Curt Goodrich wrote:
>
> (cut) I completely agree
> that the days of lugged steel frames are essentially gone from the pro
> peleton but I don't believe the agent of change was the riders. It was the
> manufacturers of the bicycles that created the change. There's nothing
> sinister about it, just capitalism.
So the manufacturer creates the changes and the pro rider is paid to ride whatever the manufacturer comes up with?
It is an accepted fact that there is input from the pro riders in the design of racing bikes. I'd agree things like paired spoke wheels are totally marketing (and stupid), but over the last hundred years the things that are not competitive get discarded. I'd say the agent of change in the pro peloton is ultimately competition. And everyone concerned, the maker, the rider, is working toward a more competitive bike.
It will be interesting to see if ideas/concepts like "compact" frames survive (I think not; poor engineering). If lugged steel was competitive in the pro ranks it would still be around.
Chuck Schmidt SoPas, SoCal
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