Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, or just don’t peruse the cycling world like most cyclists, you’ve heard about Garmin’s new pedals. People who have heard of them are broken into two groups. First group, They’re super sweet, cost $1700 and can tell you how much power each leg is laying down. Or if you are part of that other crowd, they are $1700 fucking pedals and why would anyone want pedals that cost that much. I’ve got plastic pedals that have lasted for years and cost me $10…
The first group is going to buy the pedals, they have the money and yes, it is important to them to know how much power each leg can throw down. That way, if they ever need to decide which leg to cut off they can make an informed decision. They also are going to love the fact that they can move them from bike to bike without too much fuss. A lot more convenient than their SRM crankset they’ve been rocking since Dura Ace 7800 was cool.
These people aren’t changing, it’s the other crowd that I have a problem with.
Why do you care? Why do you spend your time on the internet complaining about a pedal that makes no sense to you? In some way does this pedal cause you pain? It’s not going to cost you $1700 because you would have to take out a second mortgage to get a set. Chances are, you don’t even know anyone who has the money to get a set. Because watching some dude go flying by you on your morning commute does not constitute “knowing” them.
Complaining about high priced cycling gear is akin to being worried about who marries whom. Does it really make any difference to you if two dudes hook up? The only way it can, is if you are one of the dudes and you’re not into it. If they get married, you’re probably not invited and you may see them kiss in public, but really? Is that any worse than watching two fat people kiss in public? Shut up!
Take a look at what all that high priced cycling gear has gotten us.
When I started wrenching on two-wheeled love machines, they came with cantilever brakes, 24 speed drivetrains were just coming out and suspension is what everyone was complaining about being too high priced. V brakes came out in the mid 90s. I hated them, until I got used to them and then I loved them. Disc brakes, similar story. At this time in cycling history, a “halo” bike was around $2900. There just wasn’t enough technology to make them any more pricy than that.
My first really cool bike retailed for $1200. I was stoked. It had Shimano V brakes, 24 speeds and was way light. And it had a suspension fork that kind of worked. This was considered a high end bike and I’m sure if the interwebs were readily available at that time there would have been morons complaining that it was too expensive. That there is no reason a bike should cost that much. But it did, and I loved the shit out of that bike. Actually broke the frame…
Fast forward almost two decades. What can you get now for $1200? A pretty sick ride. Have you taken a look at the crop of 29er hardtails this year? Wow. You can get an amazing bike for just over a grand. Tapered headtube? Check. Suspension fork? Check. Nice aluminum frame? Check. Hydraulic disc brakes? Check. 24 speed drivetrain? Nope, it comes with a 2X10 drivetrain with a rear derailleur with a fucking clutch on it.
So sure, no one “needs” an $18,000 bike or $1700 pedals, but there are people who will buy them and as that technology gets surpassed all you complainers are going to benefit from the trickle down. If you think that is ridiculous, good for you, just keep it to yourself. Unless a set of Vectors falls off the shelf and hits you in the head, they aren’t hurting you or the cycling industry…
P. L. and R.