On Sat, 27 Jan 2018 07:29:14 -0800, Joerg
wrote:

On 2018-01-26 16:42, John B. wrote:
On Fri, 26 Jan 2018 07:59:27 -0800, Joerg
wrote:

On 2018-01-25 20:02, John B. wrote:
On Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:48:47 -0800, Joerg
wrote:

On 2018-01-25 14:53, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:46:39 -0800 (PST), jbeattie
wrote:

SRAM sux. Based on that review, I was going to run out and buy a
Connex 11sp chain -- until I noticed it was $90 USD. What justifies
that price? Chain inflation is totally out of line with other
products.

Because profitability. Look, like many industries bike and component
makers generate money by selling a small number of overpriced products
to a small number of suckers. Oops, I mean customers.


However, there are discerning customers who have blacklists. One company
that made it on there now is CST. Their Conquistare road tires won't
even last 1200mi in this area. The one I currently have on the rear also
developed tiny cracks that you see in 15 year old car tires with 60000mi
on them. Except this tire is almost new and under 1000mi. So when I have
used up all CST tires here I will never buy that brand again.


Are those CST tires China Made? I've never seen them sold here (not
that they aren't) the "cheap tires" here all seem to be local made and
aren't particularly prone to cracking.


They are made in China. I am quite fond of Thai tires, they are among
the best value for MTB. I haven't seen a 25mm road tire from Vee Rubber
here yet.

[...]
According to a bloke who claimed to know the cheaper Thai tires
contain a lot of carbon black which makes the tread rubber harder and
results in the tires lasting longer, which or course is of far more
interest to poor buyers then to the wealthier purchasers.


Wealthier purchasers are usually the smarter ones. They do not buy
overpriced gear that has paltry lifetime. Warren Buffett didn't become
rich by buying numerous $100k+ sports cars.


I did read that Jay Leno has some 286 vehicles (169 automobiles and
117 motorcycles) in his garage.


Perhaps this added carbon black also prevents cracking?


Then that's a good thing, isn't it?
--
Cheers,

John B.