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@freddo
most people turn their noses up at it but the pshycoholgy is pretty interesting as it's not in itself a bad bike.
let's say that of all the langsters sold in any given year, 50% are ridden by inexperienced cyclists / commuters who wobble their way to work, SS, and bought it because they liked the paint job, thought gears were complicated and/or SS / specialized are cool. 25% are bought by experienced cyclists who need a cheap commuter and no more, and it fits the bill. the remaining 25% are bought by cyclists who want to get in to fixed, and end up selling it to progress to better things. It's the latter you'll find on this forum.
So, at the end of year 1, 50% of people are wobbling their way to work (still), 25% are riding it well, and the remainder have been sold. Of this remaining 25%, 50% will be sold to wobblers, 25% to happy commuters, and 25% to fixed riders who are starting out. Over time, you can see that the general population of langster owners gravitates to the wobbler commuter types.
the point is that the bike itself is pretty good for the money / starter bike / fast commuter, and if people were honest about 25% of people here would have to admit owning one. People bitch and whine about the geometry (it's actually tight, for a commuter) and crap components, but for the money it's very good value, and IMO these arguments aren't really valid. But it's what the bike represents: a mass produced bike for the wobbly mass public (not really "proper" cyclists) that inspires the derision. Specialized don't help by producing these idiotic local versions: the NYC is painted with the livery of the cyclists bigest enemy, the taxi cab, and the london is painted with the subway map, which is what most bike commuters are trying to avoid not advertise.
I've just re-read tynan's post: "a cynical co-opting of a cycling subculture for naked commercial gain" - which is spot on.
I admit it. I own a langster, which i had painted immediately to remove the stupid decals. having been out of the saddle for a couple of years, it was a good way to get back in to cycling. I ride it fixed, and have bought 2 more bikes/frames in the 6 months I've owned it, and am bidding on a 3rd right now. Not sure if I'll keep the langster now, but it's served it's purpose well...