Yes, fellow cyclists. The time approaches. The rumors have begun, of course. You've read them here and elsewhere. Soon, more signs will appear. The unusual "out-of-stock" labels will emerge at previously reliable suppliers, as those not wishing to be caught with excess inventory fail to purchase. Then the odd stalwart merchant will be willing but unable to purchase, as the hoarders buy up product; more out-of-stock captions will be seen. Then the early 'Bay-ers will sell, with seemingly silly high reserves. Yet sell they will. Later, the hoarders will let loose. The sales will be massive blowouts. They will not last long. The late 'Bay-ers will try to ride the wave, buying and selling like '90s day-traders. Then, nothing. Quiet stillness descends. A small trickle will bubble forth, only to quickly become erratic and scarce; only those "in-the-know" will have access. And then, finally, we'll all realize what has come to pass...
8-pocalypse In the aftermath, the successful searcher will ride happily but warily, trying not to draw attention to the chain's thickness, the front derailer's width, the cogs' spacing. Such wariness will prove unwarranted, however. soon the "market" will deem 8-speed equipment not "inexpensive" but "cheap". Not "hearty", "heavy". Not "reliable", "retro". Those that "have" need not worry; those that lack won't want. The faithful will proceed the way the 6-and-7-coggers, freewheelers, and steerer-threaders did before them, wondering how to protect the stash, researching the aging process of grease, asking "Is metal fatigue a factor of actual use? Mere age?" And often paying boutique prices for modest product. Oh well. At least this is the 21st century; we'll always have that Great Support Group In The Sky, the Webbernet. Yours, Thomas Lynn Skean -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
