Originally Posted by
badger1
If there was a demand -- any demand aside from a few isolated individuals -- for such a bicycle the major manufacturers would make it and sell it. But there isn't, so they won't.
The rigid, v-braked, aluminum-framed Giant ATX of a couple of years ago is a perfect example. If there was any real demand for that bike, and resulting sales, Giant would have kept it in production. There wasn't, so they didn't.
I'm tempted to think it depends manufacturer is doing it. I'm not a fan of the price of the Surly Bridge Club but saw some very positive comments from tourists. If a model like this were specifically advertised with aluminum frame and front and rear racks with V-brakes, well who knows.
Kona made the Dew City with V-brakes but used a bottom bracket that was criticized online and smaller than the rest of the Dew line. So yeah, maybe it didn't sell.