Originally Posted by
Darth Lefty
I won a Priority Classic in a contest a few years ago and rode it for a year. It was intended for this role. I liked the idea. It was noticeably lightweight, mainly due to not-overbuilt aluminum frame and cockpit, and lack of extra things that would make it heavy.
Sounds great! Except...
As you see it, five hundred smackers.
Ouch!
Not blaming the company - economies of scale are a thing.
But when the right solution is a rare $500 item and the wrong solution is mis-targeted $100-200 BOS from the local big box, it's no wonder what we see on the paths and streets.
Tech companies aren't necessarily price sensitive for a perk like campus bikes, and even to the degree that they are can look at cost of ownership not just initial sticker price. But average folks - especially those who may economically need a bike - are going to go with what they can scrape up to buy at the local store (or get cast off from someone who previously did), even if it's a piece of junk that will soon need to be replaced.