A few years ago, it used to be discussed here that Brooks were too traditional, lacked marketing sophistication, and underpriced their products. All that has certainly changed under the new Italian owners. They now employ spinmeisters the equal of anyone's, and some of their products are far from cheap.
Personally, I liked the old Brooks better, but I have to confess the new ownership probably gives Brooks a better chance at survival. And while some of the accessories, and for a while the Ti saddles, have been outrageously priced, the actualy street price of Ti saddles has come down of late and the steel railed saddles are quite reasonable. They have even introduced new models at reasonable prices, including a steel railed Swift, an "econo" version of the Team Pro with steel rivets, and the Brooks Imperial which is priced more reasonably than I expected it would be.
I'm not a fan of the "lifestyle" and "image" marketing strategy epitomized by the link under discussion, nor am I in the market for a $409 messenger bag, but it is probably worth the annoyance if the new approach can keep Brooks in business and producing their traditional products in England where they belong rather than in Taiwan or China.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: Steve Maas <bikestuff@nonlintec.com>
\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] Hetchins in Brooks ad
\r?\n> To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
\r?\n> Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 6:49 AM
\r?\n> There are some more pictures in the
\r?\n> Brooks site; see especially http://brooksengland.com/
\r?\n> . Also identifies the bike as a 1956 Hetchins, not 46, which
\r?\n> it seems more like, to me.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> The bag's only $409, too. I think I'll take a dozen. Maybe
\r?\n> two.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Yes, I think that is silver Benotto bar tape.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Steve Maas
\r?\n> (cold and rainy in)
\r?\n> Göteborg, Sweden