You have choices in terms of what products you buy and which companies you support. In virtually every category there are alternatives that offer longer support/service life.
I'm avoiding anything electronic on my mountain bike. I don't foresee a problem staying that way through the next decade. I'll worry about the following decade when I get there.
Having to buy parts online because it makes more sense to warehouse less commonly used older parts in a few locations with a searchable database as the interface is, to my mind, a superior solution than having a LBS try and stock those parts. It's less costly for them and I am more likely to actually get the part I was after more quickly.
Where possible I try and support companies I can call and speak to a human that actually cares about my concerns and knows what's going on. My FS bike frame was made in the US. My fork was made in the US. Had I waited just a little longer to buy it so would my shock...next time. Unlike a megacorp when you call up smaller companies and say hey I have an older product of yours can you help me keep it rolling they actually try and help you out. Digging around and finding a box of old parts or cannibalizing product sent back for warranty.
I just sold a 9 year old FS mountain bike and had no issues keeping it running. I expect the friend I sold it to will ride it another 9 years without any problems either.
If you have to have the latest greatest most hyped bling from a megacorp you are at their mercy, but let's be honest those folks are looking for any excuse to get rid of that ancient 1 year old bike and buy something new. The product obsolesce cycle is actually a win-win for both parties....despite the faux-protests about "being forced" to buy the latest new bling in matching ano with their spoke nipples.
Although I am not a pro-moped my heart does hurt just a bit for folks buying a $10K electric mountain moped who don't realize that it will be unsupported in a few years and there will be no used market for it either.
Nov. 2, 2018, 7:01 a.m. - Vik Banerjee
You have choices in terms of what products you buy and which companies you support. In virtually every category there are alternatives that offer longer support/service life. I'm avoiding anything electronic on my mountain bike. I don't foresee a problem staying that way through the next decade. I'll worry about the following decade when I get there. Having to buy parts online because it makes more sense to warehouse less commonly used older parts in a few locations with a searchable database as the interface is, to my mind, a superior solution than having a LBS try and stock those parts. It's less costly for them and I am more likely to actually get the part I was after more quickly. Where possible I try and support companies I can call and speak to a human that actually cares about my concerns and knows what's going on. My FS bike frame was made in the US. My fork was made in the US. Had I waited just a little longer to buy it so would my shock...next time. Unlike a megacorp when you call up smaller companies and say hey I have an older product of yours can you help me keep it rolling they actually try and help you out. Digging around and finding a box of old parts or cannibalizing product sent back for warranty. I just sold a 9 year old FS mountain bike and had no issues keeping it running. I expect the friend I sold it to will ride it another 9 years without any problems either. If you have to have the latest greatest most hyped bling from a megacorp you are at their mercy, but let's be honest those folks are looking for any excuse to get rid of that ancient 1 year old bike and buy something new. The product obsolesce cycle is actually a win-win for both parties....despite the faux-protests about "being forced" to buy the latest new bling in matching ano with their spoke nipples. Although I am not a pro-moped my heart does hurt just a bit for folks buying a $10K electric mountain moped who don't realize that it will be unsupported in a few years and there will be no used market for it either.