What's the deal with Trek!!!

Joeblack

Trek gets some bad press on here,

But my question is why?

ALaPlage

Mainly from those that have never ridden their bikes but have at least one of the following opinions

Dislike of American products
Dislike of Lance Armstrong
Dislike of big brands

Not scientific but at least 9 out of 10 vitriolic comments against Trek on here are misplaced bigoted opinion of no value. You also have your Specialized haters too which I can only think is the American thing again.

Gabbo

Specialized is often overlooked. Whether that's because they're seen as overpriced, I do not know, but they certainly get little mention on these forums.

BlakeysFC

I'd buy whatever was best for me really, if a Trek/Specialized etc. got amazing ratings across the board, great user reviews and glowing critic reviews then I wouldn't have anything against buying one. I just like to know that I'm getting one of (if not THE) best product for my hard earned cash at the end of the day.

Whether that's with Specialized, Trek etc. I really don't mind.

Cannock Chase

Basically those who put Trek down are the same people who put Giant and Specialized etc down as well. Any large mainstream manufacturer they will put down. They do this because it makes them feel that anyone who reads their comments will think that they know what they are talking about when in reality they know s*d all..!!

StillGoing

My first roadie was a Trek and I still have it as a winter/turbo bike. Sure it doesn't compare with my best bike but then it didn't cost even a quarter of what the best bike did. On a personal view I can't see a problem with Giant, Trek or Specialiszd although I don't like the look of Specialized bikes other than a few S-Works models. I didn't buy another big manufacturers bike because I like being out on something you don't see very often. In fact I have yet to see another rider out on my particular brand of Italian exotica and is the same reason that when it comes time to change I'll probably go for another little seen Italian brand.

ilm_zero7

ALaPlage wrote:

Dislike of American products
Dislike of Lance Armstrong
Dislike of big brands

I'll go with two out of three! mainstream 'supermarket' bikes, there is much better out there for you money, oh and the final thing bigotted thing - they always come with crap groupsets

Lookyhere

I wouldnt buy Trek, not for any of the above reasons but due to the fact that they often get on here due to warranty problems.... that dont get sorted.
Some thing that Spesh and Giant dont.... well not often

Bozman

I've had three, a 5.2 Madone, a 1.7 and 1500slr and the later was the pick of the bunch, i just didn't get along with the other two. I bought the 1.7 as a winter bike but thankfully it got written off by a careless Peugeot driver, the Madone didn't last and was replaced with a Bianchi 928 which was far better, it's all a personal opinion though. Trek and Specialized seem to live off a name(didn't Lance ride a Trek?, i'll have one of those), people seem to buy them as a safe bet but you can get a lot more bang for your buck.

BowtomePhil

I am a relative Road Newbie and didn't know anything about people liking or disliking any brand when I bought mine.

I bought my Specialized because it looked good, had great reviews and was relatively cheap. I love it.

alistaird

I agree with the comments here about Trek. I've never ridden one but used to have a Cannondale but much prefer my current bike. Nothing to do with Cannondale, it was my first real road bike and I got a good deal on it.

I now ride a small Italian company's frame (Sintesi) and there is no kudos in slagging off a small manufacture (in road bike terms anyway) as you will probably get no response on the forums. For example, I'm only aware of one other person on here having a Sintesi. But if you have a go at Trek/Specialized/Bianchi/Boardman etc then that will generate a lot of responses both positive and negative....



Just my 2p's worth....

A

BowtomePhil

Horses for courses.

I like Elvis Presley, some don't. Opinions are like arses, we all have one and each one is different.

Cannock Chase

Many of the smaller names buy their frames from the same manufacturer anyway.

rolf_f

Fine bikes I'm sure but I wouldn't buy one for the same reason I wouldn't buy a Ford. For me it's a dull choice. I don't paint my walls magnolia, I don't have 'beech' furniture, I don't drive a Ford and I don't ride a Trek or Specialized.

Nothing wrong with any of the above; they are all good - but they are kind of non-decisions. Default purchases - I'd be disappointed in myself if I couldn't find something more interesting to desire.

99thmonkey

BowtomePhil wrote:

Horses for courses.

I like Elvis Presley, some don't. Opinions are like arses, we all have one and each one is different.

No we all have one and they usually stink!

Bebs

Not sure really.

rodgers73

Rolf F wrote:

Fine bikes I'm sure but I wouldn't buy one for the same reason I wouldn't buy a Ford. For me it's a dull choice. I don't paint my walls magnolia, I don't have 'beech' furniture, I don't drive a Ford and I don't ride a Trek or Specialized.

Nothing wrong with any of the above; they are all good - but they are kind of non-decisions. Default purchases - I'd be disappointed in myself if I couldn't find something more interesting to desire.

I have magnolia walls, beech furniture, i drive a Ford AND I have a Specialized!

Jackpot!

I bought the Spesh before I knew a thing about bikes and I'm more than happy with it. I'd never buy a Trek though mainly due to the LA connection (he seems like a despicable person really) but also it seems like a bit of a naff word and conjures up an MTB rather than a road bike.

dsoutar

philthy3 wrote:

My first roadie was a Trek and I still have it as a winter/turbo bike. Sure it doesn't compare with my best bike but then it didn't cost even a quarter of what the best bike did. On a personal view I can't see a problem with Giant, Trek or Specialiszd although I don't like the look of Specialized bikes other than a few S-Works models. I didn't buy another big manufacturers bike because I like being out on something you don't see very often. In fact I have yet to see another rider out on my particular brand of Italian exotica and is the same reason that when it comes time to change I'll probably go for another little seen Italian brand.

+1 on the Trek (and the other sentiments). Mine is about 8 years old now and come rain or shine always performs. Despite having never had it fitted it's the most comfy bike I've ever had. I also have a Wilier which is my pride and joy and occasionally gets taken out in the sun but it's never been as comfy as the Trek despite an expensive bike fit.

borderraider

I bought a Trek, a modest 1.2, simply because I wanted to buy from an LBS and the only selection in my town was Trek, Giant, Biannci and Cube. Road them all in my price bracket and the Trek felt the liveliest.

Now done close to 4,000 miles on it, 3/4 of those in London and have so far replaced brake pads, a few tubes, bar tape and chain.

Can't say fairer than that.

rolf_f

rodgers73 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Fine bikes I'm sure but I wouldn't buy one for the same reason I wouldn't buy a Ford. For me it's a dull choice. I don't paint my walls magnolia, I don't have 'beech' furniture, I don't drive a Ford and I don't ride a Trek or Specialized.

Nothing wrong with any of the above; they are all good - but they are kind of non-decisions. Default purchases - I'd be disappointed in myself if I couldn't find something more interesting to desire.

I have magnolia walls, beech furniture, i drive a Ford AND I have a Specialized!

Jackpot!

Well there you go - this is a landmark moment; I may have rescued you from yourself! Now you must go out and do something completely reckless like painting a wall in "bath stone" before it's too late! Be strong - you can do it......

rodgers73

I tried but I got sidetracked by an episode of My Family :-D

rolf_f

rodgers73 wrote:

I tried but I got sidetracked by an episode of My Family :-D

You should never have bought that comfy leather sofa from DFS!

Omar Little

Trek (plus Giant and Specialized) are never going to be trendy but they do make good bikes and will spend more on R&D than most of the smaller, more fashionable brands.

In Giants case there is a good chance they will operate the factories that these more fashionable brands are manufactured in (incidentally they also make some Trek models too!)

Joeblack

So it's pretty much as I suspected, more road bike snobbery, tbh though that's fine I'm guilty of that kind of brand snobbery aswell so I understand it, for what is worth I have a trek 3.5 2013 and so far it's been great

KentPuncheur

BowtomePhil wrote:

Horses for courses.

I like Elvis Presley, some don't. Opinions are like arses, we all have one and each one is different.

Arses are also like opinions, everyone has them but they're often best not aired in public!

I have a Trek Madone 3.1c...I bought it before I was more aware of the idiosyncracies of the cycling world, so I suppose I can partially argue that I opted for the best bike in my price range unbiased by brand prejudice. Strangely enough, I opted for a Trek over a similar Orbea, Spesh, Willier and Cannondale as the geometry fitted me better. Trek's seem to fit tall lanky riders really well. I'm 6 foot 4 and ride a 60cm frame, but after test riding other bikes at that size they felt too small and cramped. I'm delighted with my bike, I've ridden over 5,000km on it in just under 12 months and I've loved every metre.

I can understand why many people don't like the brand (in nearly every walk of life some people just don't like the mainstream), and agreed there are better brands and manufacturers out there (at a price premium I may add...in most cases), but I don't think many can argue with their bikes.

Joeblack

KentPuncheur wrote:

BowtomePhil wrote:

Horses for courses.

I like Elvis Presley, some don't. Opinions are like arses, we all have one and each one is different.

Arses are also like opinions, everyone has them but they're often best not aired in public!

I have a Trek Madone 3.1c...I bought it before I was more aware of the idiosyncracies of the cycling world, so I suppose I can partially argue that I opted for the best bike in my price range unbiased by brand prejudice. Strangely enough, I opted for a Trek over a similar Orbea, Spesh, Willier and Cannondale as the geometry fitted me better. Trek's seem to fit tall lanky riders really well. I'm 6 foot 4 and ride a 60cm frame, but after test riding other bikes at that size they felt too small and cramped. I'm delighted with my bike, I've ridden over 5,000km on it in just under 12 months and I've loved every metre.

I can understand why many people don't like the brand (in nearly every walk of life some people just don't like the mainstream), and agreed there are better brands and manufacturers out there (at a price premium I may add...in most cases), but I don't think many can argue with their bikes.

I think this is the case here, I like you bought from a un biased (some may say un informed) point of view and thought the trek was the better option and like you I'm tall 6'3" although I ride a 58cm it is a great ride and I'm happy with it, to look at its not the most exciting bike and I think if I really get into proper road biking I'll go for something like this -

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Felt-AR3-Carbon ... _49258.htm

As I love the look and ride of felts

But I will always maintain the Trek was a good bike to start with

t.m.h.n.e.t

Meh dunno what the fuss is about. I bought a Specialized as it was in price range and everything else (inc GIANT/Merida) that are readily availible here I just didn't like(visually)


I'm actually waiting patiently for some financial stuff to sort itself out and heading towards purchasing a Sensa Giulia.

You may need to good that

KentPuncheur

Joeblack wrote:

I think this is the case here, I like you bought from a un biased (some may say un informed) point of view and thought the trek was the better option and like you I'm tall 6'3" although I ride a 58cm it is a great ride and I'm happy with it, to look at its not the most exciting bike and I think if I really get into proper road biking I'll go for something like this -

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Felt-AR3-Carbon ... _49258.htm

As I love the look and ride of felts

But I will always maintain the Trek was a good bike to start with

Agreed. Like I said, there are better manufacturers out there no doubt, but my Trek Madone has done its job faultlessly. I'm getting into racing next year, so will be looking for a racier set up (my 3.1c is definitely built for sportives/comfort not racing), very tempted by Canyons at the moment. The Trek will remain my sportive bike.

MattC59

I've got a 2009 Trek 1.9 and it's great...... Love it. Nothing wrong with the frame and it's Ultegra equipped.
I've also got an Enigma Esprit, and it's f*cking fantastic, I still don't see anything wrong with Trek though, they make good bikes.

smidsy

I did not know there was a Trek thing until you started it :-)

Joeblack

smidsy wrote:

I did not know there was a Trek thing until you started it :-)

The only reason I asked was I hardly heard them praised on here and in another thread someone said "I know Treks arnt liked on here" so I thought I'd ask