I’m often perplexed by the reaction of cyclists when it comes to sustainability in the bicycle industry.
Although there are signs that things are very slowly starting to change, the global cycling industry remains largely stuck in a business model of intentional obsolescence.
Planned obsolescence?
Absolutely! And Shimano is one of the main culprits, although it is by no means the only one.
We have all been fooled by the N+1 fallacy, that the ideal number of bikes to own is supposed to be N+1. Of course, in this equation, N is the number of bikes you currently own.
This is the myth that unlimited growth is possible on a planet that is a closed ecosystem with limited resources.
Unlimited growth is the strategy of a cancer cell and it will ultimately lead to our demise.
Are you saying this is deliberate?
Unfortunately, yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Shimano, for example, is well known for creating new products that are incompatible with what came before. In doing so, they try to force people to buy new stuff all the time.
From a purely financial point of view, this makes perfect sense, as it results in increased profits. From any From another point of view, it is wasteful, reckless and stupid. Unfortunately, accountants run the world and they don’t understand the value of anything, only the profit/loss margin.
N+1 is not a good thing
I will continue to say this until I am blue in the face: Stop. Be. Research. A. Good. Little. Consumer.
You are much more than just a consumer, but all your life, advertising and the media have made you forget that. Your worth does not depend on how much money you have, or where and how you spend it. You don’t get high just by consuming more.
You’re not magically transformed into a higher life form, just because you bought a £10,000+ bike. And I have news for you: Except for the absolute elite, you simply aren’t good enough, or close enough to the competitive advantage of cycling as a sport, for shifting Electronics make a blind difference in your overall times.
Stop buying new and start repairing what you already have. For example. if you don’t own a folding bike, but actually need one (instead of just wanting one!), so sure, if you can, go buy one. However, if you don’t need one, why go buy one?
Bikes can last for decades
It’s a secret the bike industry doesn’t want you to understand. Most bikes can last for years and years and years. Of course, components can and do wear out. No one is suggesting not replacing them.
However, when replacing them, try to opt for components that will last much longer. You see, shaving off an extra 7.32 grams might be significant for Tour de France riders, but I can pretty much guarantee that you and I won’t notice any difference.
There is no planet B
We have This life, on This planet. Colonizing Mars is not a realistic option, no matter what Melon tries to tell you. And by the way, stop listening to what billionaires have to say, because they are not good people. If they really cared, they would no longer be billionaires, since they would spend their money trying to eradicate world hunger. Instead, they choose to hoard their money, while paying their employees as little as possible.
Human-caused climate change is real and the evidence is indisputable. Only idiots, liars, cranks and idiots disagree with this. The cycling industry, as well as you and I, contribute to this.
We all need to make better choices and change our habits. And we must do it quickly.