Originally Posted by
ijsbrand
Same reason as why bikes do not come with tenders, luggage carriers, or lights pre-installed. The olde bike seen just as sports equipment versus bike as a serious and useful means of daily transport conundrum.
How many bikes come with their chains protected against the weather in a standard encasing?
This is it exactly... the bikes as toys mentality.
While in Finland, I noticed that the majority of bikes on the street and being offered at bike shops had locks, racks, fenders, lights and "skirt protectors" for the back wheels all as standard equipment... the options were: single speed, three speed, or real derailleur.
You could order a Trek or other "American Style" bike, but the bikes in use, and on the shop floor were robust utility bikes.