I'm an Obsolete-ist

Like death and taxes, mechanical contraptions use parts that wear out inevitably.  Shock absorbers, steering parts, brakes, and cooling components are on the top of the list for cars.  I sell them hundreds of them every year.  In the world of bikes, tune up parts like chains, cassettes, cables, and tires get replaced regularly.  I give my Specialized Tarmac S-Works the spa treatment every spring...a new chain, cassette, tires, cables, etc... and it feels like a brand new bike.  I'm addicted to the feeling of a freshly tuned bike, dialed in just right.  It takes me longer than most riders to get a new bike dialed in, then it's a fight against time to keep it there before foreced obsolescence rears it's ugly head.

I’d love to meet the people in charge of determining wheater or not a part is worthy of continued production.  I envision nerds pecking at Hewlett-Packard 12-C calculators, plugging in half baked data while sitting in monochromatic office.  Regardless of whatever I think the process looks like, I know it’s not easy.  Anyone who can do math in Reverse Polish Notation commands my respect.  But everyime me or someone I know falls victim to the cost/benefit analysis of an overworked, undercafineated bean counter, the world gets a bit darker.  And a bike or car potentially dies!

A friend recently loaned me his Specialized Crux and it was brilliant!  Except for the fact Shimano decided a broken shifter wasn't worth making any longer.  Finding a compatible replacement lever was an annoying and expensive endeavor.  My friend wound up finding a 1st generation Di2 lever, leaving his bike mismatched.  Let me tell you, riding a bike with two different levers is like walking with two different shoes on.  And so a fairly new bike has been relegated to the life of loaner bike.  Destined to never be reequipped with expensive new components, but never be totally “right” because an “obsolete” part broke.

With the adoption of 12 speed drivetrains, I’ve begun to plan for the future of my 11 speed mechanical(!) Sram Red equipped S-Works.  I’m sure the bean counters have given it's top shelf 11 speed parts an expiration date.  One I’ll likely learn when my chain starts jumping teeth on a beautiful morning, miles from home.  In college I got a C- in finance, but I think $650 spent on spares to easily keep my bike rolling for the next few seasons is a smarter move than a $2,200+ "upgrade" for an extra gear and electronic shifting.  

So if any component manufacturers are reading this, take notes from Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW…or even Campagnolo!  Keep supplying replacement parts longer than the numbers suggest.  Lean into the heritage aspect of it!  Slapping mid-tier, unbranded replacement parts on a Tour de France winning frame makes the world just a bit darker.