HUGE point
this is a HUGE point by the way.
Ratz said:
Not many companies where you could have this thread on their company forum...
With a company as distributed as Cruzbike I think they lean heavily on trust and "doing what is right".
The decisions and decision makers depend on a lot of that coming from this community and it has been cultivated by the core group that Ratz mentioned up there.
And you can be damn sure they are reading this.
And some of the above might sting just a little. (supposition on my part)
And some of it might even rekindle feelings they've had about arguments in other places and between each other.
And if they were a different company of people they might even be figuring out how to stop that sting or squelch this conversation
BUT
I don't think that they are - they are embracing it DESPITE the sting - because THIS is exactly what will make things resonate down the road - between each other, their tribe, and MORE riders.
This is deep in the weeds passion about a product and the arc of it's development by a very engaged bunch and EVERY company ought to manage this sort of conversation so that it can occur with their tribe no matter how "big" they are - without it they miss the most important and nuanced conversations in their tribe and therefore the most important bits TO their tribe (ala Seth Godin) that can be extended FOR their tribe and then by extension to others.
At heart I think Cruzbike the company acts a lot like a family and they know that most (perhaps all) of us are here contributing because deep down we believe in the core of the reason why they exist. It's something along the lines of "Revolution of Recumbents" - like Apple's "think different" motto - or like one of John's early statements repeated on the Silvio page for so long "It's a road-bike Jim, but like none other that's come before." (paraphrase)
We also feel like we know them - the people. Imagine providing any of the above descriptors for the principals of any other company - typically you can't. Even if you've personally met them.
We WANT(need?) to see the product as a reflection of that core belief so that others, who weren't convinced before, can recognize it and share that deep-seated belief with us as well.
A well run family...er company...listens to it's tribe, puts things out there, let's it sting a little, and evolves some more...
And a well run base of passionate folks who are encouraged to voice their well reasoned opinions - make things better for the family of which they too are a part.
Do ^that^ right and the most important parts and, yes the profits...will improve
because of it.
That is why I say Ratz has a HUGE point.
Also why I say - "Keep up the good work!" to both this community and Cruzbike.
final thought:
I think it would be cool if John or Doug would chime in here just a bit and point out some of the drivers for any of the more nuanced design decisions that have been made, or Jim/Maria/Robert maybe some of the business/market drivers for some of what has been mentioned.
Less as a "facing the music" approach but more as a "does that provide clarity and purpose and perhaps change how you think?"
An answer of "no" would be every bit as meaningful as "yes".
