind driven' activity that shares it's potential consumer base with
kite surfing, windsurfing, kite mountain boarding then its weaknesses
become all the more apparent.
Hence why it is incapable of sustaining the sort of prices and margins that
the more image opinion lead action niche sports do.

Back to the question at hand, how easy? It's not now.

In every sport occasionally opportunities arise as a particular activity gets
radicalised by the more active/aggressive types that find a way to develop
a product not catered for by the mainstream, bringing with it a boutique
brand label then company's can spring up on the 'new wave'.

Bike had a recent surge with the all mountain outback downhillers needing
longer travel forks and beefier almost moto styel suspension systems and
regions like the Pacific North West brought about niche brands like
Transition.

It happens in dinghy world. The MPS is just such an example and is
probably the best of a bad bunch image wise, with RS a close second imho

But the mistake made as again I've frequently pointed out, is the divorce
from the reality of the customer base's ability to sustain employment and
the necessary skill to enjoy the product.

Which limits the market and thus the volume and thus the profitability
long term.

I'm rambling sorry...

Just in the process of getting a road bike. Its only costing around £200 so nothing great. Just wondered if you guys found it actually made a difference to your sailing fitness? I cant get out in the 300 much at uni and suffer because of it when i do sail at events. Im using it to get to uni and back 3/4days a week instead of the car (when its not raining). Its 4miles and relatively hilly. How long will it take? and will it help my sailing fitness for those times i cant sail?

Any particular makes/ models to avoid?

cheers guys

its not a fact of getting the boat to and from the sailing club each time (no free boat spaces). Its a pain getting it all packed up every time i go sailing.

RS300. so plenty of hiking (which is where i die after not sailing much all term).