livedarklions

That's where the adjectives come in.

fietsbob

-integrated sealed bearing headset
> have one on just 1 bike ..drops in in machined head tube.
- plastic pedals with reflectors
> Ergon have 2 sizes.. they're a special self lubricating plastic bushing (Could be Teflon) not a sealed bearing
-V-brakes > have 1 cable type.. (on my Bike Friday Tikit) ... Magura HS33 hydraulic rim brakes are mounted on V brake frame posts
- Mini V ... is said to solve supple fork ringing chatter better than center pull cantilevers.
-mostly silver components to avoid black paint that rubs off and looks cheap {Velo Orange is really into that} or (stick to Black Anodizing)
-Schrader tubes > like the Schwalbe AV, with the threaded stem..
; thru axles > solves issue for people who can't get the QR done up proper on disc brake forks
: kickstand plates > mid mount they're the best way to fit a kickstand..

livedarklions

What you call a "DUI bum rider" is probably someone more dependent on their bicycle than me or thee, and it's ridiculous to call that putt putt. Frankly, we're just assuming the badly dressed person on the cheap bike is doing it because they lost their license. You don't know whether they actually could afford a car.

Basically, I object to the elitist coopting of the word because it really is about limiting it to people who can treat cycling as a luxury. It also misses the point, people willing to drop top dollar to get small performance advantages are really a tiny minority of people who ride bikes.

Bob the Mech

If you can produce 250 cycle units per day, hold enough stock frames and parts for two months in lieu, have a net work of retail outlets to supply, find a reliable carrier firm and a reliable source of all parts from the far east...you may just about make a profit. I won't go into marketing, promotion, R&D and customer support that just complicates things.

shelbyfv

Back on topic, Black Mountain Cycles https://blackmtncycles.com/ seems to be making a go of small batch production/sales. Of course the owner had quite a bit of prior bike experience with an understanding of the market. He's said to be a nice guy and accessible. Probably be willing to give OP some tips, given they would be marketing to a different clientele.

Reflector Guy

Reminds me of some of the photography forums where the conventional wisdom suggests that one isn't a "photographer" unless one shoots with a $5000+ Leica "M" camera, and travels via rickshaw to remote tropical villages to shoot weary single mothers haggling over a few pieces of pineapple with the jaded street vendors st the sidewalk market. At the foot of an active volcano of course.

shelbyfv

As I said, I'm moving to "cycling enthusiast" and giving over "cyclist" to the big tent folks. Probably some photography equivalent.

Phil_gretz

Go to the local coop and look in the discarded crankset bin. You'll find dozens with chainguards. Thank you, cyclists.

Bob the Mech

You can't fight progress...

Are you talking about custom bike builds for each and every client, where their individual needs are met over mass produced general specifications to suit the masses? I build all my rides from scratch. I try not to buy the components that I can't reuse or I'm give nearly new (been very lucky with that one). I build them to suit my needs. It's a noble idea...but a coslty one. No economy of scale = higher unit costs per capita. A large scale manufactuer can produce a bike say for $1000...If as an individual, you had to build that same bike to order it could cost you twice as much. Add on a profit margin (got to pay for your labour some how) sales and income taxes, a bit to cover health insurance and your retail price to the client goes up, but the 'value' of your product goes down. And we haven't even ventured into work premises, rents, leases, business rates...

As for the variations in bike design there is no standardization as such, as each manufactuer wants to be a little different from the other. No one wants to be a Henry Ford: Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black. And different cycles do different thing for different people. And it all comes down to 'you gets whats you pays for'...or more aptly 'settle for'. Yeah, it may seem a compromise but the masses don't seem to mind, or just don't care and look for the best bang for their buck. There's nothing wrong with your ideas...but stepping backwards, tech or design wise, to step forward means standing still...

Now if we are talking about builds where all parts are supplied to you by the customer...well, that's a whole new ball game.

Bob the Mech

To answer your question.

Aluminum frame & cro-mo fork with front & rear eyelets for racks & fenders Yes to alloy frame and cromoly forks as long as they take 27.5 and 700c wheels and no
press fit bottom brackets.
Hollowtech II 46/30T crankset with chainguard No... 1 x for functional simplicity which means no chain guard.
Iintegrated sealed bearing headset Yes
Sealed bearing plastic pedals with reflectors No... SPDs, I've a spare set kicking about. so no pedals required
V-brakes for hybrids, mini V-brakes for road bikes No...Discs (minimum requirement TRP Spyre cable) just save replacing rims.
Semi-slick tires like the Kenda Drumlin or Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Yes
Mostly silver components to avoid black paint that rubs off and looks cheap Yes
Schrader tubes No...as wheel rims above require Presta valves
Thru axles Yes...though cromoly forks with thru axles aren't that plentiful
Kickstand plates No

All sounds very much like a multi surface trekking / touring bike that I require...How much will that cost me?

hybridbkrdr

In reality, I think I know what this person means by not available. I've looked over and over again. First, some specific ones found on some online stores in Europe from Shimano are often out-of-stock. Second, the SKS Chainboard may not work on some cranksets. I tried to install one on a Sugino XD350 for my touring bike and found out even when I tried modifying it at two places, those cranksets were just too close to the Chainboard and rub on it. (I figure it's because it's more a road type than mountain type.) In any case, I did find a solution on eBay because I found one with 4 holes and 12cm between each hole. However, I had to use a hacksaw to cut around the crank so it would fit. (It wasn't molded properly.)

hybridbkrdr

Don't mind the stupid sounding question but are you saying in terms of braking power road calipers work better than mini-Vs? Apart from tire clearance why would V-brakes even be used so often? In that case they should have direct-mount caliper brakes on a lot of bikes regardless of how difficult it is to replace a flat tube.

hybridbkrdr

Yeah, I understand it does look random if I say I don't have the money to start a bike company but want to know what people think. Thing is, after my sister asked me for a bike recommendation and I started looking at all kinds of manufacturer's web sites (Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, and many more) I practically started panicking. I know there may be fewer and fewer rim brake fans out there but for simplicity on the road if you were traveling or going far, I would just prefer them. Besides, who's going to do grocery shopping with a carbon fork with a rack and panniers on it? I mean if you'd hit a pot hole you'd be wondering when it's going to explode. Right now bikes with rim brakes are often the lower-end models.

There may very well be at some point a real market for Alivio or Sora or Deore or Tiagra bikes (or even Acera or Claris) that have V-brakes or even large Direct-Mount caliper brakes with rigid forks and aluminum frames with either cro-mo or aluminum forks.

hybridbkrdr

I'm not sure it wouldn't be innovative. In some ways, going retro on certain things may actually be appreciated by some customers. I mean Bianchi has a L'Eroica vintage bike and Schwinn also has sometimes some classic edition bikes.

hybridbkrdr

1. It could rust, it's heavier.
2. Double or triple crankset it more convenient.
3. Maybe some people would like a road bike with more flexibility.
4. Which part do you mean would repel customers? The 27.5" tires or slicks? I read an article saying that 650b allows you to have larger tires without making compromises on frame geometry. I meant semi-slick tires which would reduce road buzz that could numb your hands.
5. I meant obviously if you're traveling or going long distances. Rim brakes are more simple.
6. OK, seems fair but I don't see why thru-axles shouldn't be used on rim-brake bikes. I mean it looks far safer than 9mm QR. I've had a rear wheel almost come off with 9mm QR.

hybridbkrdr

Well, that was one idea. It doesn't relate completely to everything addressed in this thread.

hybridbkrdr

46/30 cranks started appearing on hybrids with generic brand names. There are some other ones by Shimano like the square taper Tourney and a Hollowtech II model in the non-series (think it was something like MT201 or whatever although it was riveted).

70sSanO

Just buy your sister one of these...

https://salsacycles.com/bikes/journe...bar_claris_700

... and you won't have to worry about the fork rusting.

It would sure save a lot of headaches.

John

Kapusta

I think those are mostly the same design, just different sizes.

I bought one of those a few years back. Could not get it to fit on either of two bikes I tried it on, even with extensive hacking.

In my experience, fitting a chain guard on a frame not made for one can be pretty challenging. There are so many variables and ways a guard won’t fit. What it came down to for me is going through a number of tries with ones off of junked bikes, and it took a bit of ingenuity (and hacks) to get one to fit that did not look like crap. Then I needed to repaint it.

Flip Flop Rider

go steel on the whole thing

Pop N Wood

Not sure why people think mechanical discs are harder to repair in the woods than rim brakes. Hydros yes, mechanical no.

If anything discs are more tolerate of damage, think riding with broken spokes or a poorly maintained out of true wheel.

Do people honestly worry about a front fork rusting?

70sSanO

No.

Only posted that because OP said steel frames rust, but wanted a steel fork.

John

Ferrouscious 

aka a gravel bike, a market with plenty of choices.

hybridbkrdr

OK, but from my point of view I think some should be available with V-brakes or caliper brakes.

mstateglfr 

Why would anyone need to wear tights to ride a bike to a location?
Just wear shorts. Or pants.
A $3 reflective pant leg tie keeps pkeepsclean and out of the chain. Or a $12 bash guard can do the same.

Everyone has different needs, but 'commuter' bikes are a small part of the US cycling world and therefore a small part of components because commuters are a small part of spending as a whole.