I’m often puzzled by the reaction of cyclists when it comes to sustainability in the bicycle industry.
While there are signs that things are very slowly starting to change, the global cycling industry remains overall stuck in a business model of designed obsolescence.
Designed obsolescence?
Absolutely! And Shimano is one of the biggest culprits here, though by no means the only one.
We’ve all been taken in by the N+1 fallacy, where the ideal number of bicycles to own supposedly is N+1. Of course, in that equation, N is the number of bikes you currently own.
That’s the myth that limitless 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 that it’s deliberate?
Sadly, yes – that’s exactly what I’m saying. Shimano, for example, is well known for creating new products that are incompatible with what went before. In doing so, they’re trying to force people to buy new stuff all the time.
From a purely financial perspective, that makes perfect sense, as it translates to increased profits. From any other perspective, it’s wasteful, foolhardy and stupid. Sadly, accountants rule the world, and they don’t understand the value of anything, only the profit/loss margin.
N+1 is not a good thing
I’ll keep saying this till I’m blue in the face: Stop. Being. Such. A. Good. Little. Consumer.
You are more than simply a consumer, but all your life, advertising and the media led you to forget that. Your value doesn’t derive from how much money you have, nor where and how you spend it. You don’t become somehow elevated simply by consuming more.
You’re not magically transformed into a higher form of life, purely because you bought a £10 000+ bicycle. And I have news for you: excepting the absolute elite, you’re simply not good enough, or near enough to the competitive edge of cycling as a sport, for electronic shifting to make a blind bit of difference to your overall times.
Stop buying new, and start fixing up what you already own. For example. if you don’t own a folding bike, but actually need one (as opposed to merely wanting one!) then by all means, if you can, go buy one. However, if you don’t need one, why go buy one?
Bicycles can last for decades
This is a secret the bicycle industry doesn’t want you to understand. Most bicycles can last for years, and years, and years. Oh sure, components can, and do wear out. Nobody’s suggesting that you don’t replace them.
However, when replacing them, try and opt for components that will last far longer. You see, shaving off an extra 7.32 grams might be important to Tour de France riders, but I can pretty much guarantee that you and I will notice zero difference.
There is no Planet B
We have this life, on this planet. Colonising Mars is not a realistic option, no matter what Melon tries to tell you. And for that matter, stop listening to what billionaires have to say, as they’re not good people. If they actually cared, they wouldn’t be billionaires anymore, as they’d spend their money trying to eradicate world hunger. Instead, they choose to hoard their money, while paying their employees as little as possible.
Man-made climate change is real, and the evidence is indisputable. Only shills, liars, cranks and idiots disagree with that. The cycling industry, as well as you and me, contribute to that.
We all need to make better choices, and change our ways. And we need to do so fast.