#!markdown
With the stark exception of Shimano the bike industry is already well known
for introducing first year products that are half-baked (poorly thought out,
balky, high percentage of failure). The recent wave of innovations and rush-
to-market mentality will probably mean that there will be a cascade of "first
year products" year-over-year-over-year.
There will no doubt be a time when the rush to innovate for the sake of
innovations will abate and the technology platforms will have a chance to
mature with the emphasis switching from look-at-me-I'm-so-new-and-wonderful to
actual quality assurance. However, this is clearly now not the time.
With this in mind I'm personally checking out of the gear frenzy and my
personal bikes will be conservative specs. Perhaps 5+ years down the road
perhaps the bike industry will mature.
So yes, the industry does what it does. And the inevitable continues as fairy
dust is pooped and scooped by consumers.
As for Cam's article, consumers (and particularly internet forum posters whoa
re mainly enthusiasts) being salivating Pavlovian lemmings frantically
grasping for shiny new things this will never change. They are easy fodder for
marketing.
April 22, 2015, 8:21 a.m. - Lee Lau
#!markdown With the stark exception of Shimano the bike industry is already well known for introducing first year products that are half-baked (poorly thought out, balky, high percentage of failure). The recent wave of innovations and rush- to-market mentality will probably mean that there will be a cascade of "first year products" year-over-year-over-year. There will no doubt be a time when the rush to innovate for the sake of innovations will abate and the technology platforms will have a chance to mature with the emphasis switching from look-at-me-I'm-so-new-and-wonderful to actual quality assurance. However, this is clearly now not the time. With this in mind I'm personally checking out of the gear frenzy and my personal bikes will be conservative specs. Perhaps 5+ years down the road perhaps the bike industry will mature. So yes, the industry does what it does. And the inevitable continues as fairy dust is pooped and scooped by consumers. As for Cam's article, consumers (and particularly internet forum posters whoa re mainly enthusiasts) being salivating Pavlovian lemmings frantically grasping for shiny new things this will never change. They are easy fodder for marketing.