Overrated bike equipment Brands

MonkeyMurphia

equipment is a personal thing I know, but some brands just baffle me as to how they get such good reviews. I was just wondering what other people have pencilled in as their brands to avoid.

I'll start:

Endura - bad fitting clothing for the average rider (i'm 5ft11 and 13 stone and none of their jackets will fit me), poor quality overshoes, terribly designed gloves (Strike)

Crank Brothers - crap trail tools, clipless pedals are poor quality & longevity.

Northwave - jerseys designed for waifs.

disgruntledgoat

Would agree with Endura, had team kit made by them for a couple of years and it was terrible.

Altura too, one pair of shorts, and they were the worst pair I've ever owned.

Specialized- Had some shoes of theirs for a while (necessity more than anything) and they looked and felt boxy. My toe ended up going through the mesh on the top, althogh (somehow) this seems to be a common feature of my shoes...

Eskimo427

MonkeyMurphia wrote:

equipment is a personal thing I know, but some brands just baffle me as to how they get such good reviews. I was just wondering what other people have pencilled in as their brands to avoid.

I'll start:

Endura - bad fitting clothing for the average rider (i'm 5ft11 and 13 stone and none of their jackets will fit me), poor quality overshoes, terribly designed gloves (Strike)

Crank Brothers - crap trail tools, clipless pedals are poor quality & longevity.

Northwave - jerseys designed for waifs.

Endura brand makes up for the majority of the kit I own and I've had no issues at all with it. My first pair of tights are still going despite the bottom needing to be re stitched due to 5yrs of wear.

Crank Brothers candy pedals are what I use for my daily commute to work and thats a long a railway line which has a rubbish surface, they are still going strong although there is some corrosion on them.

Northwave - I have 2 northwave Heart tops and I think their great, great fit and well made.

I think you've just been very unlucky. I'm 5'8" and 13st.

finchy

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Specialized- Had some shoes of theirs for a while (necessity more than anything) and they looked and felt boxy. My toe ended up going through the mesh on the top, althogh (somehow) this seems to be a common feature of my shoes...

Try cutting your toenails then.

fast as fupp

shimano- japanese junk and fishing tackle

fast as fupp

johnfinch wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Specialized- Had some shoes of theirs for a while (necessity more than anything) and they looked and felt boxy. My toe ended up going through the mesh on the top, althogh (somehow) this seems to be a common feature of my shoes...

Try cutting your toenails then.

disgruntled goats feet?

http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/nail3.jpg

disgruntledgoat

fast as fupp wrote:

johnfinch wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Specialized- Had some shoes of theirs for a while (necessity more than anything) and they looked and felt boxy. My toe ended up going through the mesh on the top, althogh (somehow) this seems to be a common feature of my shoes...

Try cutting your toenails then.

disgruntled goats feet?

http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/nail3.jpg

I'll have you know my feet are delightful! If clown-sized

Crapaud

MonkeyMurphia wrote:

... Endura - bad fitting clothing for the average rider (i'm 5ft11 and 13 stone and none of their jackets will fit me), poor quality overshoes, terribly designed gloves (Strike) ...

Only had one issue with a jacket when - the zip went - everything else has been fine. Poorly fitting rider perhaps?

A lot of my kit's Endura and it's been great VFM.

fast as fupp

ive got 4 endura jackets and never had a problem with them

also a pair of bibshorts which i piced up for £10 in a sale and still feel like new after 2 years

so no iths got to be shimano (made by dolphin murderers)

cee

I find endura's sizing a bit odd...some of the gear seems small, other bits large and others about right...

dave8178

i have used a pair of eggbeaters for over 3 years, never had any problems.
would it not make sense for clothing manufacturer's to have some sort of system where all individual size's are the same. i'm just thinking aloud.

Bhima

Catlike helmets. They're just helmets, yet everyone makes out that they're AMAZING.

Swissstop brake pads. Tried all of them and they're not actually as powerful as people say. I use a harder compound pad which performs better on all rims I own.

Dura Ace everything. Pretty poor for a top-end groupset. Bottom-end SRAM and Campagnolo "feel" much nicer.

mcj78

I'd agree with the endura sizing mystery, i'm 5'8" & a touch over 11 stone and their medium sized tops fit pretty much perfectly, as does almost every medium sized thing i've bought. The bottom half seems to be a different story though, one pair of the 6 panel shorts I bought donkeys years ago are a medium & fit is spot on, whilst the thermal 3/4 bib tights I bought a couple of years ago are a large & always been that wee bit tight - i'm a 31" waist & don't have a big mental arse or enormous thighs, so buying x-large seems a bit well, wrong - not like it's continental sizing either as they're a UK based company. I know someone who used to work for them as a designer too & when I mentioned to them about weird sizing, they said they weren't surprised, whatever that meant... I do like the look of their stuff though, just wouldn't buy it mail-order!
J

disgruntledgoat

Bhima wrote:

Catlike helmets. They're just helmets, yet everyone makes out that they're AMAZING.

I've had a catlike kompact pro for 4 years now adn the finish has lasted, it's comfortable and well ventilated, and I've tested that on 2 marmottes and a trip to the pyrenees.

Liked it so much I bought the chrono when the time came to get an aero helmet, can't fault them.

Which have you tried?

TheStone

I find Endura, Altura and Specialized clothing a bit hit and miss. Sometimes ok, but mostly not.

I'd add Blackburn.

And Castelli. High end prices for fairly ordinary clothes.

Bunneh

Lizard Skins, pointless in my eyes. I use insulation tape to protect my frame, not some weird velcroy thing that costs a fortune.

pastey_boy

campag for their over priced lower end groupsets. heavy and clunky when there are lighter smoother options out there for less. also saddles, a lot of saddle manufacturers seem to have lost the plot when it comes to value for money. selle italia,s pricing has gone mental

freehub

fast as fupp wrote:

shimano- japanese junk and fishing tackle

bollox

disgruntledgoat

freehub wrote:

fast as fupp wrote:

shimano- japanese junk and fishing tackle

bollox

Looks like you got a bite on that new tackle!

dennisn

pastey_boy wrote:

......... also saddles, a lot of saddle manufacturers seem to have lost the plot when it comes to value for money. selle italia,s pricing has gone mental

You do make a good point. "Mental" is putting it mildly.

ballspondroad

All cycling specific shoes.

symo

Campagnolo - for those who are elitist assholes and think that Shimano is common and to prove their point are willing to put up with clunky gear changes at great sufferage.

Oh and Giro, I mean £90 for an Atmos, and none of them fit me properly. (will probably try a catlike soon).

TheStone

ballspondroad wrote:

All cycling specific shoes.

You being serious?

Agree on Selle Italia prices. They seem to have lost their minds, but I can't find anything
as comfortable as the Signo Ltd Edition.

Wooliferkins

fast as fupp wrote:

shimano- japanese junk and fishing tackle

They are nice fishing reels though, pity their chainrings don't last as well.

Chip \'oyler

symo wrote:

Campagnolo - for those who are elitist assholes and think that Shimano is common and to prove their point are willing to put up with clunky gear changes at great sufferage.

Whatever

ballspondroad

Well, I suppose 'all' might be going a bit far 'TheStone', so I'll downgrade that to 'most'.

simonaspinall

Shimano Shoes are absolutely brilliant - I've worn them on average 5-6 days out of 7 since last March and they are still going - Sole is coming away a bit at the front now but apart from that - Not a thing wrong with them. Have got some shiny red diadora carbon ones to replace so will see how they go.

In terms of overrated - I thought Sealkskinz were a load of crap. Very bright Hi-viz gloves - But near zero water and thermal proofing.

'Pro' Overshoes - Rubbish fastening straps - The velcro is clearly made of cheese or human hair.

symo

Chip \'oyler wrote:

symo wrote:

Campagnolo - for those who are elitist assholes and think that Shimano is common and to prove their point are willing to put up with clunky gear changes at great sufferage.

Whatever

Brilliant riposte sir, I salute you.

antfly

It`s got be Assos.
Also, I don`t know if anyone rates them but the heads on Blackburn track pumps are just terrible IME.

Chip \'oyler

symo wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

symo wrote:

Campagnolo - for those who are elitist assholes and think that Shimano is common and to prove their point are willing to put up with clunky gear changes at great sufferage.

Whatever

Brilliant riposte sir, I salute you.

It's a f**kin pleasure

Bunneh

This is not the World of Warcraft forums, stop bitchin' at each other for Pobs sake.