Good Job Nate! I loved this from an Old Guy Industry standpoint - find a voice, make unique, professional content, be friendly and approachable and finally, educate in a cool and respectful way. Kudos sir, and shoutout to the Mayor of Moab!

I don't know... What is our definition of affordable? there are plenty of $50-500 new and used bikes available. If affordable means everyone can get a great bike regardless of income, then bikes are not affordable. The exact same can be said about cars, refrigerators, skis, etc. But when I read complaints it usually sounds like riders simply don't like the level of bike they can afford and want better.

When we say there "aren't enough high-quality low-end bikes out there" isn't that just saying we don't enjoy the Cheap Bike experience? The open market ensures that bikes that cost $500 new are pretty much as light, durable and cost-effective as they can get. Is that $500 bike as fun or durable as a $2000 bike? Obviously not. Does that mean bikes are inherently too expensive? No, because the same logic applies to everything we might want to buy and it becomes a matter of priorities. If good bikes are my jam, I can't buy an expensive car. If I love a garage full of sweet cars, I have to pay less for housing. If I can afford all of them, great! If I can't, it's not the fault of the bike, the car or the house market.

Loved the part about Product Launch Day - At a company I worked at we called Launch Day "Why We are Dicks Day" because we'd get to hear why we were dicks for not making three bottle cage mounting points, or for using Boost, or for not offering the bike in blue. =)