Trek post Armstrong

GGBiker

Any opinions on where Trek will go post Armstrong?

His name was so tightly associated with the Madone models (named after one of his favourite climbs no less) that it will be hard to shake. He must have generated massive sales for them, will most of that evaporate? Obviously the bikes are still highly regarded machines but is that enough in today's market?

elderone

Dont know about trek but lance is moving in with captainlip for some man love.

declan1

elderone wrote:

Dont know about trek but lance is moving in with captainlip for some man love.

Indeed.

Mikey41

GGBiker wrote:

Any opinions on where Trek will go post Armstrong?

His name was so tightly associated with the Madone models (named after one of his favourite climbs no less) that it will be hard to shake. He must have generated massive sales for them, will most of that evaporate? Obviously the bikes are still highly regarded machines but is that enough in today's market?

As soon as they stop using his name and image on their marketing, and the whole thing drops out of the news, you'll be amazed how quickly he will be forgotten by 90% of people.

Trek won't lose much

alihisgreat

I don't think it will make much of a difference... trek is still the same slightly bland brand - although by most accounts (especially captainlip's) they are excellent bikes.

Loretta Damage

Bought a Trek Madone 3.5 this year, any association with Armstrong didn't even cross my mind and even if it had I would have still gone for the make/model that I did; I'd just spent 6 months researching/deliberating so by the time I came to parting with my cash I wasn't going to be swayed. Excellent bike, although I will be upgrading the wheels in the Spring.

GGBiker

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

I don't think it will make much of a difference... trek is still the same slightly bland brand - although by most accounts (especially captainlip's) they are excellent bikes.

Agree they are bland, tick all the boxes except the one that says "are you excited by the prospect of riding this bike?"

Wish them no ill will but I wonder how their share of the road bike market changed during the Armstrong glory days? Perhaps they won't be much affected and will retain most of any market share gained.

Gizmodo

Loretta Damage wrote:

Bought a Trek Madone 3.5 this year, any association with Armstrong didn't even cross my mind and even if it had I would have still gone for the make/model that I did; I'd just spent 6 months researching/deliberating so by the time I came to parting with my cash I wasn't going to be swayed. Excellent bike, although I will be upgrading the wheels in the Spring.

+1

When I first read the thread title I thought it was a newspaper headline about a dismembered ex cyclist being found at a Royal Mail sorting office.

smoggysteve

Even if you erase Armstrong from the record books, there are Alberto Contadors two titles won on Treks, And his Giro d'Italia oh wait.........

ShutUpLegs

Loretta Damage wrote:

Bought a Trek Madone 3.5 this year, any association with Armstrong didn't even cross my mind and even if it had I would have still gone for the make/model that I did; I'd just spent 6 months researching/deliberating so by the time I came to parting with my cash I wasn't going to be swayed. Excellent bike, although I will be upgrading the wheels in the Spring.

Ignorance is bliss

Camus

Loretta Damage wrote:

Bought a Trek Madone 3.5 this year, any association with Armstrong didn't even cross my mind and even if it had I would have still gone for the make/model that I did; I'd just spent 6 months researching/deliberating so by the time I came to parting with my cash I wasn't going to be swayed. Excellent bike, although I will be upgrading the wheels in the Spring.

I purchased a new bike a few months ago and have to say I did think about Armstrong and riding 'his brand' when looking at Trek Madones. Went with Specialized in the end but that was what I was always going to get, so I can't say that the Armstrong association swung it one way or the other. I do like the look of Trek bikes however.

Ultimately, I'm sure the loss in sales/ubiquity of brand in being associated with Armstrong will be quickly rectified by their marketing/development teams by pushing current pro team / riders using their bikes, Radioshack-Nissan-Trek have both Schlecks, Cancellara, Voigt on Trek bike; the Lance factor will soon largely be a non-issue as Mikey41 said.