fudgepanda
Active Member
- Location
- Manchester U.K.
Although I'm really happy with my Bianchi, I've been experiencing pangs of guilt of late. I bought an Italian bike made in Taiwan with Japanese gears and brakes; in fact most of us probably bought foreign made machines. However, since taking up cycling I've discovered there is a whole industry, although not on the Chinese scale, in this country.
As a result I've bought a Lusso HT70 waterproof jacket which, so far, has been great at keeping the rain out and feels nice as it's a soft shell kind of construction and last week I found a Caradice Super C saddlepack. The jacket was £49 versus its £60 list price and the bag was £25 in comparison with its normal £36. It made me wonder how much we just assume anything made here is automatically expensive and therefore we're doomed to buying yet another product with a made in China tag.
So, jacket made in Manchester and bag from Lancashire. My only concern is that they perhaps need to look at styling the products a bit more interestingly as most of their competitors have more showroom appeal, but, even allowing for that fact that both were discounted (one from Ribble) I don't see how I can buy much better for less. For example, Topeak saddle packs are cheaper, but are perhaps a quarter of the size yet more than 25% of the price. Quite a lot of the wet weather gear on the market is actually showerproof rather than waterproof and those that are don't seem to be appreciably cheaper.
So as a method of assuaging my guilt, I'm going to buy the country out of recession by buying British clothing, lights and bikes................................if I can afford it.
Anybody fancy joining me?
As a result I've bought a Lusso HT70 waterproof jacket which, so far, has been great at keeping the rain out and feels nice as it's a soft shell kind of construction and last week I found a Caradice Super C saddlepack. The jacket was £49 versus its £60 list price and the bag was £25 in comparison with its normal £36. It made me wonder how much we just assume anything made here is automatically expensive and therefore we're doomed to buying yet another product with a made in China tag.
So, jacket made in Manchester and bag from Lancashire. My only concern is that they perhaps need to look at styling the products a bit more interestingly as most of their competitors have more showroom appeal, but, even allowing for that fact that both were discounted (one from Ribble) I don't see how I can buy much better for less. For example, Topeak saddle packs are cheaper, but are perhaps a quarter of the size yet more than 25% of the price. Quite a lot of the wet weather gear on the market is actually showerproof rather than waterproof and those that are don't seem to be appreciably cheaper.
So as a method of assuaging my guilt, I'm going to buy the country out of recession by buying British clothing, lights and bikes................................if I can afford it.
Anybody fancy joining me?
