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SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/27/2024 11:26pm
I think for commuters it absolutely will be. There is a long running trend in economics where products shift from sole purchase upfront to utility payments, it occurs with almost everything. You go as far back as lighting, use to buy candles or wood, now rent electricity usage. Compute for companies, you use to buy your own server, now you...

Jason_Schroeder Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/27/2024 11:19pm
When I was at Sea Otter last week, I asked a few brands, "What's the state of the bike industry post-COVID?" Most people's responses were broad and not super in-depth, but overall, most people are optimistic looking forward. And the brands that are feeling it the most didn't plan appropriately for the inevitable decline in demand after the COVID boom. Here is the audio from the conversations: https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/state-mtb-industry-post-covid
This forum topic has 5133 replies.
Counter point, going into the jump with more speed and scrubbing to stay low and hit the sweet spot of the landing could still be faster even though you don't land perfectly straight and lose speed sliding off the lip and on the landing. As the other option would be, take the same amount of speed, gap far and not...

SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/26/2024 11:34pm
I haven't worked bike company side, but I've seen quite a few shop accounts and a few friends work in shops and the majority of their money is made on low end bikes, parts and servicing. High end let's say $5k+ AUD bike sales are just so rare relative to selling 10 kids bikes and helmets etc etc. The thing...

SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/26/2024 12:58pm
We all know the majority of money is made on basic low end models and commuter bikes going forward. As an industry insider, how much do you think the brands value the cool marketing material and brand value from mountain biking, to sell their commuters and bulk bikes? I think for the big brands that's a very key part, and...
That's fair. Good contribution. There's a few shuttle trails I ride with some big grade reversals so you don't need to brake a lot and you still get arm pump from what little braking their is. But the brake fatigue, and arm fatigue culminating at the bottom of a run is a good point. It's a double whammy. On the...

sprungmass Liked a reply to forum topic Nerding out on Brakes shall we? Not another tech deraliment

4/26/2024 12:42pm
Wild to see counterfeits on WC level. There I said it. Maybe they should've used their "Loongze" logo https://www.ixigua.com/7234433545815786041?wid_try=1
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So comments like this always have me thinking. Does anyone really lack the finger strength to brake? You know forearm pump is from holding onto the handle bars and moving your body around right and not primarily from braking? Idk, I use to rock climb, so maybe it's different for me, but I've never been concerned with can I pull...

1llumA Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/25/2024 8:08am
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sethimus Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/25/2024 7:45am
now do wage/cost of healthcare its not what you earn but what you have after your basic needs are paid
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SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/25/2024 7:45am
This is too off topic but I'll give one last reply then move on. If you seriously believe that America is a worse place on minimum wage than south Africa et al you should take a flight to Joburg. Yes America has an enormous poverty rate, however we're not discussing that, were talking minimum wage employment. The fact you don't...

Primoz Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/25/2024 12:48am
But minimum wage only comes into play with manual labour production processes. That's why a lot of carbon manufacturing is off shored. A cnc costs what a cnc costs. And what is the price of electricity going around the world to power those machines? That's part of the reason why a lot of stuff can still be made in the "western" world even though minimum wage is much higher. You just gotta automate the heck out of it.
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SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/25/2024 12:48am
Yeah absolutely. It also shrinks supply chains, lowers inventory costs, improves turn around and development. It's why lugged tubbed frames are so good for small size manufacturers. But also useless for large scale manufacturers. Their cost per unit is OK at high prices, but they really don't scale and get cheaper. It's why brands like We are One have to...

SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/24/2024 11:21pm
As Verbal Kint said above this is just totally wrong. Even the lowest paid jobs in America are supremely wealthy compared to other G20 countries. India, Indonesia, Turkey, Argentina, China and South Africa are all in the G20. If you think minimum wage in those countries is better than the US, your delusional.

Verbl Kint Liked a reply to forum topic The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/24/2024 11:18pm
Indonesia, which is part of the G20, has a mandated monthly minimum wage of $315 in Jakarta, the most expensive city. It gets as low as $128 per month in the more remote islands. Note that businesses often pay lower especially if there's no one doing an audit. India, also a member of the G20, has a minimum wage in the same ballpark in her big cities and highly urbanized areas. In the more rural states, it can get as low as 6,600 rupees a month, which is less than $80. The average minimum monthly wage in all of India...
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SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

4/24/2024 11:10am
I'm most interested in pad life tests. All the top brakes are fantastic in my eyes, they all behave slightly differently but all provide more than enough power to lock a wheel, anything more than that is unnecessary. It's about lever feel and heat dissipation for me, lever feel is subjective. But I'd love to see heat dissipation tests. Some...

SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread

4/23/2024 11:38pm
Oh I totally agree with this. I don't think your statement and mine can't co-exist though. Mass market products are never going to on-shore in an significant way. High end, or boutique products have a better chance to on-shore now than ever. Now in sales figures, Taiwanese frames will still sell more and more each year (ignoring downturns) but as...

SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

4/23/2024 12:14pm
What's the point of that? We're not after a caliper test, the pads and rotors that come with it is much relevant as most people buy brakes as a system first. I do think a rotor test with 1-2 calipers would be good. And potentially a pad test. But they were doing a brake test, we buy brakes as a...