Why can't the bike industry operate like others?

mrmonkfinger

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Have we as a species lost the ability to enjoy what we have right now, or something?

We never had it. Or at least, marketing convinces us we need next years magic doohickey, this year. Give punters "next years" stuff, this year, so they can feel all wicked cool about having the latest awesome shiznit that not nobody else don't got. Its got bollocks all to do with things that work and genuine improvements, and a lot more about hype.

Which is not to say bike companies don't have solid products, just that the hype machine side of things kinda sucks.

MountainMonster

kammybear wrote:

Guys, I wasn't ranting about every aspect of the industry, just the way reviews and PR is handled.

Someone mentioned Interbike etc but unless it's a 5k bike you can forget finding much info on it online months before it releases.

Maybe they want people to come to the show and SEE the product, especially seeing as most companies have their full line there. This is the cycling industry, not gaming, so why sit at home reading everything online and trying to buy without having even tried the blemmin thing?

cooldad

Makes no difference to me, the only new bikes I've ever bought have been old models on sale.

EH_Rob

UncleMonty wrote:

benpinnick wrote:

If the bike industry was like gaming, it would only release one bike per company every 6 months, and then some bikes would take 10 years to get into production.

And you'd have to put up with random crashes, they'd promise to fix this in the next patch but it would get even worse.

Please explain how this is not like the games industry.

Zziplex

The industry is 'bent' imho, the bike media know this but can't say anything because sponsorship pays their wage.

But I suppose innovation (even if we don't need it) gives us something to read about.

cooldad

Zziplex wrote:

The industry is 'bent' imho, the bike media know this but can't say anything because sponsorship pays their wage.

But I suppose innovation (even if we don't need it) gives us something to read about.

At the risk of turning this into a tin foil hat thread what on earth does that mean?

compositepro

it means they dont bite the hand that feeds them ,even though they will deny it ,

a bit like political parties you wouldn''t slate your biggest investors....oops i mean contributors

Fucking PR you mean kissing arse dont you

cooldad

No, he said the industry is bent, and although the media know this they won't report it. I want to know what that means.

Advertisers will advertise where there is circulation.

benpinnick

Lol. Sounds like some sort of conspiracy theory developing. Trust me, having worked in the industry, its just dysfunctional and most of the way things are done is because 'they've always been done that way'. No-one is out there scheming against you. Even the big guys.

Dirtydog11

DVD based game, cost to make one unit about £1, sell for £40-50, so if you have a stack left at launch of the new one and sell at half price, you still make a stack of profit.

You forgot to factor in the six-seven figure sum that will be required to pay several programmers, a couple of designers and a producer for a year or two.

Then you have distribution, advertising and licensing costs. Assuming the game sells the developers will eventually get a small percentage of the retail value, it's seriously high risk!

YeehaaMcgee

benpinnick wrote:

Lol. Sounds like some sort of conspiracy theory developing. Trust me, having worked in the industry, its just dysfunctional and most of the way things are done is because 'they've always been done that way'. No-one is out there scheming against you. Even the big guys.

Yeah, but they're "big". And in this modern world, that has to mean they're "evil", right?
You know, like "big business" "big corporate" "big oil" "big media" and "big pharma" etc.
Don't you know anything?

cooldad

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

benpinnick wrote:

Lol. Sounds like some sort of conspiracy theory developing. Trust me, having worked in the industry, its just dysfunctional and most of the way things are done is because 'they've always been done that way'. No-one is out there scheming against you. Even the big guys.

Yeah, but they're "big". And in this modern world, that has to mean they're "evil", right?
You know, like "big business" "big corporate" "big oil" "big media" and "big pharma" etc.
Don't you know anything?

That sounds like my obvious. Big. And out to get you.

YeehaaMcgee

Yeah, whatever. I lay here waiting for months, and still nothing. so I've given up on you.

cooldad

Nobody expects the Big Obvious! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...etc...

YeehaaMcgee

Oh fu** off, you'r not even Spanish.

mrmonkfinger

97th choice

Anyhoo, I would suspect that manufacturers vary their launch date to ensure that current stock is at a suitably low level first. Sparbuch anyone?

felix.london

I don't really understand the problem. Who cares? if/when/why the new models will be released. Why do we need to know? They'll be released and then you'll know.

If you've got cash in your pocket and want/need a new bike - I'd suggest buying something that is actually available..now

97th choice

Plus, specs seem to be going down year on year rather than up.