Steel takes a hit: Breezer disco's Venturi and Lightning.
10-02-15, 07:01 PM
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Steel takes a hit: Breezer disco's Venturi and Lightning.
That wasn't much of a revival of the Breezer classics Venturi and Lightning, just three model years. They were cool bikes, particularly the Venturi, but apparently they just didn't find traction in the market.
Oh well...I wonder if Venturi will be remebered as a spark that revived a movement, as just an outlier, or not at all? Probably the latter, if I'm being honest, but it's too bad that such a brilliant road machine should end in anonymity.
Oh well...I wonder if Venturi will be remebered as a spark that revived a movement, as just an outlier, or not at all? Probably the latter, if I'm being honest, but it's too bad that such a brilliant road machine should end in anonymity.
10-02-15, 07:21 PM
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Fashion. Those of a certain age (me, for example) think steel bikes are elegant and look as a bike should, but those born after about 1980 have grown up thinking that chunky monocoque plastic frames are sexier. Plus the marketing hype about saving a kilo or two, which makes almost no difference to 90% of riders but has massive poseur potential. As far as road bikes are concerned, steel is now a niche.
10-02-15, 07:30 PM
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Here we go. lol
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10-02-15, 08:11 PM
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Breezer did, and does, a pretty lousy job of marketing their products, too, so in addition to fashion trends, a general lack of availability, lack of public awareness, and absence of a cohesive marketing strategy took a toll, too.l
10-02-15, 08:51 PM
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Probably didn't help that hardly anyone could walk into a bike shop and see one. Performance sold Breezer's online but I never saw one in the stores I was in.
10-03-15, 11:00 AM
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The only place I've ever heard of the Breezer brand, is here on this forum. One of their steel bikes would be right up my alley- but it's a niche market inside of a niche market- and any brand that is not displayed in bike shops, or promoted on the interwebz, is not going to sell, no matter how good it is. It's all about marketing and exposure. Can't buy it if you've never heard of it/don't know it exists!
10-03-15, 11:24 AM
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I wish I could go back to the late 80's when I started riding. Bike shops full of lugged steel bikes with downtube shifters, perhaps a few aluminum Cannondale's and maybe an early carbon frameset on the wall going for about $3000.
10-03-15, 11:27 AM
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Well the bikes in question were certainly not throwbacks, and were rather very progressive.
10-03-15, 11:45 AM
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Many buyers of steel bicycles want a more classic style lugged frame. These tried to appeal to both crowds, and didn't really excite either.
10-03-15, 11:53 AM
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10-03-15, 01:03 PM
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Dang, it. Just accessed my memories, and it was the early 80s when I started riding, but it was BMX and MTN, no roadbikes in spandex at that point.
10-03-15, 01:30 PM
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10-03-15, 01:34 PM
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So you liked it better when aluminum bikes had bone jarring rides that could rupture you're spleen and carbon was glued together with lugs that fell off? My friend has first gen Spinergy wheels he'd be happy to sell
10-03-15, 01:44 PM
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10-03-15, 01:46 PM
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I didn't care about carbon then or now. I was glad when the only carbon I saw was maybe one frame displayed on a wall. I've never experienced "bone jarring" from riding any aluminum bike I've ever owned. Including my fat tube Easton Elan '97 Raleigh I rode this morning on my chipseal roads. Or the two CAAD3's I've owned. Or my old Trek 1400. I suspect most who speak about "bone jarring" just repeat what they read on the internet, or they pump up their tires to 120psi or they're just soft. I don't know. In any case, I didn't mean to offend you. You seem like you disapprove of my opinion.
10-03-15, 01:48 PM
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Actually I thought the Breezer was very exciting, but I have a nostalgia steel bike that I'm not going to get rid of. I don't really need it much less another one. I think the Breezer frame could have turned a few more heads if it had been another 1/2 lb lighter.
10-03-15, 01:52 PM
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Yes, I recall the late 70's/early 80's when I would be in my old shop drooling over stuff for my Mongoose. With Motomags of course. Number plates and all the cool stickers for them, grips, anodized Tuff Neck's, pads, all that stuff. Good times.
10-03-15, 02:03 PM
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The worst fault in my eyes was the color scheme. It seemed more appropriate for a beach cruiser than a racing bike.
10-03-15, 02:25 PM
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I think the Breezer paint schemes look sweet. Better than freaking flat black. I can't wait until that fad ends.
10-03-15, 02:36 PM
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Haha. I'm probably the oldest poster in this thread and you guys sound like my grandparents. I've had my share of steel and none compares with today's CF.
