|   Disposable Bikes? | The Weasel
Mar 28, 2002 7:51 AM | | Tonight I am tossing my bike in the trash. Why, because MBA said so of course. Here is list of their calculated life expectancies as per their most recent issue.
Aluminum 2 years
Carbon Fiber 4 years
Titanium 5 years
Steel 7 years
Thank God they have cleared up this new standard. As a result several changes in the bike industry will result. Seven will be renamed Fiver, all Cannondale frames will be stamped CAAD(2) -ending the Lifetime warrenty on all frames and helping to diswage the great Crack'n'fail debate), and each company will now stamp a Born-On date on the BB tube, so we all know when the bike becomes scrap metal.
Yes, most of us will have new bikes or want them within those time frame, but people are buying high end steel and Ti frames so that they won't need to buy another down the road. MBA claims that with regular maintenance, and lighter riding style, the life expectancy can be increased by 50% (adding a whopping 1 year for all of us who ride Aluminum FS's).
I enjoy looking at MBA, and take most of their reviews with a grain of salt, but this to me, seemed like a load of crap. |
| Damn..... | FreeRangeChicken
Mar 28, 2002 8:06 AM | | I thought I'd be riding my new Seven for the rest of my life. Maybe I should chuck it and go buy a Walmart special.
I should call Seven and see if I can get two back.
FRC |
| re: Disposable Bikes? | Rode Warrior
Mar 28, 2002 8:09 AM | | Hmmm, well, I just put a new/old fork on my 7 yr old C-Dale frame. Now since this fork is steel, and the frame is aluminum, how does this affect my calculated life expectancy. I don't konw the age of the fork, but it's a rigid steel fork. Any help would be appreciated so I know when to throw my bike away too.
:)
"Look ahead, always look ahead" |
| Advice please... | Ska!
Mar 28, 2002 8:27 AM | | My GT is 3 years PAST its expiry date and I was going to convert it for commuting. Now, I'll already have cars and crazy drivers to contend with and the last thing I want is to have to worry about riding an expired bike! What should I do??
This sucks!
Ska!
..what a dumb article. |
| best example i found of "disposable" | Jrm
Mar 28, 2002 8:28 AM | | thought this was it. |
| Nice Trials bike mod...... nm | BCRider
Mar 28, 2002 10:40 AM | | |
| Ah, Mountain Bike Fiction mag | Jive Tolkien
Mar 28, 2002 8:32 AM | | Wonderful publication. |
| Ride faster. How to fix a flat. Brake adjustment made easy. | Bikebreath
Mar 28, 2002 8:39 AM | | If you read the bike mags long enough you get one of two things; a new way to re-CYCLE "The How Too's" or you get to see the desperate editors attempt to come ups with something new. You just found an article from the second category. Most people imagine they have a great life riding bikes, getting swag and writing about it. I've been in the newspaper biz and when you finish one deadline and are immediately slapped in the faced with another that requires ANOTHER brain storm to come up with ANOTHER angle, it can be daunting. I don't envy them a bit.
I haven't bought a MBA in 5 years, but I might get the next issue just to see the mail they get.
Bb, [ looking forward to seeing Weasel in print. ] |
| I read that article and it seemed like so much bull...... | Rev Bubba
Mar 28, 2002 8:48 AM | | Maybe if you are a Pro level racer you might go through things as fast as they say but I sure don't and don't know anyone who does. The occassional breakage maybe, but nothing with a lifespan as short as they claim. |
| Ah, but that's the thing.. | S+J
Mar 28, 2002 9:03 AM | | They try desperately to cater to the racer. What they don't realize is that 90% of their readers don't even race sport-class and don't give a flying fock about this article. People buy a $600+ mountain bike, they (rightfully) expect it to last a lot longer than what MBA is estimating, doubtless of frame material. If MBA had their way, my 2-year old Rockhopper would be in a recycling bin somewhere.
Clueless and irrelevant: The words that best characterize MBA, and the reason why I no longer subscribe to their waste of trees.
S.J |
| it seems Twinkies have a longer shelf life. nm | The Weasel
Mar 28, 2002 9:07 AM | | nm |
| Isn't the shelf-life of twinkies.... | FreeRangeChicken
Mar 28, 2002 10:03 AM | | ....longer than the radioactive half-life of Uranium? |
| Copyright violation | Fiver
Mar 28, 2002 9:12 AM | | Unless this means that I now own Seven.
MBA is worthless. |
| re: Disposable Bikes? | mcd
Mar 28, 2002 9:56 AM | | Show this to your non riding signifigant other and see if it works though! |
| Good angle..... | FreeRangeChicken
Mar 28, 2002 10:00 AM | | "See honey, it says right here that I have to buy a new bike" |
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