Getting away from the 'norm'.

kev77

nochekmate wrote:

^^^^ All cheap Chinese copies in Stoke!

Ha ha! miaaooowww!

Jim Will Fixie It

13dsb wrote:

It;s the carbon thats the problem, it's cheap and usually naked (teehee) carbon.

Just a minute. By 'naked' I am assuming that you mean unpainted. You realise that painting carbon fibre doesn't make it much stronger? So, your hypothesis is that Ribble frames are awful because they don't paint the entirety of their carbon frames - a aesthetic technique that I've seen used by nearly every manufacturer of carbon fibre bicycles; including high-end brands such as Look, Time, Battaglin, Viner, Willier etc.

You're certainly opinionated. And uniformed. And...

2E

i'm currently weighing up buying my first road bike ever and am pretty darn close to buying a BeOne, this must mean i'm one uber cool mo fo, get in!! Probably rides like crap but who cares!

ready2burn

This company seemingly make some of the most beautiful bikes i have ever seen!!

http://www.comtat.co.uk/

If money was no object i would certainly get one... and i bet you wouldn't see that many on the road either.

And bashing Trek and Specialized is like saying... 'phhft all i ever see is people with iPods. you can get an mp3 player for cheaper with the same storage'.... well may be, but people buy iPods for a reason. They work brilliantly, the company is fantastic, there is great customer service, and they look good. But i suppose working on your logic this is sinful!

Welcome to the Forum

SLX01

ready2burn wrote:

This company seemingly make some of the most beautiful bikes i have ever seen!!

http://www.comtat.co.uk/

If money was no object i would certainly get one... and i bet you wouldn't see that many on the road either.

And bashing Trek and Specialized is like saying... 'phhft all i ever see is people with iPods. you can get an mp3 player for cheaper with the same storage'.... well may be, but people buy iPods for a reason. They work brilliantly, the company is fantastic, there is great customer service, and they look good. But i suppose working on your logic this is sinful!

Welcome to the Forum

You can get a similar frame for $330 from China

http://www.flyxii.com/products_1.asp?menuid=308&id=547

desweller

2E wrote:

i'm currently weighing up buying my first road bike ever and am pretty darn close to buying a BeOne, this must mean i'm one uber cool mo fo, get in!! Probably rides like crap but who cares!

I really liked my BeOne. Unfortunately it was a bit too big for me, but it had a sort of madcap fling-you-at-the-horizon feel to it under acceleration that my PX frame simply cannot reproduce.

DesB3rd

“people buy iPods for a reason. They work brilliantly, the company is fantastic, there is great customer service, and they look good.”
The Ipod is a good analogy; spec. for spec. a bit more expensive than the alternative but not to the extent that someone with little technical knowledge (i.e. the vast majority) is willing to a.) spend hours spazzing up on the MP3 player market or b.) risk buying a product he/she has heard nothing about before. A default product of which little bad is reported, so why look further?
Ditto bikes, the reality is that someone coming over from MTB or having been off a bike for years will be suitably impressed by the Giant/Trek/Spec roady from his local retailer – and rightly so, like the Ipod they’re all of a quality that’s hard to fault. A niche retailer housed in a northern warehouse is either unknown to him/her, or seems something of a consumer risk for the sake of a 10-20% saving. The comparison ends where the cyclist not uncommonly becomes enthused by his sport & knowledgeable through his own volition, people may proselytise about their Ipods but they rarely become any more informed about MP3 players…

Rich Hcp

I agree with Des.

A lot is down to convenience, what the LBS stocks and what can be got hold of locally.

Its a bit like cars, price for price most bikes are pretty much the same and it comes down to personal taste, fit and avaliabilty at the time of purchase.

inseine

Its a bit like cars, price for price most bikes are pretty much the same and it comes down to personal taste, fit and avaliabilty at the time of purchase.

Is it? Most bikes consist of mainly off the shelf parts whereas a car does not. A BMW drives completey differently to a Renault even at the same price point plus if you paint them both black all over you'd still tell them apart whereas you'd struggle with the vast majority of same segment bikes.

SLX01

inseine wrote:

Its a bit like cars, price for price most bikes are pretty much the same and it comes down to personal taste, fit and avaliabilty at the time of purchase.

Is it? Most bikes consist of mainly off the shelf parts whereas a car does not. A BMW drives completey differently to a Renault even at the same price point plus if you paint them both black all over you'd still tell them apart whereas you'd struggle with the vast majority of same segment bikes.

Most bikes are identifiable without decals, a Pinarello looks nothing like a BMC which looks nothing like a Cannondale so painted black you can tell them apart. I also disagree they all ride the same some frames are a 'softer' ride or may have a more agressive riding position.

inseine

I just knew you'd say Pinarello and BMC! I think you'd be hard pushed with most but maybe you have a very keen eye. I'm just saying it's a lot more subtle than with cars. A 'blind' test in TOUR magazine showed the testers couldn't tell titanium from ali from carbon let alone differences in frame angles.

rolf_f

SLX01 wrote:

Most bikes are identifiable without decals, a Pinarello looks nothing like a BMC which looks nothing like a Cannondale so painted black you can tell them apart. I also disagree they all ride the same some frames are a 'softer' ride or may have a more agressive riding position.

Most aren't that identifiable - Pinarellos and BMCs are notably recognisable because they have deliberate styling cues for that purpose (though, obviously, the manufacturers will claim some unconvincing functional purpose for them). At least the hole in the BMC frame allows you to hang things from the bike!

SLX01

Rolf F wrote:

SLX01 wrote:

Most bikes are identifiable without decals, a Pinarello looks nothing like a BMC which looks nothing like a Cannondale so painted black you can tell them apart. I also disagree they all ride the same some frames are a 'softer' ride or may have a more agressive riding position.

Most aren't that identifiable - Pinarellos and BMCs are notably recognisable because they have deliberate styling cues for that purpose (though, obviously, the manufacturers will claim some unconvincing functional purpose for them). At least the hole in the BMC frame allows you to hang things from the bike!

What a stupid come back so its ok to compare a BMW to a Renault but not a BMC with a Pinarello, because they look different, lol! Thats the point they look different just like a Tarmac looks different from a CAAD10. The point that was being made was that all mainstream bikes looked the same but they clearly don't. If you cannot tell the difference between a Specialized frame and that of a Cervelo for example you need your eyes tested.

MrChuck

Rich Hcp wrote:

A lot is down to convenience, what the LBS stocks and what can be got hold of locally.

This. Most people (myself included) are more interested in getting a good bike at a good price and then getting out and riding it than they are in making some sort of statement about their individuality by going out of their way to find something different (but no better).

That said, I do sort of see where the OP is coming from as far as bikes go, and can buy that not everyone sees their bike simply as a tool, which is fair enough.

But he lost me with suggetsing that people should think different by not shopping at Wiggle...?

rolf_f

SLX01 wrote:

What a stupid come back so its ok to compare a BMW to a Renault but not a BMC with a Pinarello, because they look different, lol! Thats the point they look different just like a Tarmac looks different from a CAAD10. The point that was being made was that all mainstream bikes looked the same but they clearly don't. If you cannot tell the difference between a Specialized frame and that of a Cervelo for example you need your eyes tested.

Oh do grow up. Most carbon frames do look fairly generic and a Specialized frame looks a lot more like a Cervelo than a BMW does to a Renault. Partly because bikes are still mostly function over form. Except for the more flowery ones like BMC and Pinarello. You're an idiot.

SLX01

Rolf F wrote:

SLX01 wrote:

What a stupid come back so its ok to compare a BMW to a Renault but not a BMC with a Pinarello, because they look different, lol! Thats the point they look different just like a Tarmac looks different from a CAAD10. The point that was being made was that all mainstream bikes looked the same but they clearly don't. If you cannot tell the difference between a Specialized frame and that of a Cervelo for example you need your eyes tested.

Oh do grow up. Most carbon frames do look fairly generic and a Specialized frame looks a lot more like a Cervelo than a BMW does to a Renault. Partly because bikes are still mostly function over form. Except for the more flowery ones like BMC and Pinarello. You're an idiot.

I think if anyone is an idiot its you a cervelo looks nothing like a specialized and if you think it does you need your head testing.

MattC59

Three things to mention.............

I like my Trek.
The OP has gone rather quiet.
The OP has neglected to mention what make the frame of his 'custom build' is.

noodleman

13dsb wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

Don't hold back on your opinions then?
Interested on what basis you make some of your assumptions , do you think Planet-x are cr@p too because they're made in the same factory as some of the Ribble frames?
Dissing the likes of Trek, Specialized and so forth and proclaiming that Cube are better kinda dismantles your argument :roll:

99% of bikes are made in one of 4 factories which are all next to each other so it doesn't matter which one the 2 are made in. It;s the carbon thats the problem, it's cheap and usually naked (teehee) carbon.

I used Cube as the example because of the sheer spec this year, I mean a full carbon, 105 fitted road bike for £1250, £250 cheaper than last year is ridiculous.

I think the power is moving to Europe.
Just wondering where this 99% of bikes are made in 4 factories comes from. Has the OP visited the far east just to see these 4 factories next to each other. I can see where the OP is coming from with regards to not always going mainstream but as a few other posts point out, these brands have become mainstream for good reason such as investing millions in testing their bikes at the highest level (tdf) amongst other major road races. Also like to know why Ribble get such a kicking. Why is thir carbon crap?

rolf_f

SLX01 wrote:

I think if anyone is an idiot its you a cervelo looks nothing like a specialized and if you think it does you need your head testing.

I didn't say it did. Sigh.........

noodleman wrote:

Also like to know why Ribble get such a kicking. Why is thir carbon crap?

Probably too cheap so the snobbery factor comes in. My Ribble isn't as good as my Look but it is still a damn good bike. There is nothing wrong with the carbon!

jim453

MattC59 wrote:

Three things to mention.............

I like my Trek.
The OP has gone rather quiet.
The OP has neglected to mention what make the frame of his 'custom build' is.

He said it was a re-sprayed spesh a couple of pages ago.

Funny, isn't it.

MattC59

jim453 wrote:

MattC59 wrote:

Three things to mention.............

I like my Trek.
The OP has gone rather quiet.
The OP has neglected to mention what make the frame of his 'custom build' is.

He said it was a re-sprayed spesh a couple of pages ago.

Funny, isn't it.

Bu66er......... missed that !

ColinT2

Hi 13dsb,
At best people are very fickle and go along with what the marketing experts believe what you should have rather than what you really want; hence ridiculous higher and higher costs for branded carbon frames such as Colnago, Pinarello, Cervelo etc. You should follow your instincts and go along with what you think is best for you - me personally I love the ride/looks etc of titanium frame bikes but I don't race and prefer the sportives or leisure rides but what basically decides it is what are you planning/hoping to achieve

mattshrops

hey guys i like to paint my nuts bright orange ooh look at me I'm not like all you uncool people with normal coloured nuts. :roll:

invincible

i must be the most boring man alive.....

i ride a specialized allez, drive an audi & have skin coloured nuts :oops:

Scotxr

I have a Ribble - Sportive Bianco on order !! The reason I picked it was because it gets brilliant reviews, looks great and I could get it for £1k on the CTWS.

I agree it's good to break from the norm - I have a Nicolai Helius FR and a Santa Cruz Blur. In my MTB riding I have hardly seen any other Nicolais so it is good to be different but each to their own, I certainly dont turn my nose up at people because my bike is £3k more expensive than theirs, I also dont mention that it's handmade in Germany and has some of the most beautiful welding around 8) .

rolf_f

invincible wrote:

i must be the most boring man alive.....

i ride a specialized allez, drive an audi & have skin coloured nuts :oops:

Is the Audi silver?

13dsb

Duno what the hate is for?

I generated some discussion on my first visit that was all, you can obviously ride what you want I just think it's nice to see something different from time to time. Yes my frame is a 2001 Spesh'. I never said I was personally against them i just think there is such a wide market now days, I can fully understand people using the internet to get great deals, we all do. I think it's great for the cycling that the market is opening up and prices are dropping.

No need to get mad!

inseine

Fair enough, though you did say that Ribble do some of the worst carbon frames on the market then never said why you think this is the case...................................so?

lucan

OP must be the best fed troll on the net.

davylear

Wow, what a fiery thread.

Dare I ask how Cannondale goes down as they seem to have escaped comment so far.