Paying more for less

[sickpup]

I had to drop into Honda Chiswick earlier today and I was passing the old Olympia there was a commuter furiously pedalling his 1x hardtail and not getting anywhere due to the low gearing and it made me think.
The bicycle industry likes people to pay more for less so we now have the latest 1x transmissions that are so low geared as to be useless everywhere except on steep hills which cost more than a triple. It reminds me of when they introduced light weight 28 spoke wheels which cost more than a 32 or 36 hole for less spokes on the same rims.
It seems to me we are going back to where mountain bikes are extremely specialised and not the do anything bike they were in the 90's and the punters are being charged more for less versatility, what do you think?

 

[Lhatch4]

It's a bit like paying the big money for the Porsche that has little red nylon straps instead of door handles and comes without a radio. Shhhhh.... quiet... you aren't supposed to notice that you are getting less. Your getting more performance.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Rubbish; the spread on a decent 1x12 is comparable to a 3x9.

32x10 (typical modern 'top' gear) is the equivilent to 42x12, and spinning out he'd be doing well over 20mph.

he was either going downhill or didn't know how to use his gears.

 

[d8mok]

I’ve got several 1x bikes and I assure you aren’t spinning out unless you are 25mph and over.

I doubt many on here average 15mph on a ride let alone anywhere near needing 30’mph gearing.

 

[BlackCat]

It's a bit like paying the big money for the Porsche that has little red nylon straps instead of door handles and comes without a radio. Shhhhh.... quiet... you aren't supposed to notice that you are getting less. Your getting more performance.

I mean.. I’d happily pay more for less for one of those, if I could actually find a dealer that would sell me one at rrp..

 

[benjabbi]

A 12 speed Shimano 10-51 cassette is 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-33-39-45-51
A 7 speed Shimano 12-28 cassette is 12-14-16-18-21-24-28
So the 12 speed has the same ratios as the 7 but with the 10t taking the place of the outer ring and 4 lower ratios taking the place of the granny ring. Just choose the front ring size to bias the gears higher or lower depending on your preferences.

 

[Lhatch4]

I mean.. I’d happily pay more for less for one of those, if I could actually find a dealer that would sell me one at rrp..

That dealership is located right next to the Rolex dealer where you can walk right in and buy a steel Daytona or Submariner at retail.

 

[sickpup]

Rubbish; the spread on a decent 1x12 is comparable to a 3x9.

32x10 (typical modern 'top' gear) is the equivilent to 42x12, and spinning out he'd be doing well over 20mph.

he was either going downhill or didn't know how to use his gears.

Just had a quick look on Evans and the completely random 1x bikes I looked at either had a 32/11 or 30/11 which is a fair site lower than the 48-12 I have on most of my bikes and 52-12 I have on my road use Trek 8700.
He also probably didn't know how to use his gears but the point is still valid that you don't get anymore but it does cost you more in that these systems are more expensive and used on higher cost bikes.

 

[greencat]

Well, taking this argument to its extreme - Argos will happily sell you a bike made out of pig iron for under £100. Paying anything more for a lighter bike means you are getting far less value for your money.
I was ditching the outer chainring for a 36x12 highest gear back in the 90s on account of dodgy knees and a preference for technical rocky trails. I could get up to 40mph downhill on the road without a problem on it. As far as I'm concerned, the rest of the world has caught up - although I sympathise with the point about expense of 1x (and consider my 2x7 set up back then as pretty much the pinnacle, but that could be nostalgia speaking).

 

[legrandefromage]

Oh look, the usual suspects pop up like floaters in a kids paddling pool, always with the same 'I'm great and you are all wrong'

Over and over again

Why dont you discuss how great you all are on other websites that are there for discussing how great you all are so you can all one up each other (figuratively and literally) and argue among yourselves as to who is really the greatest.

Dont forget to quote those oh so precious strava times

Or

Just sit and listen to our bones creaking as we get out of any chair after daydreaming of the year we managed an average 19mph over 26 miles on our old tat that you love to flog us on this site but instantly decry to all that you hate riding in just about any given topic?

My personal worry is that many frame designs just limit the use of a larger chain ring full stop, there is no alternative option.