Getting away from the 'norm'.

24

Comments

  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    I think sometimes the norm is OK, such as buying from Wiggle or chain reaction, good range of stock, its easy to buy and the deliveriy is normally OK.

    The LBS near me is huge and even they dont have a big a range of stock than wiggle do.

    I take your point about bikes though, every time I ride a sportive, its full of Treks, Spesh etc etc. I used to ride a Van Nicholas and I quite liked that I had something different even though in reality it was no better or worse than the other bikes around me.

    Its part of the reason I went for my Look, i.e. I havent seen that many of them about on the road.
  • turnerjohn
    turnerjohn Posts: 1,069
    {/quote]
    When out riding the most popular road bikes I see are either Boardmans or Cervelos I cannot actually remember seeing a Giant or Trek outside a race for ages.[/quote]

    you saying my S2 is common ? how very dare you :evil: lol ...Boards yes...Cervs...I've only seen a handful.....its Giant and Trek I see a load of....think it does depend where you live etc... one club I know (south east coast) consists of 90% Giant (they do however get a discount from a local shop that does Giant !)
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    Believe it or not, i have yet to come across/ ride with/ see out on the road

    Another Pinarello!

    :lol:

    Watch me see loads of them now!
  • thescouselander
    thescouselander Posts: 549
    I ride a Giant, it doesn't bother me that I see other people on the same bike either - it still suits my needs and I enjoy riding it. I'm not sure I could be bothered going out to find some obscure bike. I'm not sure it would impress anyone and I certainly don't care.
  • SLX01
    SLX01 Posts: 338
    kev77 wrote:
    Believe it or not, i have yet to come across/ ride with/ see out on the road

    Another Pinarello!

    :lol:

    Watch me see loads of them now!

    Shed loads of them around here!
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    Where!

    I feel like an outcast around cheshire, with all the Spesh, giants, treks, ribbles etc etc!

    :lol:
  • SLX01
    SLX01 Posts: 338
    kev77 wrote:
    Where!

    I feel like an outcast around cheshire, with all the Spesh, giants, treks, ribbles etc etc!

    :lol:

    Surrey Hills and SW London is full of them it allows he wife to use the Range Rover for the trip to Waitrose while hubby does a few laps of Richmond park.
  • lemoncurd
    lemoncurd Posts: 1,428
    Some cyclists use fitness and ability to stand out from the 'norm', they do not seek to be 'different' through the brand of their cycle or where they buy it.

    If you want to stand out, re-spray the frame and stick a random name on it.

    Or grow grass on it and wear a top hat and wellies.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    I might argue with the OP if I knew what the heck he was saying.
    You might want to back up your slamming of Ribble too.
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • merak
    merak Posts: 323
    merak wrote:
    13dsb wrote:
    Ribble do some of the worst carbon on the market and anything they do which isnt carbon, is simply not worth talking about..
    And your evidence for that is what precisely?
    So I take it that your criticisms of Ribble are pure prejudice without the slightest fact supporting them, since no evidence is forthcoming. Troll.
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    People posting on here probably ride mostly bigger established name bikes that come ready assembled because they are beginners - (the hint it is the Forum title).

    I bought my first bike two years ago - replaced it with a Spesh (which I love!) a couple of months ago. I have built up my knowledge and bike mech skills over that perios and now - only now - with that experience - would I consider buying bits and assmbling a bespoke bike. I probably will do that for next time as it would now seem like a nice project. I suspect that many other feel (felt?) that way or else why did they post on a beginners forum ...! If you can assemble a bike from parts are you a beginner?

    One thing I do like about this Forum is that when you do post as a beginner you get replies from people who (appear!?) to have experience and knowledge.
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    I don't really care what anyone else rides, but it's interesting that people say they don't see many Trek/Spesh out on the road.

    The three most common brands I would say I see are Trek, Spesh and Boardman.
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Would have happily bought a top brand name, as you do get a service and a brand/design/shape which has been developed along with thousands of riders and professionals.

    Just so happened that the bike I bought was at a good price, so got a 'unique' branded bike, Fausto Coppi. As far as I have seen in London are another 2 or 3 on the roads around my commute, neither of which are the same model as mine. (Mine is blue/light blue, most others are red/navy).

    From what I have read and been told, Ribble make damn good bikes, but can have a troublesome customer services department. I also hear they can be quite flexy when pedalling hard uphill, which must be annoying. As for crap carbon? Manufacturing carbon is not a highly-skilled job, its semi skilled to weave not that hard to layup.

    Problems arise when people skimping on weight don't mix enough resin into the layup which can make it weaker and de-laminate (probably not such a problem on a bike.

    All in all, I wouldn't mind riding around on a Spesh Allez, but I think I would get sick of seeing everyone on one. I defo prefer my Coppi, even if it is a touch heavier
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    I take the OP's point. Every other bike I see while I'm out is either Trek or Specialized. Fine by me - totally fine - but I do often wonder how much research people put into buying bikes; finding out what spec can be achieved for the pound.

    I ride a 2009 Felt and although it's not a vintage Colnago, I don't see many of these bikes out there at all. I grant you Felt are pretty well mainstream now. I also ride this below; it might be a Giant but it's an early 90s frame and I'm pretty certain there isn't another bike like it.

    IMGP1943.jpg

    It's nice to be different. As long as being different doesn't mean you become a hipster and not very different at all!
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    Has the OP ever wondered why wthe brands he refers to as "the norm" have indeed become the norm? Boardman are a good example of a company that has stepped into the market place fairly recently, offered good products at a good price and have become popular. For a reason!
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    I'm not sure anyone (OP included) would deny that, Keith.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I'm confused. I have a Look and a Ribble and I love them both. Can someone tell me if I'm cool or not? :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    I ride a Cube Agree GTC Race 2011 and Giant Defy 2 (winter Bike). The Cube is awesome...I brought it simply because I got a full ultegra 6700 set for £1850 and a carbon frame that looked good and it blew me away on the test ride...If I had gone Spec or Pinn I'd be paying 2k for a carbon frame with a 105 Group...

    I can't recommend Cubes enough....awesome bikes, frame is stiff and responsive.

    I'd still love to own a Pinn bike though, because I think they look awesome. But why does it matter what you ride as long as you ride hard! My Cube does everything I want it to (although I am hankering after some aero wheels ;))
  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    I've just realised, I have a Claud Butler! Going on the theory of popular is uncool then Claud Butler must be about the coolest bicycle brand going! It must be worth thousands now!
  • CakeLovinBeast
    CakeLovinBeast Posts: 312
    Oh noes!

    I'm a newbie AND I bought a Cube instead of one of those popular brands. That must mean that I'm a hipster or something.

    I'm going to allow my leg hair to grow back and start on a goatee... :?
    Twitter: @FunkyMrMagic
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    I think that we need a bike version of the Top Gear cool wall because i don't know whether i'm coming or going with a Look, Viner and Trek.
  • DorsetKnob
    DorsetKnob Posts: 79
    Battaglin C11 - All Italian - Never ever seen another one!

    Giovanni Battaglin is the only rider other than the great Eddy the Cannibal to win
    both the Giro & Vuelta in the same year - now that is cool.
    Battaglin C11
    Carrera LRS2
    Carrera Jabberwock
    Kona Paddy wagon fixed
    Carlton Catalina
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    What counts is that we're all on our bikes.

    In a good way. :D
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    Keith1983 wrote:
    I've just realised, I have a Claud Butler! Going on the theory of popular is uncool then Claud Butler must be about the coolest bicycle brand going! It must be worth thousands now!

    I hate to disappoint you but..... :wink:
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    CakeLovinBeast wrote:
    Oh noes!

    I'm a newbie AND I bought a Cube instead of one of those popular brands. That must mean that I'm a hipster or something.

    I'm going to allow my leg hair to grow back and start on a goatee... :?

    Shaved legs are so popular, thus uncool...thats why I still rock the hairy beasts..
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    Rolf F wrote:
    I'm confused. I have a Look and a Ribble and I love them both. Can someone tell me if I'm cool or not? :lol:

    I will answer that for you my friend!

    a simple yes and no!

    :lol:
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    I'm confused. I have a Look and a Ribble and I love them both. Can someone tell me if I'm cool or not?

    Move something from one to the other Rolf and tell people you ride a customised Rook (or a Lobble if you prefer).[/quote]
  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    nochekmate wrote:
    Keith1983 wrote:
    I've just realised, I have a Claud Butler! Going on the theory of popular is uncool then Claud Butler must be about the coolest bicycle brand going! It must be worth thousands now!

    I hate to disappoint you but..... :wink:

    Hmmmmmmmm,
    What about if I tell you I also have a Raleigh and a Carrera in the stable? Maybe it's the admitting to it that's cool not the owning them, after all how many people would admit to that?
  • stokey1964
    stokey1964 Posts: 454
    kev77 wrote:
    Believe it or not, i have yet to come across/ ride with/ see out on the road

    Another Pinarello!

    :lol:

    Watch me see loads of them now!


    Drop down into Stoke and there loads of them

    Wonder why ???????????????
  • nochekmate
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    ^^^^ All cheap Chinese copies in Stoke!

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