£1000+ for a groupset and its only got 12 gears

[Blue Hills]

That headline:

5 reasons why this spells the end for front derailleurs

is particularly bonkers/grovelly

You also have to remember that this story was doubtless fuelled by a big PR launch/junket/entertaining/shoving of food and drink down journos' throats.

I used to inhabit that sort of world.

In short -sod all that - I've just bought an entire new bike (last year's model but better than this year's for its purpose) for £700 - it rides beautifully and is perfectly capable of taking me round the world. I'd love to see how far someone gets on that groupset.

 

[Blue Hills]

I would rather spend £1200 on a new groupset than the same on fag's, booze, big cars etc.

you could always spend it on a punctuation lesson.

sorry, couldn't resist in view of the somewhat uncritical tone of your post.

 

[Blue Hills]

More choice, more sales, more "standards" and more obsolescence.

Give a few years and the next best thing will be 26ers, straight 1" head tubes, steel frames and triples

very wise words. You are either of a certain age and have seen stuff or young and wise beyond your years. My 20 year old hybrid is very similar to some "new" flat bar tourers.

 

[TheDoctor]

More choice, more sales, more "standards" and more obsolescence.

Give a few years and the next best thing will be 26ers, straight 1" head tubes, steel frames and triples

I'd noticed that.
29" MTB - isn't that a hybrid with slightly wider tyres?
27.5 (which is a bloody stupid name, but anyway) aka 650B - so, much like the old 26 by 1 3/8 with a wider tyre?