After mentioning the Roaduno yesterday I had to run right out and ride it:Im sure you know how that works:As usual, the bike felt fantastic, I immediately renounced gears as pointless, and then I committed to riding this bike and only this bike going forward:Of course this will never, ever happen, and I completely forgot my pledge as soon as I got off the bike, but I can assure you that in the moment I totally meant it, and its ability to elicit such drunken promises is a testament to what an intoxicating bicycle it is.Anyway, I dont need to commit because Ive paid my dues as a singlespeeder, having participated in not one but two Singlespeed World Champtionships, plus a Singlespeed Cyclocross World Champtionships for good measurespeaking of which, I noted in the comments the other day that this years SSWC will take place right here in my home state, even though Port Jervis really should be in Pennsylvania, or at the very least New Jersey:For a moment I caught myself thinking Maybe, but then I realized I dont meet any of the criteria:Single Speed WonderlandPrePare yourselves for a total SingleSpeed take over of Port Jervis, NY. This will be a gathering of Friends and Awesome Humans from around the globe and you are invited as long as you can be one, but ideally both of those things no matter what you rideAt this stage in my life I am not even remotely capable of being either a Friend or an Awesome Human. Of course if they add a Solitary Cantankerous Old Misanthrope field I might reconsider. Then again, I ride my own personal Solitary Cantankerous Old Misanthrope World Championship pretty much every day, so I theres no reason for me to travel almost all the way to Pennsylvania for that.Anyway, Im glad to see that the SSWC tradition is still alive, and I do admit that if I still had my Artisanal Singlespeed I might be more tempted:Oh well.Speaking of ironic rides, Portland (the one in Oregon) used to be the where the most ebullient ones took place. Alas, look how far theyve fallen:The Worlds Largest Electric Bicycle Ride, really? Thats just called traffic. Seriously, this is just a normal day on every street in New York now, except when this rides over theyre not handing anybody their lunch:Not only that, but BikePortland founder Jonathan Maus has shared an update concerning his hiatus, and he appears to be ditching cycling and moving on to basketball:On that note, you should know that Im exploring other opportunities. Ive loved building BikePortland; now I want to build something else. Whether its on my own or (preferably!) with a team of other passionate people doing cool things. Ive already started building a place for myself in the local basketball world, and thats an area I plan to continue pursuing. And while I take a shot at basketball, look for help with a BikePortland relaunch, Im also open to something different. On that note, I might have an exciting opportunity in the local media. If that opportunity materializes, and if I choose to take it, it would solidify my path considerably.Reading between the lines, its pretty clear hell soon be doing color commentary for the Portland Trail Blazers.Oh well.Yes, as Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a-becoming different from the times that a-proceeded them, and while its sad to see Portlands fall fromwell, they were never in a state of grace to begin with, so lets just call it a fall from relevanceit is strangely satisfying to watch the cycling world lie in the bed it made for itself:Is there a fancy German word for lamenting that which is completely your fault?I mean you literally asked for it:It feels like an inevitability that bikes are expensive. Although I dont like the fact theyve escalated in price way over inflation, I dont think that all brands are offering us any more than they did in 2010 when a SRAM Red or Dura-Ace equipped bike cost 6,000 rather than costing more than the 13,000 today.Yes, aero has improved, gears are now electric and brakes are hydraulic. But the improvements far from justify a doubling in price. And you have nobody to blame for cockpit swaps that cost Five Hundred British Complacency Units but yourself: With the right sized bar for me, or just a less narrow bar that flared out more at the drops, the bike would be transformed. To do that and replace the aero cockpit like-for-like would cost around 500. On a bike that costs ten grand, I dont want to have to spend a penny more to make it fit and perform better. It absolutely should be right, straight out of the shop.Hey, you wanted proprietary plastic integrated wireless fluid-filled electronic aero pods with wheels, and that means changing a stem is only marginally easier for your bike shop than replacing the airbag in your car, so if you insist on riding what the pros ride then suck it up and pay.But sure, bicycles should be infinitely customizablelike cars?Id like to callout to the brands that currently dont offer this level of customer service. If you want to justify the high price of bikes, then step up. We as customers need a higher level of service.If I was ordering a new car Id get a raft of choices on wheels, the interior, equipment, the gearbox, even the engine. New kitchens come with a myriad of options. Heck, sofas come with more options than most off-the-peg bikes.When we are asked to pay so much for admittedly great bikes, options should be mandatory not optional.When was the last time Warren bought a car? The process of buying a Hyundai is pretty much exactly the same as buying a Specialized. Pick a model, pick a trim, pick a few accessories (wheel locks for the Hyundai, bottle cages and a saddle bag for the Specialized), and thats it. By the way, youll have to go all the way up to the Calligraphy trim on the Santa Fe to get the relaxation function on the drivers seat:Its well worth it, too, because it promotes maximum engagement with the road and your surroundings:Anyway, things are hardly as bad as Warren suggests, because last time I checked, Rivendell will put a bike together for you any way you want. I certainly get buying a modern rocket bike if thats what you want, and if it is what you want then ride and enjoy, but if the Fred Sleds of today dont offer you enough choice, then maybe youre just shopping for the wrong bike.