State of the industry: a running thread

[clubby]

I’m somewhat sceptical of the environmental claims of any company whose business model is to manufacture in the Far East and ship to the UK.

Cotic are in the process of moving production to Europe. Some of their full suss stuff is already made in Scotland by Five Land Bikes and the latest version of the Solaris is now made in Czechia.

 

[Russell]

Cotic are in the process of moving production to Europe. Some of their full suss stuff is already made in Scotland by Five Land Bikes and the latest version of the Solaris is now made in Czechia.

Glad to hear it!

 

[Splatter Paint]

At the moment really quite mediocre spec bikes are strong money. Loading more production costs is going to hammer the market further. I don’t think Joe Public really thinks about the carbon footprint of a bicycle.

 

[FluffyChicken]

No one ever mentions that global warming has a positive effect in that we need to burn less fossil fuel to heat our homes because the outside temperature is higher. That's a good thing, right?

I think we might need @al-onestare to get us back on track.

Apart from all the people turning on the air con to cool the room, yet also making it warmer that they're trying to cool down from.

 

[Takingabreak]

Apart from all the people turning on the air con to cool the room, yet also making it warmer that they're trying to cool down from.

But of course, air con is usually powered by electricity and electricity is green, it has to be green, given that electric cars are considered green, right?

 

[bikeworkshop]

Green motoring is riding your bicycle.

Specially if it's 30 years old already, and has already done 10,000 miles like my vit t.

We produce 2.5 MWh per year off the roof pv - same as our electric car uses.
It's not green though. That power could've been used to grow food, or heat the house.

 

[al-onestare]

No one ever mentions that global warming has a positive effect in that we need to burn less fossil fuel to heat our homes because the outside temperature is higher. That's a good thing, right?

I think we might need @al-onestare to get us back on track.

Yep! Climate views and opinions are best shared elsewhere.

Many, many points raised in the article I shared before. I really recommend folks read it. You may not agree with it, or parts of it, but it's certainly food for thought. This may sound incredibly obvious, and we've called it out, but it's refreshing that someone who was in the industry actually says it as plain and simple as this. Also, the clip he references is spot-on.

As much as brands want you to believe there is real perceptible differentiation in the product, there is not. 10% increase in frame stiffness per weight. 12% reduction in air drag. 4% increase power transfer. Half a degree slacker heat tube angle. Oh please. Stop it. The perceptible marginal improvements in product performance have been diminishing for years in this industry and even when there are perceptible advancements, the barriers to imitation are near zero. As it pertains to product, this clip from Silicon Valley is the most important business lesson on the internet.

 

[Russell]

Easy for him to say…. Now his job doesn’t depend on keeping quiet.

 

[N-plus-one]

Despite titanium´s supposed ´rarity´ it´s actually one of the most common elements on the planet & if you go to the trouble of making something from it properly it doesn´t require painting & practically lasts forever.

Failures of titanium products are generally due to them being designed too thin, the use of the wrong alloy for the particular application, or incorrect welding procedure.
(welding should be done in a vacuum or a 100% inert atmosphere)

Things that don´t need replacing are surely the most sensible use of resources & the manufacture of such products are well within our capabilities.
No company wants to hear that though, because profit.

Also, if we´re talking about materials being ´damaging´, look up chromium´s carcinogenic qualities.

PS: plants love co2, what they don´t love are ´green´ products being put into landfill because they´re made of substandard tat that doesn´t last.

Nail, hammer... Like it or loathe it, we live in a consumer society where turn-over is required by companies; because turnover = costs + margin - and the margin is what makes the BoD/Shareholders happy. For evidence/examples research domestic "white" products and cars: they are designed to require replacement at regular intervals. Keep consumers on the hampsterwheel.

 

[N-plus-one]

I know what you mean, planned obsolecence, but the ´solution´ (to the misrepresented problem) that we´re being sold is just more of the same only more centralised & of lower quality. The ágenda´ is a huge con.

This is one of many of these sites:

I totally agree. I try to keep my posts balanced and not extreme - but I'm opposed to consumerism as a way of living, and my opposition grows with each year. The problem is that people accept consumerism as a necessity, not realising there are other ways. Ways less damaging to environment, health, society. People dont realise because they are conditioned by marketing (and governments) to be consumers.