Atlas Shrugged

There is the saying that “All roads lead to Rome” on BF it should be “All threads lead to C&V”

3alarmer 

.
...I hope my anniversary this year goes better than this thread.

calamarichris

Sigh... I miss the days when engineering and craftsmanship were prized over marketing, greed, and cynicism. I weep that they're over.

PeteHski

Those anniversary groupsets were pure marketing.

calamarichris

Maybe. Have you seen the 25th Anniversary group? Jewels! Too beautiful to put on a mere bicycle and wear out. Jewels, worth hanging on your walls.
I know it's ridiculous, but some of us fetishize bicycles.
I don't disagree with you, I just try to explain my sickness,

3alarmer 

...so you're saying that selling bicycles and components doesn't involve "marketing" ? Interesting take on it.

icemilkcoffee 

For somebody who likes to argue so much, you are not very good at it
I never offered any guesses. Notice I didn't say 'this would sell like hot cakes' or 'this would never sell', or 'Shimano thought this' or 'Shimano didn't do it because of this reason'. You're the one making guesses.

You are getting warmer. I deliberately left 'missed opportunity' vague because 1. I don't know why Shimano wasn't considering it, and 2. I don't know if a groupset is even the best way to celebrate the 50th anniv. All I know is Shimano should have done something to commemorate the occasion. Instead they did nothing. Hence missed opportunity. Any more than that would be speculation and guesses.

Oh really? So Shimano is infallible like the Holy Scriptures! Hear hear! Nobody is allowed to criticize Shimano any more. If they did something it's because they know what they are doing. If they didn't do something that's because they know what they are doing. You don't need to know what their reasons are. Amen.

Which unsupported claim did I make? I said an 800lb gorilla can still make mistake. I am not saying Shimano necessarily made a mistake in this instance. Understand the difference?

Anyways this is my last post on this subject. I love to argue too, but arguing with you is just not very interesting.

smd4

So? I wish the DA 25th Anniversary set had been marketed far more heavily to me. I didn't even know it existed until many years after they had sold out.

ScottCommutes

You all are badly misinformed internet trolls. Shimano did make a 50th anniversary groupset - I have one that Shimano sent to me special - I'm sorry they didn't put any of you on the list.

It is truly a thing of great beauty and I hung it on my wall to admire.

I'd post a pic or two, but the velvet lining of the case is black, and the parts are the darkest possible black, and you just can't see anything at all.

PeteHski

It was just ironic in relation to the post I quoted.

smd4

Gotcha.

Atlas Shrugged

There are numerous NOS 25th Anniversary groups available with a simple eBay search starting at $4,000, which is equivalent to modern group prices.

prj71

Holy crap. The bike components we have now are well engineered and crafted. They are just black instead of looking like shiny jewelry bits. Your statement couldn't be more off base.

smd4

Point being, I might have been able to afford the group in 1998, had I known about it.

Not so much now.

calamarichris

I miss the days when the best engineering and craftsmanship was the best marketing.

PeteHski

Were they hand made by Shimano “craftsmen”?

The Chemist

I dunno, Di2 engineering and craftsmanship (even at the 105 level) is pretty top notch. I never realized what the fuss was about until I actually upgraded to 105 Di2, and it's a revelation. That's engineering, not marketing, greed, or cynicism.

calamarichris

Well that's cool man. Just don't let the batteries run down.

njkayaker

You were guessing it was a “missed opportunity”.

Now you are putting words in my mouth. I never claimed Shimano was infallible.

In any case, the issue is whether Shimano is better at business decisions than you (who knows nothing about their business).

If people are allowed to criticize Shimano, they are certainly allowed to criticize you. Stop complaining.

You keep missing that you know nothing!

It’s a “missed opportunity” based on you knowing nothing.
This is a lot of words that end up not really saying anything.

Being vague doesn’t mean you aren’t guessing.

First, you said not having an anniversary group was a missed opportunity and here say you “don’t know”. “All you know” is that they should have done “something” but don’t have any idea of what that should be. You talk about “missed opportunity” but don’t say what that opportunity could be.

This is dumb. You said it was a “missed opportunity” but provided no reason.

Again, it’s the “missed opportunity” nonsense.

Atlas Shrugged

This same ridiculous debate has been occurring on BF for over a decade and that’s the best you can do? How about the advantage of a horse over a car is you could run out of gas, so we should all go back to horses. Why did you start this thread in General in the first place when obviously you were just trolling a C&V argument and really not interested in Anniversary groupsets.

calamarichris

You're a very friendly, kind, and gregarious man. Are you truly a fan of Ayn Rand? That would explain a few things. I promise I wasn't trolling, and I was earnestly curious why Shimano decided to forego their 50th after the 25th was so beautiful.

Atlas Shrugged

Yet all you do is criticize anything built since the 25th group. You wouldn’t want or appreciate a 50th group even if they built one.

Regarding my beliefs. I will say they have served my family, my employees, myself and my community well.

calamarichris

As a solemn, solemn 7800 fanboi, I take grave exception to your remarks, Sir.
I just recently gave away my 7700-equipped bike and I wept afterward. It is such a gorgeous bike and was the darling of my eye. I only hope whomever ends up with it will live half the joy that I did while it was mine. I loved that bike and we accomplished so much together.

3alarmer 

...I concluded some time ago that he must be John Galt.

georges1

Quality wise the 7800 is one f the highest quality Dura Ace groups ever made it even beats the 7900, 9000,9100 and 9200 in terms of robustness and reliabilty. I am also a 7700 lover but still prefer the 7800 to it. Prices of the DA 7800 spare parts have been skyrocketing lately.