I BOUGHT THIS BIKE BECAUSE.....

[swoosh1973]

It would be interesting for me to hear your comments.

Edited January 8, 2011 by SWOOSH 2 SWOOSH

[The_Break]

I bought my bike because I did 4 months of research on each and every component on it until I was happy it was the best I could get to improve my performance.

 

Personally I only buy what I see the real Pros riding and for which I have considered the design intent if available from the manufacturer, i.e. TDF or which there is actual test data for. Also, a long warranty, parts availability and customer service are important.

[Guest agteros]

erm... I needed a road bike in a hurry (impulse decision to do 94.7 two weeks into the future) and it was the only one in Jhb I could find on the hub costing nearly nothing

[vanniri]

it was the one I wanted.

[swoosh1973]

I bought my bike because I did 4 months of research on each and every component on it until I was happy it was the best I could get to improve my performance.

 

Personally I only buy what I see the real Pros riding and for which I have considered the design intent if available from the manufacturer, i.e. TDF or which there is actual test data for. Also, a long warranty, parts availability and customer service are important.

 

Ok that makes sense. Though I am quite certain many Pros ride or have components that would not always be their first choice...They are proffesionals and no dog bites the hand that feeds it.

[The_Break]

Ok that makes sense. Though I am quite certain many Pros ride or have components that would not always be their first choice...They are proffesionals and no dog bites the hand that feeds it.

 

Agreed, but no team would really put their riders on poor quality parts as even though they are dependent on sponsors the top pro teams have a certain advantage in that there are only a small number of teams on a TDF level but many many sponsors looking to get into that marketng platform, so they do have a certain amount of choice. That choice normally being toward what can make them have a tech advantage as well as a nice team budget.

 

I went with most of the new thinking of Mr Riis at the time. He chose what he wanted and then approached the sponsors. He got what he wanted.

['Dale]

I hear great things about the brand. Never hear negative comments.

 

Also, my cycling star and his team rides it. Inspires me.

[swoosh1973]

Agreed, but no team would really put their riders on poor quality parts as even though they are dependent on sponsors the top pro teams have a certain advantage in that there are only a small number of teams on a TDF level but many many sponsors looking to get into that marketng platform, so they do have a certain amount of choice. That choice normally being toward what can make them have a tech advantage as well as a nice team budget.

 

I went with most of the new thinking of Mr Riis at the time. He chose what he wanted and then approached the sponsors. He got what he wanted.

Ok thanks for the insight. This has become way clearer to me. But that applies to the TDF and road bikes. Brands do count so yeah..I will accept what you say.

 

But what about mountaine biking, Downhill riders, and the other cycling disciplines. Woul that also aplpy to those pros like Greg Minaar,Kevin Evans, Max Knox, Bury Stander etc?

If they had a chocice would Kevin realy still be riding a Raleigh or would he switch to Specialized and vise versa?

[Ashchest]

it looked good

[The_Break]

Ok thanks for the insight. This has become way clearer to me. But that applies to the TDF and road bikes. Brands do count so yeah..I will accept what you say.

 

But what about mountaine biking, Downhill riders, and the other cycling disciplines. Woul that also aplpy to those pros like Greg Minaar,Kevin Evans, Max Knox, Bury Stander etc?

If they had a chocice would Kevin realy still be riding a Raleigh or would he switch to Specialized and vise versa?

 

Man I am going to get roasted for this, but I would not look at the SA market if you want to see what is truly a good bike. The truth is that the truly good bikes like Cervelo, Pinarello, Trek, etc do not need to sponsor teams in SA as they piggy back off of the marketing done in the Tours and by Pro teams overseas.

 

Most of the local sponsorships are all about marketing specifically within SA. The market here is so small and even though their are a few pro teams around I do not think it is representative at all when it comes to showing what is good and truly great.

 

No pro or pro team will ever admit they do not like their bikes, but they do for sure make a lot of comments about how nice they think other bikes are.

 

If you have the cash and you want something really nice that you can trust is good, then you cant go wrong looking at what the worlds top athletes are using in Europe and USA.

 

Regarding other cycling disciplines, this is how I think of it, would the top people in the world at any discipline compromise on their equipment purely for sponsorship? I think not and nor would their team managers in making choices about sponsors. SA is again different because local pros generally get paid poorly, work extremely hard for sponsorships and take what they can get. The market and marketing platform is just to small here to be representative.

Edited January 8, 2011 by The_Break

[Noneking]

it was the one I wanted.

Now that makes perfect sense!!

[Guest Big H]

...... Because we liked the colour.

[eames8]

My buddy leant me his and I had to have one, and I guess price

[Noneking]

To be honest, I got sick and tired of all the mud we've had lately with all the rain. Decided to get a road bike for those muddy days. LBS gave me a super deal on the road bike and I just loved the colour scheme :blush:

[swoosh1973]

Well its just very interesting. I was just curiouse to get insight as to why people buy one bike over another and also interesting to hear reasons why pros ride brands.

 

What would be even more interesting is to hear what pros make in cycling in SA versus overseas besides for their winnings. I know some triathletes like Rynard Tissink had to rely purely on money made from winning races as well as being sponsored his equipment by the manufacturers. But is cycling the same?.

 

All I can see is that you get a bike but what else do the pros get in the package deal? Anyone know?

 

Note that I will ever come in contention!

[Zeps]

It's a Specialized