Without going wayyyy off, and happy to delete anything.
First up, the Dutch have a god given right to complain about anything with a monetary value attached to it.
Second up. Yes, to adjust a bit about being shocked. Yes I am shocked at utter trash in the entrance to the Carrefour supermarket and seeing something like x6 price to what my local bike charity can deliver, and provide some after-sales service for 0€. It's incomprehensible.
Third up. Yes, I will defend what these guys are attempting to do. I see there is help financing from the Auvergne-Rhone Alpes department. It's no surprise to me they have to differentiate their products to the rest of the stuff swamping a shrinking market. Makes total sense to survive.
Fourth up. That damn Generalised posted above. You can just imagine the product responsible going to his / her team with a question "What group set should we use on the Roubaix SL 3.2 this year. Someone says "Dura-Ace top of the range". You get my drift. It's as far from knowing what is out there and sourcing it altogether in low numbers with the financial penalty that goes with it. Nobody was more happy than me when all this "big appetite market controlling" bollox fell flat on it's face. How can a bike be slashed 30% off because we've gone past 1st September. It will ride exactly the same like it did 31st August. France manufacturing accounting laws are clear. You can not sell for less than it cost to make.
Fifth up. Social charges (Tax and Social Security contributions from SME) is high in France. And France does have a debt problem and things are tight. Obviously this is more complex and way off-topic here. All I want to say mouths need to be fed. Gives these guys a bit of slack too. It's like 100% clear what they are trying to do is from a love of cycling and bikes and them pulling in their experience. Their web site is totally transparent and hell, you could visit them and walk around. Just south of Clermont-Ferrand with some impressive cycling around there.
Sixth up. Yes .... yes. We are on this site for old tat and of course have an idea what is possible to ride a bike with actually fairly good qualities and reliability with a limited budget to play around with for fun. I for one won't pay anymore than 30€ for a knackered French velo now.
Seventh up. I see they are looking for a Barista in there open recruitment positions. Tempted to engage with them. I am concerned about work hours and would prefer an evening / night shift. * COUGH *
Yours sincerely, nit picking, bike snob, Europhile protectionist.
Nice description and lovely build. The "dumbed down" aesthetics work very well I think.
- not shocked to be honest. Price of (any) new bike is already crazy. 
as I said earlier I'm not a fan of disc brakes. The work that goes in to the bikes is worthy of respect. I'm just tight.
