What Does the Vietnam Covid Shutdown Mean for Carbon Bikes?
Vietnam has become a hotbed for carbon bike production over the last few years.
Until recently, Vietnam was one of the nations that was least affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The country had a swift, effective response to the virus and essentially wiped the virus clean from the country using social distancing, mask mandates, diligent contact tracing, and aggressive quarantine rules. Those strategies, which rely largely on public participation at the individual level, were effective until the Covid burnout combined with the Delta variant in a perfect storm that has dealt a heavy blow to a country that once had one of the world’s best Covid containment records.
The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic jumped from just a few thousand early this year to now more than 480,000, with more than 12,000 deaths so far. A new round of lockdowns, particularly in southern Vietnam, will hopefully help curb the virus spread, but will also have devastating ripple effects for the Vietnamese people as well as many industries across the globe.
This is, first of all, a human health crisis, and the foremost concern is and should be for the safety and wellbeing of the Vietnamese people. Still, we can also see that our industry is being hit quite hard and we can anticipate tough ongoing effects going forward.
Several high-end bike companies source most of their carbon bikes in Vietnam. Ibis, Rocky Mountain, Evil, Revel, Specialized, and Intense all confirmed that they rely on Vietnamese carbon, particularly from one distributor that makes carbon parts in the southern part of Vietnam, where the pandemic is hitting the hardest and where the factories have shut down. Other brands, too, source bikes from the same region, but declined to comment. The brands that only make carbon bikes, rather than a diversified line of carbon and aluminum, are the most impacted.
Even laser cats won't help these carbon bikes come into existence if the people who make them cannot safely go to work.
With bike sales through the roof since the start of the pandemic, many bike brands have been ramping up their production, hiring new workers, and expanding what they do. Now that there's suddenly no revenue flow and perhaps no revenue for the foreseeable future for those brands that only work with carbon, the business side of things looks grim.
Even when Vietnam had Covid in check, the factories were working at maximum capacity to churn out carbon bikes to catch up with the 2020 spike in demand. (Never mind finding components. That’s a whole ‘nother tall task.) Now, with case numbers climbing rapidly and the country's vaccination rate still at less than 3%, the future is uncertain. A representative from one company affected said the company was essentially planning what to do without any carbon bikes arriving through the rest of the year.
Here’s what the brands had to say about this new sticking point:
Evil
Jason Moeschler, COO at Evil Bikes, said that he couldn’t disclose how much of Evil’s manufacturing happens in Vietnam, but said that many frames pre-booked for 2021 are delayed. Real lead times, he said, have not existed in 2021. “The honest lead time disappeared around August of 2020 when the entire globe shifted spending habits and flooded factories with unrealistic expectations,” he explained, and Evil doesn’t know when production and delivery will return to even remotely normal.
Even when the factories reopen, bike delivery times will remain uncertain for a variety of reasons that Moeschler listed:
1. Not all workers returned after the shutdowns. So there will be re-hiring and re-training.
2. The factory will likely open with government restrictions requiring more space between workers, alternating smaller shifts, etc. Though the factory will re-open, by no means will it be at 100% capacity.
3. While the factory was closed, shipments of goods into the factory were delayed and either held at origin or stored at the Vietnam port until re-opening. Re-starting the raw material delivery process takes time.
4. During the factory shutdown, some raw materials experienced their own round of delays at origin. These delays were not communicated during the shutdown and will cause a re-working of the delivery schedule.
5. Severely constrained shipping ports and the shortage of air traffic are both causing significant unquantifiable delays to every step of the supply chain.
It’s clear that brands are in a tough spot and are doing what they can to keep their companies afloat and bring bikes to the people.
 | We at Evil understand customers are looking for specific delivery dates for bikes. COVID-19 related factory closures are rough because the factories typically close for unknow amounts of time which affects our ability to quote specific ship dates to our customers. Evil’s team is burning the midnight oil, doing anything and everything possible to confirm ship dates and speed up the supply chain wherever possible. |
Revel
| As painful as it is for getting our customers bikes in a timely fashion, we support everything that our manufacturing partners are doing to stay safe and healthy. Covid has made things incredibly challenging for us here in the USA and everywhere in the world, but things are especially bad in Vietnam and China right now, and they do not have the same access to effective vaccines that we do. We will respect our partner’s decisions to keep their workers safe so that next year and the following years we can all work to improve supply as covid hopefully dissipates. |
Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain is upfront about that a fair amount of its manufacturing happens in Vietnam, described as a hotbed for carbon manufacturing right now. Since the shutdown has been extended a handful of times now since it began in July, each time for two weeks, it's nearly impossible for the brand to predict when the bikes will start coming in again.
Chief Product Officer Alex Cogger said Rocky is in the midst of planning 2023 bikes and things were looking okay for the delivery schedules of 2022 bikes, but the shutdown has changed that. Now, Cogger said, “there’s a good chance there are going to be some delays for 2022s. The volume of that production will get pushed later into the year.”
Carbon bikes are the heart of what Rocky Mountain does, so the brand can’t afford to not sell those bikes in the long term. Still, thanks to the brand’s alloy bikes and relatively long and successful history, the brand will figure out how to make it work in the short term. “We’ve made plans for these eventualities, but it’s not going to be fun,” Cogger said. When asked about the likelihood of companies going defunct over this, he continued, “I’m stunned we haven’t heard more at this point about brands having severe financial difficulties or being acquired. I can’t believe we haven’t heard it yet. I’m sure there are a lot of backroom conversations going on right now, but I’m just surprised we haven’t heard anything yet.” Small companies are hit the hardest, he said, especially those that haven’t been in the industry long enough to understand how to plan ahead and weather the road bumps.
| Hopefully we’ll all learn from this and we’ll make more robust systems so we can better manage emergencies in the future. Every day, we’re learning and learning and trying to make our work processes and our systems more bulletproof to avoid issues, but you can’t predict the unpredictable. |
Ibis
| In July, the Vietnamese government issued a mandatory shelter-in-place order for the region around Ho Chi Mihn City to help combat a rise in Covid-19 cases. This included the factory run by our manufacturing partner, and affects not only Ibis but several of the highest quality carbon fiber bicycle brands on the market. The factory is complying with the order and has temporarily shut down. They are committed to protecting the health of their employees and have been following all safety guidelines to operate safely. As of our latest update, they had not experienced any positive Covid cases. They will reopen as soon as it is determined by their government that there has been a sufficient reduction in the spread of the virus. Fortunately, we have a number of carbon frame shipments in transit and we will continue to ship those. We are also working with our factory to help them implement rapid testing procedures for when they reopen. Our supply of AF (aluminum frames) and Hakka gravel frames remains uninterrupted, and we are scaling production of the Exie, which is made in our US Facility. |
Specialized
| We have manufacturing & assembly partners in many countries around the world. While the pandemic has affected us all, it’s getting particularly worse in Southeast Asia right now. We are doing what we can to support our partners in supporting their efforts to get their teammates vaccinated, complying with government rules, and helping to keep our teammates safe. For sure, it has made getting our bikes to riders globally an additional challenge but it’s important that we take care of our teammates first. Lead times have increased to hundreds and hundreds of days on some parts while the global network of shipping is also tough right now. As you know, a mountain bike isn’t a mountain bike until you have all the parts on there… even in tough times, our riders deserve a complete, quality bike so things that were easy a couple years ago are not so easy now. This compounds when we are, for example, waiting on stems or handlebars but the rest of the bike is ready; now we have to wait to ship the whole bike which takes up space with our partners’ factories. All this to say we are working day and night to get riders the bikes they need right now and we appreciate people working patiently with their retailer to place their order. We are providing as much visibility as we can into delivery; it’s completely understandable that the state of delivery is frustrating for our retailers and riders that are waiting for these bikes which is why we are working so hard to overcome the many obstacles in front of us. We would ask and encourage us all to remember that we are all in this together. We are in the golden age of cycling and the future is bright, we are stoked and making large investments to ensure more bikes in the future for riders all over the globe. Smiles on faces and wind in your hair is our goal, well get there. |
All of this adds another layer to an already complicated picture. Even if every part needed to make a bike is technically available, brands run into problems when, say, one brand’s frames are available, another brand is able to source rims, another has handlebars, and another has all the stems. What happens then? Even if a company has 99% of its bike parts in stock, it still can’t sell complete bikes. And if there are no frames coming in, the brand can’t sell frames alone either. It's bad all around.
We hope for the workers’ sake that the pandemic slows down soon. Then, once folks are safe and able to support their families, we can see about getting our bikes. No matter what happens, the effects of this pandemic will continue to be felt far away and close to home for a long time to come. Hug your loved ones, respect your local Covid guidance, and have some patience for the bike delays.
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Glad to hear it hasn't ended and might come back, your schedule pending. The bicycle internet doesn't feel right with out you.
Most should be setting up shop in mexico! There are a few really good carbon houses there.
Don’t get too excited tho, these changes will probably not be noticeable to the general public for another year or two. When you talk about building a factory, lead time is at least 5 years. Haha
Gradually a lot of bikes changed to having frames made from a magical weave that was only made in a few special places.
Then one day a vile pestilence swept the world and the special places that made the magic weave had to shut down for a bit so that all the workers didn’t die.
But this made no difference to some who complained about having to keep their old bike for a bit longer.
Mean while in the dark places and high towers the overlords rubbed their hands with glee whilst working out how much extra gold they could get away with charging customers when the magic weave became available again.
www.business-humanrights.org/ja/latest-news/myanmar-garment-factory-accused-of-union-busting-after-mass-dismissal-of-unionised-workers-violent-attack-against-union-president-incl-company-responses
This valourous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition!
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
That better?
V is a good film
Sildenafil (commercialy known as Viagra) has been first used for pulmonary vascular hypertension. Its erection enhancing effect was found as a side effect during trials. Contrary to popular laic belief the Viagra won't enhance breathing or erection of a normal healthy person. Your mother in law needs pulmonary and cardiology consultation..
Also the lex fridman podcast who is a friend of Joe has been speaking about this and its very informative and interesting
The other one that is interesting is WeAreOne building in BC
But yes, WAO does manufacturer in Canada... though that 10k entry price is a tad steep. Will be interesting to see pricing when they can get their hands on some lower spec parts and/or sell frame-only.
@islandforlife yeah, sorry that's what I had tried to say but got tripped up over my own words.
GG is a small company, so no, their model is not realistic for Trek. But, Trek also has incredible resources such that they are in the best position to scale up or develop a model that could work for them domestically. Now, it's by no means easy but, I mean, is the current situation easier? The intl supply chain is wrecked and has been for going on 2 years. I don't know that we have the convenience of being picky right now. Tough choices have to be made.
I'm encouraged to see Ibis experimenting with the Exie in CA. However, I fear that due to the culture surrounding the bike industry, there will be a tendency to only see domestic manufacturing through the lens of building plants in the most expensive parts of the country which, in turn, makes domestic manufacturing less feasible - almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. Is, say, Arkansas sufficiently "woke" for Trek or Specialized to build a plant down there?
So Trail Pistal Frame (full carbon) $2495 120mm My Ranger Frame $2999.
If everyone started ordering from GG how long do you think the wait times would be?
The big names do have large volume models. But their large volume models are almost exclusively reliant on the intl supply chain, with little to no domestic production. That works in a non-covid environment and when the intl order is settled. That's not our reality right now and it is unclear when that changes and this has been going on for 2 years.
They made the 2016 gen Troy in house to
Bassically its the aluminum models of the Marshall, Cobain, Wilson, Spartan, a dirt jump bike, a fat bike and a bunch of e-bikes.
From the horse's mouth.
That way we watch them all go belly up and we can usher in a new chapter of companies that really understand what it means to pay below market-rate so the consumer can have 'affordable' bikes again.
I mean, the solution is so obvious.
I really don’t get the ignorance, short sighted and entitled stance our society increasingly seems to be taking.
Millions of people lost their jobs and life and millions will be - I can’t get my head around how the established west expects everything to just comfortably keep on going as it was before all this hit.
Not sure if you are able to grasp the reality of what is going on - raw materials, components in almost any industry are in short supply and there’s insane price hikes - especially in automotive, construction and yes, also for bikes. You got any idea how this affects long term contracts on fixed prices and what that means for a business?
Get real.
People have been going full grinch for the last year. Ugly.
Many of the OEMs put all of their eggs in one manufacturing basket and when covid came along and shut down the far east they were caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Sorry, it's what they get for chasing the cheapest labor available globally.
If the value is not there for me, then I take my money elsewhere or do not buy until there is value for me. We as consumers do not owe these companies anything. The onus is on them to be prepared and stay afloat and to offer the consumer value.
“They” is almost every organisation we buy stuff from - global economics is very real for everything we consume and we now get to see what that intertwinedness means if s**t hits the fan. Not propagating any of it, don’t get me wrong - it’s the sad reality we rarely get to see.
You’re free to take your money elsewhere - as long as it gets shipped to you and as long … as you can.
If you increase the cost of goods, and the shipping rates then the margin of said product drops. This is why we are seeing price increases. If a dealer makes a 30% margin (average btw) for a bike sale, the manufacture makes less than that. Manufactures absorb increases and fluxuations in shipping, the costs of delays, the credit interests included with those delays, etc. No one likes the way prices are going, but the increases are needed to keep margins healthy for these companies to stay in business and keep supplying bikes, parts, and jobs!
BOOOM! You hit all the nails directly on the heads with all your postings here. All these Boomers and Millennials posting in this thread are all "Privileged and Elitists" they all the "answers" without even understanding how manufacturing, and the world really works in 2021. HAHAHAAH... They are all either very blind, or just very stupid. Maybe even both!
Our (The West) mentality is:
"Who really gives 2 shits about Vietnam Workers who lost their jobs and can no longer feed their families. We are mad because we have to pay 10% more and wait 10 more months for our Ibis Ripmos!."
I know myself know that we are all screwed, and it is more than not being able to get our Carbon Bicycles. These are basically the good times, in the near future expect huge INFLATION and the supply of food to drastically decrease.
We in the West expects to be paid $25 an hour with full medical benefits, + get 5 weeks of paid vacation, and only have a 30 hour work week. For some reason Millennial Americans also seem to think that they can do better manual labor than a Vietnamese person that is happy to just have a job, and works very hard so he can keep his job to feed his family (much less owning a carbon bike himself).
I myself have no idea why anyone would manufacture anything in America, the Companies have to pay high wages, and in addition, the companies have to also pay Medical and Social Security for each worker... and the worse part of it is the work ethic in America is Horrible now and almost Millennial American feels entitled to everything.
To make a Ripmo frame in Vietnam I am guessing is only about $100 with Labor and Materials. Of course there is Engineering, Manufacturing Equipment Cost involved, as well as QC and Warranty cost. So when it is all said and done, my guess is it cost Ibis about $300 per frame. Ibis though needs to profit so that $300 is now $800. Then when you add in packaging, shipping, Distributors and Distribution, and Retailers, that Frame is now $2400 (without Shock). This was back then before Covid and before lack of raw materials. As of right now, that Frame will be at least 10-20% more due to lack of production and increase in raw material and labor costs. Now if this frame was made in the USA, this frame would be be even $1000-$2000 more !
I swear, Millennials are just blind how the world works in general, and the old Boomer guys are just blind to how the world works in 2021.
*proceeds to complain about paying people a livable wage and benefits*
Oh, the irony.
According to Shifl data, the rates for a 40-foot-long high cube container, the most commonly shipped containers, have risen from $1,350 in March 2020 to $17,500 in September. This rate is for shipping the container from China to Los Angeles, which is where the busiest U.S. port is located. Expect to pay nearly $20,000 to ship the container from China to New York. In March 2020, the rate was $2,850.
It was a sarcastic response. Anyone who would advocate for not paying their people is a total dipshit.
So who was trying to save a buck. The company or the consumer?
They were also selling distressed older inventory as well. All the bikes that were sitting in storage from the previous year or the year before that, were now sold. Now with clean warehouses, they can only sell what they bring in. My guess is that those record #'s will have only posted for one year since there isn't enough manufacturing capacity to produce enough bikes to meet last years sell-through.
Yes it’s gonna take a bit of time cuz’ we have to train people at manual work again (well, people can assemble components, it’s not hard) and get some machines, in the bike valley they have robots that weld the frame.
With economy of scales the price may be contained to some extent, though some would probably go up.
People in the west are not "lazy and entitled", we've developed as a society and have higher expectations for our way of life. We've outgrown the toxic "bootstraps" mentality that boomers like you swear by, we don't have to "shut up and take it" from companies anymore. Heaven forbid people stand up for themselves and demand better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The people aren't too lazy too work, the companies are just too cheap and greedy to pay.
But by all means, keep licking those corporate overlord boots. Cheer them on as they send their work overseas to underpay some poor foreigners being overworked in sketchy conditions just trying to keep their families partially fed. Great system you're rooting for there.
Looking at 1 page in the book does NOT give us any idea what the book says. You have to read all 50,000 pages to really know what is going on in the book and what is really going on in the world. I do your positivity though! I think it is super cute how big eyed and hopeful you are.
However, I can NOT be so positive because I see the big picture. Things are where they are now beause it is NO accident, and has nothing to do with careless Politicians either, all this was planned! There is a reason why Manufacturing of goods was cut in the west. All us Sheep in the West were purposely handicapped and manipulated to make it this way. The Rich only get richer, and poor only get poorer. All the laws you think help the poor, actually does the opposite. It makes them all poorer.
It is what it is, I have no control in any of this, I just try my best to ride bicycles, drink beer, and be happy till the end of my days, which is most likely less than 20 years away. HUGGGZZZ! 3 and please discuss...
Buddy, I think you need to open your eyes. I see how you like to make Exceptions the Rules. Overall, most of us in the West are helpless with poor work ethics, especially when it comes to manual labor.
There comes a point if 80% of the population is a certain way, then we can make a blanket statement for all 100%.
I myself am from the West but I know how to do manual labor as I have been doing it all my life! I have been working since I was 12 years old, was a Combat Veteran in the US Army in a Combat Line Unit, etc, etc... Even now I do my own stuff, I know how to shoot, gut, and clean a feral hog. I clean my own house, make my own ammo, and work on my own cars and bicycles. However, I am the EXTREME EXCEPTION to the typical Westerners.
It is what it is, I have no control in any of this, all I try to do is ride bicycles, drink beer, and be happy. HUGGGZZZ! 3 and please discuss...
and? Jungles were once in the Sahara Desert, and Farming started in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). Just because the best Farming was in the Mesoptamia, and the Best Jungles were in the Sahara, and the best Manufacturing Plants were in the West....
does NOT mean that that these places will get back to their "glory" days. With Automation comes NOT enough Jobs for everyone and more hardships for the whole world.
I do love your positive vibe though! I think it is super cute! However, Looking at 1 page in the book does NOT give us any idea what the book says. You have to read all 50,000 pages to really know what is going on in the book and what is really going on in the world. HUGGGZZZ! and please discuss...
FFS, go crawl back under your rock old man.
Mr. WY228 Sir! Don't get mad at me! I do not control anything except myself. Trust me my man, I have seen it with my own eyes. I know of very few people that can actually do any work around the house (including cars, bicycles, and motorcycles). I am pretty sure I can teach you a thing or too if you are up to it. HUGGGZZZ! 3 Please discuss Good Sir.
I never said no one wants to do manual labor except me, go back and read my posts. I said that people in the West that CAN do manual, and have a hard work ethic, are the exception and NOT the rule. I have seen it with my own eyes. Most Millennial Americans are so helpless they can't even change a flat tire or their car's engine oil.
If you yourself can do manual labor and have a good work ethic I commend you, and will say you too are an EXCEPTION and NOT the Rule.
BTW, Love all the Downvotes I am getting for pointing out the Reality of the Situation of the World and of the Future. Real Life does suck!
However, I want you Millennials please keep on giving me downvotes to all of my Reality Posts, and I want you kids to believe whatever you need to so you can feel better about yourself and about the Future. Sometimes living in a Fantasy is a GOOD THING! HUGGGZZZ! 3
hUGgGZzZ!!!3
I am just trying to learn from you kids and how to act in today's society. Hopefully you can help me.
I am an old man with old ways, and back in the Old Skool Days we were allowed to be Cocky. The way we see it, what is wrong with having an Ego and being Cocky? None of us are the Best and there are always many better than us in many crafts and disciples. When someone is better, give them props and shake their hand. This is OLD SKOOL way.
Us old skool guys admire Cristiano Ronaldo, because of his Cockiness, If you are the BEST IN THE WORLD like Cristiano, why hide it? If you are the best in the world and hide it, is it because you are ashamed of being the best in the world ????
However, I do understand though that Ego is a bad thing now, because Millennials and the Wimenz run the world now, and they all tell us we are NOT allowed to have Egos, that we have to be Communists and act like everyone else. I GET IT! HUGGGZZZZ! 3 and please discuss....
HUGGZZZ back atcha! I love everyone and appreciate everyone. Maybe one day we can meet up and you can teach me more about the WAYS of the Millennials. HUGGGZZZ! 3
) Do you know you are on the internet? How will people see your skills and know your accomplishments on the Internet?
2) all I said is I know how to do manual labor and have a good work ethic. Is that really bragging?
Please discuss....
Good luck in you cockiness, but don't assume most old school guys agree,
Are you sure you are not a Millennial? Because you sure talk like one.
"A man that thinks the same at 50 when he did when he was 20, just wasted 30 years of his life" -- Muhammad Ali.
And HUGGGGZZZ! and please discuss...
Mr. Mike Gruhler Sir,
I am a Degreed Electrical Engineer, I was trained and taught to generalize (estimating).
Take Magnetic Field Theory for example, using a "Smith Chart" is technically what you Millennials call "Generalizing". What you Millennials call "Generalizing" we old Men call "Estimating".
I think one statement of Generalization that both old men and millennials can agree on is: "Lions are NOT Vegetarians".
Me and you both will agree with this generalization statement, no? I mean I myself do NOT know all the Lions that ever lived, nor have I personally communicated with even 1 Lion, much less all the the Lions to have ever lived to find out with 100% Certainty if "All Lions are NOT Vegetarians".
However, based on my knowledge from some of the Lion Experts, as well as watching the Discovery Channel, I feel good about this Generalizing Statement when I say "Lions are NOT Vegetarians".
Also, Even if only 10% of Lions are Vegetarians, at least I will be 90% correct when I say "Lions are NOT Vegetarians".
Do you think Generalizing is a bad thing?
Also, please don't get mad at me if Millennials (in General) do NOT have good work ethic! I have no control of any of this.
Please discuss...
+ new workers
The first frames after the lockdown will maybe not have the best quality...
seriously when are people going to align their spending with their purported values?
Therefore, this whole problem of entire countries locking down and wildly disrupting supply chains is minimally related to covid and instead related to a bizarre moment in history when people lost their minds.
I will pay the Vietnow carbon rates when I see some textreme layup that doesnt have to be painted because it looks so shit or delaminates with WD40
With market acceptable weights, any frame material has a risk a failing.
Quality steel frames are the only thing that are truly a forever frame, but they aren't "market acceptable weights"
www.importyeti.com/company/evil-bikes
I have it on good authority margins are a little tighter than many think they are when all is said and done running a business, but yea bikez should be freeee, no profitz!
That said, I do hope that more companies move toward local production.
Yes, sorry, xenophobia
As a business owner you know better, surely.
As for $250 a frame, lol. Maybe $250 per triangle 5 years ago, so double that, add inflation, and then add all the hardware, bearings etc. and you’d be getting close.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t see a Myanmar owned and run high end carbon frame factory, details are low on their website too.
A quick google about carbon production(not bicycle or linked to the brands here) in Myanmar found an article where staff that were part of a union were fired when Covid took place - non union staff kept their employment.
They earned $3 a day - is that cheap labour or almost slave labour?
Bike companies directly listed as customers including Wilson - allegations of violence against union president etc
Gets worse.
It's probably not so much the maker of these yellow machines that's the worse, but all the companies using them.
I'm sure there's a few others that do a mix. Santa Cruz is Taiwan and China.
That's what we call "common ground."
It's a concept we should be using to find pathways forward as a Nation-State.
Brap.
Meanwhile in the USA nearly 15 million vaccine doses have been thrown out since March. Freedumb! www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/america-has-wasted-least-15-million-covid-vaccine-doses-march-n1278211
I don't own any companies and don't have any direct workers for me on my payroll. I do tip good though and do tend to pick up my friends tabs from time to time if that counts. I for the most part, do my own gardening, clean my own house, work on my own cars and bicycles, etc, etc. .
I am just painting the picture to make it clear to you of how the world and inflation really works. I don't like it either that we barely can survive on $15 an hour. However, don't blame me, I am NOT the one that made it this way, nor am I one to change anything. I am a working sheep just like you and most people.
The problem is people like you that "Forces a Livable Wage". Forcing a higher minimum wage and forcing people to have healthcare ONLY does one thing, it causes INFLATION and makes us all Poorer for it. ok back in History, and you will see that every time there is a minimum wage increase, this causes everyone to be poorer (eventually they get poorer), this is because it causes INFLATION. Inflation is the best TAX of all because most of us Sheep are TOTALLY BLIND to this Hidden tax. Please discuss...
Tigergoose: REEEEEEEE
I don't get this mentality at all. "f*ck my freedom and liberty! put me in shackles daddy gubmint! where is the boot for me to lick???"
Or just keep your bike for longer!
Buy mine here ... m.pinkbike.com/buysell/3127255
Realistically…. Everyone should make high end aluminum bikes now. They have the frames… just put better parts.
Yes, the average age of 32 years old for the country and warm climate has nothing to do with it. Its authoritarianism that fixed it!
Keep believing the media smear campaign though bro. Let me guess, you still this the virus originated in a wet market right?
If everyone had done that short and sharp treatment we wouldn't be in this mess, but politicians chose to pick the medical advice that suited their agenda, fortunately our politicians are much more centrist (due to multiple reasons) and are more likely to follow the advice of real experts than the lunatic fringe.
Got another?
this authoritarian crap is getting beyond ludicrious
what in the f*ck kind of authoritarian appologist bullshit is this? do you know what Vietnam did to their citizens during the first lockdowns? are you seriously championing that? seriously disgusting take.