Cycle Lab settles the wheel size debate once and for all

[porqui]

Hi All, wow thanks for all the passionate feedback about our instore signage.

 

I guess there are few things to point out:

 

1. We will be taking your feedback on board and adjusting the signage with some of the better suggestions.

2. This was really designed as a "general" guide.

 

 

That said we will continue to refine and adjust our signage over the coming months and years.

 

Thanks for the comments it provided very entertaining reading.

 

 

By "adjusting" the signage I hope you mean "removing"

 

How do you explain what I would call just plain incorrect information no matter who you are giving it to.

You screwed up - fix it.

[morecycling]

I think that there is a sub-text in the comments that you may have missed.

 

Putting up signs to explain an "intricate" matter is what discount "pile them high, sell them cheap" stores do.

 

Employing knowledgeable salespeople who take the time to understand the shopper's needs and who spend time discussing the "intricacies" whith the customer is what specialist shops do.

 

We have never found these two strategies to be mutually exclusive. Knowledgeable salespeople supported by instore informational signage is what we are trying to get to.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

We have never found these two strategies to be mutually exclusive. Knowledgeable salespeople supported by instore informational signage is what we are trying to get to.

 

Just a pity that the signage is so horribly wrong ito the information it holds.

[ThePubSA]

Bro the point is your boards are 110% incorrect and misleading .. best advice is to get rid of them before someone like GM walks in and collapses from laughter..

Not that easy to just pigeon hole whats right for and individual cyclist.. thats like saying small undies for everyone under 6 feet tall.

[eddy]

 

 

We have never found these two strategies to be mutually exclusive. Knowledgeable salespeople supported by instore informational signage is what we are trying to get to.

 

Again, i think the message you are sending out to knowledgeble cyclists by your response is that your saleeople lack even the knowledge to point out the misleading "information" on your signage.

[nigelhicks]

Hi All, wow thanks for all the passionate feedback about our instore signage.

 

I guess there are few things to point out:

 

1. We will be taking your feedback on board and adjusting the signage with some of the better suggestions.

2. This was really designed as a "general" guide on wheel sizing. It is really designed for someone who is new to the sport to try and give them a guide to the new wheel sizes. As we know most of these new riders will be doing mostly jeep track and basic single track riding and the guide was designed with them in mind. We are obviously mindful that more experience riders have different riding preferences and that the wheel size is a complicated debate (as seen from many of these comments).

3. Regarding the comments on 26ers to be fair almost all manufacturers (and certainly the local distributors) have discontinued this wheel size so it is true to say that some very entry level models are coming out with 26 inch wheel sizes.

4. We have opted to call 650B bikes 27.5ers. We found when asking new riders about the sizes that 650B (wedged in between 26er and 29er) was complicated nomenclature and we are trying to make a very technical sport as simple to understand as possible.

5. This board was inspired by a very similar graphic at Eurobike where the international manufacturers were trying to explain the difference in wheel sizes and matching those to rider profiles.

6.Lastly as I mentioned this is a very broad guide, to explain the intricacy of wheel size would take the many pages you see before this post, it is not so easy to put it on a board in a store environment. That said we will continue to refine and adjust our signage over the coming months and years.

 

Thanks for the comments it provided very entertaining reading.

 

Well done for replying to the thread to waive some concerns.

 

Although the info on your boards is complete nonsense, I (and I'm sure most of the guys and girls on here) can see the angle which you are trying to get to.

 

Some advice:

 

1. Rather than saying that

"26 - are unsure of MTB or are on a tight budget"

"27.5 - keen on Cross country, technical trail or Enduro"

"29 - keen on marathon and worried about your times"

.... maybe pitch it like this ....

 

"26 - Previous standard wheelsize - better for steep technical terrain, fast acceleration - Prevalent mainly in DH, no longer industry norm in SA.

"27.5 - Emerging intermediate wheelsize - utilized in all disciplines (XC, Enduro and DH) - gives benefits of larger wheel without deminishing sharp feel of smaller wheel.

" 29 - Most sought after wheelsize in SA - better for marathon riding, well equipped for SA trails, better for beginner technical trail experience.

 

 

As much as I hate to say it - 29er is the norm here in SA and as you mentioned most of the LOCAL distributors have dropped the 26 inch wheelsize completely (I think this is silly but thats just me). So as you rightly say - the only 26inch XC bike around (other than a custom build) is a cheapie from Sportsmans ...

 

I think that although you do need to make it easier for the customer - you must try and not continue to portray the mindset that 26 is crap and 29er is the way as this is not the case as they can be adapted for diferent riders and different trails.

 

Here in SA - I agree - 29er for 99% of our races is the best - however with a growing Enduro/All Mountain population we need to give the 27.5 wheelsize its credit - as well as then 26er for its roll in DH bikes (although a number of maufacturers are now testing 27.5 rigs) ... as well as jump bikes that frequent your pump track in the evenings.

 

So in short - dont try pass the small ones off as crap - but rather give a better understanding in your signs ... its easy to do!

 

Cheers

Nige

Edited February 24, 2014 by nigelhicks

[hayleyearth]

Bro the point is your boards are 110% incorrect and misleading .. best advice is to get rid of them before someone like GM walks in and collapses from laughter..

Not that easy to just pigeon hole whats right for and individual cyclist.. thats like saying small undies for everyone under 6 feet tall.

 

I already posted it to his fb page the night after I saw it in the shop

[Wilbies05]

Thank hell they didn't include a person weight either cause then i figure a whole lot of us would be in a serious state, never mind boob size g string versus granny panties or no panties (ladies of course ...and for those "metro men lol), seriously, why the hell can one not just buy whats your budget and what appeals to you and thrash the living chains out of it, since when did the consumer become bullied into something, hey don't get me wrong if proper advice is given and explained for a valued reason by all means, but now size issues, no i see a snake in the grass waiting to bite so poor starter in his / her arse,

 

Thats just me hey, I have kids on 26ers my wife on a 29er and along comes me on a 29er, we aint no pro outfit but gees we love the freedom and the time as a family and with friends, to us its not about the best (yes 5 people mountain biking and competing is expensive), to us its the adventure the priceless memories and I will tell you a huge secret (I DARE ANYONE WHOS HONEST TO DISAGREE HERE), when the LBS realize that its about family fun and adventure and not the R100K sale they will make money hands over fists.

[djsam]

I love the irony that the founder of cycle lab is a shorty and rides a 29er...

Makes perfect sense to me , he takes part in Marathon Stage Races at the highest level, he is pretty serious about his times, and is a really strong rider, so 3 of of 4 makes it the perfect choice for him

[morecycling]

Well done for replying to the thread to waive some concerns.

 

Although the info on your boards is complete nonsense, I (and I'm sure most of the guys and girls on here) can see the angle which you are trying to get to.

 

Some advice:

 

1. Rather than saying that

"26 - are unsure of MTB or are on a tight budget"

"27.5 - keen on Cross country, technical trail or Enduro"

"29 - keen on marathon and worried about your times"

.... maybe pitch it like this ....

 

"26 - Previous standard wheelsize - better for steep technical terrain, fast acceleration - Prevalent mainly in DH, no longer industry norm in SA.

"27.5 - Emerging intermediate wheelsize - utilized in all disciplines (XC, Enduro and DH) - gives benefits of larger wheel without deminishing sharp feel of smaller wheel.

" 29 - Most sought after wheelsize in SA - better for marathon riding, well equipped for SA trails, better for beginner technical trail experience.

 

 

As much as I hate to say it - 29er is the norm here in SA and as you mentioned most of the LOCAL distributors have dropped the 26 inch wheelsize completely (I think this is silly but thats just me). So as you rightly say - the only 26inch XC bike around (other than a custom build) is a cheapie from Sportsmans ...

 

I think that although you do need to make it easier for the customer - you must try and not continue to portray the mindset that 26 is crap and 29er is the way as this is not the case as they can be adapted for diferent riders and different trails.

 

Here in SA - I agree - 29er for 99% of our races is the best - however with a growing Enduro/All Mountain population we need to give the 27.5 wheelsize its credit - as well as then 26er for its roll in DH bikes (although a number of maufacturers are now testing 27.5 rigs) ... as well as jump bikes that frequent your pump track in the evenings.

 

So in short - dont try pass the small ones off as crap - but rather give a better understanding in your signs ... its easy to do!

 

Cheers

Nige

 

These are great and constructive suggestions.

[DJR]

These are great and constructive suggestions.

 

Yes they are

[morecycling]

o.

 

Some advice:

 

1. Rather than saying that

"26 - are unsure of MTB or are on a tight budget"

"27.5 - keen on Cross country, technical trail or Enduro"

"29 - keen on marathon and worried about your times"

.... maybe pitch it like this ....

 

"26 - Previous standard wheelsize - better for steep technical terrain, fast acceleration - Prevalent mainly in DH, no longer industry norm in SA.

"27.5 - Emerging intermediate wheelsize - utilized in all disciplines (XC, Enduro and DH) - gives benefits of larger wheel without deminishing sharp feel of smaller wheel.

" 29 - Most sought after wheelsize in SA - better for marathon riding, well equipped for SA trails, better for beginner technical trail experience.

 

 

Cheers

Nige

 

Hi Nige

 

We really love this fantastic copy which is clearly better than our version and adds a lot more intricacy to the explanation. We would like to (with your permission) remove our sign and replace it with your copy. We would also like to send you a R500 gift voucher for helping us create a better information board.

 

Please DM me your details and I will send your voucher along and thanks again.

 

Kind Regards

Edited February 24, 2014 by morecycling

[Lexx]

Nice, R500, sounds like Outsurance.

[Gen]

Nice, R500, sounds like Outsurance.

 

Whahaha I just had coffee come out of my nose

[jimmycool]

Well done for replying to the thread to waive some concerns.

 

Although the info on your boards is complete nonsense, I (and I'm sure most of the guys and girls on here) can see the angle which you are trying to get to.

 

Some advice:

 

1. Rather than saying that

"26 - are unsure of MTB or are on a tight budget"

"27.5 - keen on Cross country, technical trail or Enduro"

"29 - keen on marathon and worried about your times"

.... maybe pitch it like this ....

 

"26 - Previous standard wheelsize - better for steep technical terrain, fast acceleration - Prevalent mainly in DH, no longer industry norm in SA.

"27.5 - Emerging intermediate wheelsize - utilized in all disciplines (XC, Enduro and DH) - gives benefits of larger wheel without deminishing sharp feel of smaller wheel.

" 29 - Most sought after wheelsize in SA - better for marathon riding, well equipped for SA trails, better for beginner technical trail experience.

 

 

As much as I hate to say it - 29er is the norm here in SA and as you mentioned most of the LOCAL distributors have dropped the 26 inch wheelsize completely (I think this is silly but thats just me). So as you rightly say - the only 26inch XC bike around (other than a custom build) is a cheapie from Sportsmans ...

 

I think that although you do need to make it easier for the customer - you must try and not continue to portray the mindset that 26 is crap and 29er is the way as this is not the case as they can be adapted for diferent riders and different trails.

 

Here in SA - I agree - 29er for 99% of our races is the best - however with a growing Enduro/All Mountain population we need to give the 27.5 wheelsize its credit - as well as then 26er for its roll in DH bikes (although a number of maufacturers are now testing 27.5 rigs) ... as well as jump bikes that frequent your pump track in the evenings.

 

So in short - dont try pass the small ones off as crap - but rather give a better understanding in your signs ... its easy to do!

 

Cheers

Nige

 

Spoken like a true (world) champ :thumbup:

[Lexx]

In the words of the great Johan Stemmet from Nooit vir Nooit

" Daarsy Nige, a R500'tjies vir jou in jou ABSA Spaar Rekening geborg deur MoreCycle"

Edited February 24, 2014 by Lexx