Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share you got to realise that Spez are a really good marketing company.*** Sure they make great bikes, but they've managed to craft an image of excellence from rather humble beginnings. Locally they dominate the marathon category, they've taken the market leader status from raleigh who had it mid noughties. and they've charged a flippen premium to do it. I think the distributors who got booted out deserve a lot of credit for this, it definitely didn't end friendly when HQ decided to come over here and do it themselves. I also think a lot of their LOCAL success goes down to one guy. This bloke who started riding their bikes in 2008. he was u23 world champ on a GT, went to Beijing Olympics on a GT. http://burrystander.typepad.com/on_the_road_with_burry_st/images/2008/08/29/p1010122.jpg (I wonder if they put a haircut clause in his pro contract.) and he became the world beater we knew - and the local face of speshracinghttp://dirtragmag.com/userfiles/Burry_Taking_First.jpg tall poppy syndrome really. every single kid wanted to be burry and win races on their spaz. lots of grown up kids too. YUMEYA, GLuvsMtb, Vlamrouge and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted November 17, 2014 Share you got to realise that Spez are a really good marketing company.*** Sure they make great bikes, but they've managed to craft an image of excellence from rather humble beginnings. Locally they dominate the marathon category, they've taken the market leader status from raleigh who had it mid noughties. and they've charged a flippen premium to do it. I think the distributors who got booted out deserve a lot of credit for this, it definitely didn't end friendly when HQ decided to come over here and do it themselves. I also think a lot of their LOCAL success goes down to one guy. This bloke who started riding their bikes in 2008. he was u23 world champ on a GT, went to Beijing Olympics on a GT. http://burrystander.typepad.com/on_the_road_with_burry_st/images/2008/08/29/p1010122.jpg (I wonder if they put a haircut clause in his pro contract.) and he became the world beater we knew - and the local face of speshracinghttp://dirtragmag.com/userfiles/Burry_Taking_First.jpg tall poppy syndrome really. every single kid wanted to be burry and win races on their spaz. lots of grown up kids too.My Friday T-Shirt at work .... it is getting a little "worn" now, but it is my #FRIDAYT-SHIRT! It makes me feel like superman before the weekend bmw1za and Long Wheel Base 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johny Bravo Posted November 17, 2014 Share you got to realise that Spez are a really good marketing company.*** Sure they make great bikes, but they've managed to craft an image of excellence from rather humble beginnings. Locally they dominate the marathon category, they've taken the market leader status from raleigh who had it mid noughties. and they've charged a flippen premium to do it. I think the distributors who got booted out deserve a lot of credit for this, it definitely didn't end friendly when HQ decided to come over here and do it themselves. I also think a lot of their LOCAL success goes down to one guy. This bloke who started riding their bikes in 2008. he was u23 world champ on a GT, went to Beijing Olympics on a GT. http://burrystander.typepad.com/on_the_road_with_burry_st/images/2008/08/29/p1010122.jpg (I wonder if they put a haircut clause in his pro contract.) and he became the world beater we knew - and the local face of speshracinghttp://dirtragmag.com/userfiles/Burry_Taking_First.jpg tall poppy syndrome really. every single kid wanted to be burry and win races on their spaz. lots of grown up kids too.I hear what you are saying, but then surely Scott should be able to achieve this with Nino. And they are not. Why? I dunno, if I had to guess, a Scott is not as desirable as a Spez. Long Wheel Base 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share oh...and they've been a top racing team for a long time too. http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/vintage-retro-classic/235047d1171475869-official-ned-overend-thread-1990team-3.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share I hear what you are saying, but then surely Scott should be able to achieve this with Nino. And they are not. Why? I dunno, if I had to guess, a Scott is not as desirable as a Spez.I'm saying burry elevated spez in south africa....reckon scott sell a lot more bikes in switzerland since nino started making absolon his bitch. the raliegh reference was when mtn energade was cleaning up locally here with kev ev and his posse...they were always on the podium and sold a lot of bikes Johny Bravo and Fisan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share just for fun....here is the 1982 spaz stumpie. hailed by many as the first 'production mtb' for the mass market. http://www.oldmountainbikes.com/bikes/specialized/T1J0184/100_0038.JPG ps. disclaimer, i don't own a spez....used to have (a not so fancy) one but it got redistributed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted November 17, 2014 Share snip snip snip I think the distributors who got booted out deserve a lot of credit for this, it definitely didn't end friendly when HQ decided to come over here and do it themselves. snip snip snip And as much as I am a Specialized fan it saddens me that a lot of the small shops that probably had a big influence on that initial big 'boom' have since lost their right to sell the brand. When I first rode a Specialized many many years ago the only shop in the greater Gauteng area that was able to help with their bikes was Summit cycles when they were still in a little shop in Midrand (even pre the shop before the one he is in now ). Even my son in law who started much later but for sure did a hell of a lot for them in the South has been forsaken. I guess they will move on and do good for other brands but it's just not fair but ja that's business I guess ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/vintage-retro-classic/889930d1398980469-official-ned-overend-thread-image.jpg Vanzyl, arendoog, L.T.G and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyTrailRider Posted November 17, 2014 Share just for fun....here is the 1982 spaz stumpie. hailed by many as the first 'production mtb' for the mass market. http://www.oldmountainbikes.com/bikes/specialized/T1J0184/100_0038.JPG ps. disclaimer, i don't own a spez....used to have (a not so fancy) one but it got redistributed. That head angle was way ahead of its time... feetup, Robodog and Captain Fastbastard Mayhem 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebeen Posted November 17, 2014 Share And as much as I am a Specialized fan it saddens me that a lot of the small shops that probably had a big influence on that initial big 'boom' have since lost their right to sell the brand. that's business I guess ............yup, as local market leader in the 'premium category' they seem to have made quite a move to push the 'exclusivity vibe' and most mom and pop LBS just can't afford to stock them. Opening their own stores might not work long term, time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptyB Posted November 17, 2014 Share I ride Trek and I effing love it....don't give a toss about what bike any other rider is on!! Jocklaw 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarlvN Posted November 17, 2014 Share Who cares what bike you ride, eh? It matters more that you ride, don't you think? People who gripe about "this" brand being better than "that" brand...really pisses me off...people are lemmings following fads. I'm reminded of those dedicated followers of fashion who splash cash on the latest and greatest. Think Apple, for instance...seriously, I broke my S4 mini crashing into a bush on Hoogekraal last Monday, and am now forced to use an Apple 4S. Such crap, this overhyped apple. I suppose the same could be said of other brands as well, What matters is that you ride, not what you ride. For the POSERS out there...who cares, eh? henningvr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headshot Posted November 18, 2014 Share I saw what looked like one C Sauser out training at Jonkers on Saturday - he epitomizes what all Spez riders aspire to be. Lean, fast and dressed from top to toe in Specialized kit right down to the one piece bibby thing. He was roaring along on his 9kg S Wroks like there was no hill. The bike however, does not the man/woman maketh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Fantana Posted November 18, 2014 Share you got to realise that Spez are a really good marketing company.*** Sure they make great bikes, but they've managed to craft an image of excellence from rather humble beginnings. Locally they dominate the marathon category, they've taken the market leader status from raleigh who had it mid noughties. and they've charged a flippen premium to do it. I think the distributors who got booted out deserve a lot of credit for this, it definitely didn't end friendly when HQ decided to come over here and do it themselves. I also think a lot of their LOCAL success goes down to one guy. This bloke who started riding their bikes in 2008. he was u23 world champ on a GT, went to Beijing Olympics on a GT. http://burrystander.typepad.com/on_the_road_with_burry_st/images/2008/08/29/p1010122.jpg (I wonder if they put a haircut clause in his pro contract.) and he became the world beater we knew - and the local face of speshracinghttp://dirtragmag.com/userfiles/Burry_Taking_First.jpg tall poppy syndrome really. every single kid wanted to be burry and win races on their spaz. lots of grown up kids too.Burry won u23 worlds on Specialized in 2009 in Canberra Australia, and his first elite world cup win was on Specialized. Edited November 18, 2014 by Brian Fantana Oufy MTB (Roadie) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest notmyname Posted November 18, 2014 Share Burry won u23 worlds on Specialized in 2009 in Canberra Australia, and his first elite world cup win was on Specialized.RIP BURRY. MTB lost a true Champion and we all lost a special inspirational man. So sad! Long Wheel Base and bmw1za 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheV Posted November 18, 2014 Share Isn't it "Spaz".... why are people saying "Spez" ... it's Spaz ... NO ???? On a serious note... the reason I'm not a fan is because you have legions of idiots all thinking that the "Epic" is the be all and end all of MTB's... Most of these jokers should rather be considering the Camber and the super awesome STUMPY FSR.. but they get "befok" in their heads and get/want an Epic for ALL the wrong reasons... and then the stupid "boxes" <change to local lingo sell them Epics because they see them coming a mile away... Another thing that peeves me personally on the Spaz is the super-low-end bits that get mixed in with high end components.... really??? do you so badly want to save R50 on your cost that you have to mix X5/X7/X9/X0 bits on one bike?? Or is it just another gimmick to pull the stupid oke back later to upgrade his Epic's cheap brakeset to a XO 2 piston "trail" brakeset on a XC racing machine.... Edited November 18, 2014 by TheV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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