Originally Posted by
BFisher
The first thing that comes to mind is the marketing and how many people fall for it.
Take grease, for instance. There is already a sufficiently huge variety of grease to choose from that is readily available at lots of retail stores all over and will easily keep a bicycle operating as intended. But no. Bicycles somehow need "special" grease that comes in a "special" smaller container, and of course costs way more.
One of my eye rollers also. I'm particularly amused when I see vintage grease sold on eBay, such as the Campy 'Special' Grease tubs, which can easily go north of $100 for a partially used tub of 30-40 year old grease that someone found at a garage or estate sale.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...&LH_Complete=1
I've got one of these that a bought about 40 years ago for about five bucks. Still 2/3 full and mainly used for buttering seat posts and bolts. Something in a tube works better for bearing cups.