Why are Trek bikes not very popular?

Wirral_paul

Philly8mt wrote:

I'm not convinced people boycott Trek due to LA ??????

So chaps ...

Anyone like to compile a list of "Clean" bikes for the morally outraged to purchase?

If any of the morally outraged want to throw away their Oakleys, can you please throw them in my direction. They will go nicely with the Madonne 6.9 that someone is going to dispose of in their outrage

If anyone is going to boycott a particular brand because of a drugs cheat - well then that says a lot about their mentality doesnt it. :?

Bike Radar

greggbaker wrote:

Again I have seen the comment that they are "so common on the road" on this forum a number of times but just don't see many around at all.

It may be because of where you live or work.

I see lots of Treks in town where I work but not so many where I live.
There is a large Trek retailer in town, but not near where I live 22 mile away.

Wirral_paul

That pie chart is for ALL bike sales also - not just for £500+ road bikes that you'll typically see out on your rides

Philly8mt

Bike Radar wrote:

greggbaker wrote:

Again I have seen the comment that they are "so common on the road" on this forum a number of times but just don't see many around at all.

It may be because of where you live or work.

I see lots of Treks in town where I work but not so many where I live.
There is a large Trek retailer in town, but not near where I live 22 mile away.

Must admit, don't see many Trek myself .. But .. After commenting on this and leaving my partners house in Hucknall this morning, three out of the six road cyclists I saw were riding Treks.

bernithebiker

Don't see many Treks in France. They're a patriotic lot, so quite a few Looks and Times, less so Lapierre.

I like the Looks, not the Times.

dodgy

wellbeloved747 wrote:

Specialized 9.5% ???????? half of the bikes i see are specialized. saw a pack of 12 riders today both male and female and they were all on a specialized! even i found that weird! they must be part of the fan club, weird people!

You might live near a great dealer who concentrates on Specialized, I have a theory that many people don't buy a brand, they buy into the relationship with their LBS.

Up here, you see loads of Dolans for instance, but it doesn't carry that the ratio of Dolans to other makes is the same across the country, does it?

Anyway, nothing wrong with Treks, Specialized, Giants or any of the big makes, all bikes are pretty much the same these days. One thing I will say is that bikes from the large companies as mentioned carry a price premium, you'd think economies of scale would make them cheaper, apparently not.

edten

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Philly8mt wrote:

I'm not convinced people boycott Trek due to LA ??????

So chaps ...

Anyone like to compile a list of "Clean" bikes for the morally outraged to purchase?

If any of the morally outraged want to throw away their Oakleys, can you please throw them in my direction. They will go nicely with the Madonne 6.9 that someone is going to dispose of in their outrage

If anyone is going to boycott a particular brand because of a drugs cheat - well then that says a lot about their mentality doesnt it. :?

IMO Trek was a more 'visible' brand than Oakley and possibly more readily associated with his cheating. We all know Lance wore Oakley but most footage / pics of Lance on a bike had a big Trek logo on the frame more obvious than a pair of shades at least to me. Drug cheat or not Lance was not someone I ever wanted to emulate so the last thing I would want is to look like I was trying to by riding a Trek. If I had wanted to emulate him years ago and I still had a Trek I probably would want rid of it too. These days I associate Trek more with the Schlecks who are just as uninspiring.

Anonymous

It annoys me how some newbies seem to buy an entry level Trek (or Specialized) and think they are a really great brand to have.

iPete

Carbonator wrote:

It annoys me how some newbies seem to buy an entry level Trek (or Specialized) and think they are a really great brand to have.

But they are? They hit the noobie price points perfectly and are the most visible on the shop floor, especially the big shops offering R2W.

Granted they are boring and I wouldn't buy one new again.

crikey

Bought my Trek after Armstrong won the Tour in 1999, I thought it was a pretty good test of a bike...

I'm still riding it as a winter bike now, and used the lifetime warranty to get the original forks replaced after they became unbonded at the crown.

The early Trek carbon frames were probably somewhat over built, hence the bomb proof nature of the OCLV series.

Armstrong turned out to be a baddy, but the company make decent bikes and the 'Oh, it's not niche enough for me' types really need to have a word with themselves.

pride4ever

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Good points. Why do people get snooty about brands and having something with a rareity factor? Do these "rare" brands have as good a warranty on their frames as Trek, Giant or Cannondale I wonder? Personally I couldn't care less if my Giant is cool or not. Just get out there and ride ffs! Trek, Giant et al are the most popular because they manufacture good products (well, have them manufactured on their behalf in Trek's case) at a price people can afford. I would love a Parlee custom build for instance but not for £12k!!! I don't think it would be 12 times better than my Giant though or make mw any faster for that matter.

Because when you buy a bike its not like when you buy your car and you have around 4 models in your price range. Bikes come from all over the world and best of all they nearly all do a range you can afford so why buy a Vauxhall when you can buy something exotic and a head turner. Treks are OK but for once in your life think outside the box and get something as equally well made and something your less likely to see lent up outside the cafe as a Trek or a Spesh.

Wirral_paul

edten wrote:

IMO Trek was a more 'visible' brand than Oakley and possibly more readily associated with his cheating. We all know Lance wore Oakley but most footage / pics of Lance on a bike had a big Trek logo on the frame more obvious than a pair of shades at least to me. Drug cheat or not Lance was not someone I ever wanted to emulate so the last thing I would want is to look like I was trying to by riding a Trek. If I had wanted to emulate him years ago and I still had a Trek I probably would want rid of it too. These days I associate Trek more with the Schlecks who are just as uninspiring.

So you'd get rid of a perfectly good bike for this alone?? Christ you really must have fallen for all the branding hype. I'd rather buy a bike on it's merits - than spend thousands because the top pro of the day rides something with the same sticker on the downtube. I guess that makes you a puppet to the branding really - oh dear.

So be honest - when you see someone now on a Trek - do you really think they are trying to be Lance Armstrong? :?: :?:

If you do then you're the one with the issue and need to move on - not them!!

crikey

Because when you buy a bike its not like when you buy your car and you have around 4 models in your price range. Bikes come from all over the world and best of all they nearly all do a range you can afford so why buy a Vauxhall when you can buy something exotic and a head turner. Treks are OK but for once in your life think outside the box and get something as equally well made and something your less likely to see lent up outside the cafe as a Trek or a Spesh.

It's exactly like when you buy a car!

Stop thinking like a teenage boy and buy something that will do the job, that's backed up by a big R&D department, that has stood the test of time, that you know will work well, that has a decent warranty..

..and above all, stop thinking that buying a fancy car will make you a better driver.

Exotic and head turning doesn't really have much effect when you're off the back.

pride4ever

I dont think of Armstrong when I see a Trek I just think...Oh another Trek".

stannie

I don't understand why people would not buy a bike just because it is popular. I have 3 bikes and I love the Trek Domane as much as the other two bikes. I was tempted to get a Cervelo R3 but could not test ride one in my size ( and I did not like this year's colour!) so I decided to get something that I knew would ride well and that suited my needs. The Trek was ideal - and a pretty colour and I haven't seen any other bikes like my Domane yet - there are lots of R3s around though.

Grill

Wow, this thread just keeps getting sillier. Not buying Trek because they're too big, popular, not ridden by the correct people, etc... Absolutely ludicrous. The irony of some people's arguments is beyond palpable...

pride4ever

crikey wrote:

Because when you buy a bike its not like when you buy your car and you have around 4 models in your price range. Bikes come from all over the world and best of all they nearly all do a range you can afford so why buy a Vauxhall when you can buy something exotic and a head turner. Treks are OK but for once in your life think outside the box and get something as equally well made and something your less likely to see lent up outside the cafe as a Trek or a Spesh.

It's exactly like when you buy a car!

Stop thinking like a teenage boy and buy something that will do the job, that's backed up by a big R&D department, that has stood the test of time, that you know will work well, that has a decent warranty..

..and above all, stop thinking that buying a fancy car will make you a better driver.

Exotic and head turning doesn't really have much effect when you're off the back.

Lol dude ive owned more bikes than Ford put out cars. Everything from Raleighs through to Specialized and on to Merida and now Bottecchia. Its got FA to do with a lesser known brand making you a better rider and no one here even mentioned that. Its about riding something that improves your times. When I come out of the cafe I have numerous riders asking me about my bike, how I got into the brand, how it rides etc etc? I don't get that when I'm out on my Specialized or other bikes. Your coming across epic Butthurt cos no one looks twice at your seen it, owned it ride. Youve probably got a fine does the job bike but seeing as its my money I'm spending I'll go for the does the job, looks the part and turns the heads bike. Cease the butthurt brah.

pride4ever

In fact the reason some people are treating a bike purchase like a car purchase kind of explains why people buy these over advertised brands.

Wirral_paul

^^^ So what you really care about is what other people think of your bike? Great criteria for buying - you're a smarter consumer than me clearly. Erm ok

Microshift groupset - because its "different" anyone??

Philly8mt

Amazing ... I'm surprised you attract any new message board members on here at times!

Let me confess ....

I'm a newbie
None of my friends ride
I did my research
I bought an Allez (forgive me)

I'm just glad this wasn't the first thread I ever read on here ... I probably wouldn't have bothered coming back.

It must put people off getting more involved? Would a newbie reading this think about club riding for instance?

Oh Lordy!

greggbaker

Carbonator wrote:

It annoys me how some newbies seem to buy an entry level Trek (or Specialized) and think they are a really great brand to have.

Who's that aimed at?

Inutero

I ride a Trek, a mate at work rides a Giant. None of us give a rats arse what anyone thinks and to be honest, until I started reading this thread, I didn't think people anyone did.

Oh, I also drive a Ford and the last 5 cars I've had have been Ford's. Must be the reason I bought my Trek then :roll:

stannie

Philly8mt wrote:

Amazing ... I'm surprised you attract any new message board members on here at times!

Let me confess ....

I'm a newbie
None of my friends ride
I did my research
I bought an Allez (forgive me)

I'm just glad this wasn't the first thread I ever read on here ... I probably wouldn't have bothered coming back.

It must put people off getting more involved? Would a newbie reading this think about club riding for instance?

Oh Lordy!

I totally agree
I just hope that all clubs are not a snobbish as some if the members on here.
Treks, Specialized and Giants are all great bikes, no matter how many people ride them.
We do not have to be "different" to enjoy our bikes or our cycling.

flasher

I don't think it has anything to do with being a snob, it's just nice to have something less common, some care, some don't.

Anonymous

iPete wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

It annoys me how some newbies seem to buy an entry level Trek (or Specialized) and think they are a really great brand to have.

But they are? They hit the noobie price points perfectly and are the most visible on the shop floor, especially the big shops offering R2W.

Granted they are boring and I wouldn't buy one new again.

That's not what I mean.
Have no problem with them being a good option for people.
Have no problem with them being a good bike.
Have no problem with Lance Armstrong having road them.
Have no problem with them being common.

I just feel that some people who know very little about bikes (no problem with that either), go out and buy a cheap Trek/Specialized and think they are so moneysupermarketm.com

It's probably all in my head anyway lol, so don't let it bother you.
The OP asked an honest question, and I have given my honest answer.

pride4ever

singletrackanne wrote:

Philly8mt wrote:

Amazing ... I'm surprised you attract any new message board members on here at times!

Let me confess ....

I'm a newbie
None of my friends ride
I did my research
I bought an Allez (forgive me)

I'm just glad this wasn't the first thread I ever read on here ... I probably wouldn't have bothered coming back.

It must put people off getting more involved? Would a newbie reading this think about club riding for instance?

Oh Lordy!

I totally agree
I just hope that all clubs are not a snobbish as some if the members on here.
Treks, Specialized and Giants are all great bikes, no matter how many people ride them.
We do not have to be "different" to enjoy our bikes or our cycling.

But liking "different" bikes makes you a bad person/cyclist. Some idiot earlier more or less said if your not riding a popular bike your gonna spend all your time off the back of the bunch, what a tool. People are allowed to spend their money where they see fit to spend it, Myself I bought my bike cos I liked its looks and I researched the brand. I also wanted something you don't see on every ride, I'm not a sheep and don't intend to be one anytime soon. Like I said Treks are fine but no better than brands that sell a quarter of their numbers. Quantity does not equate to quality.

Cheshire Cat

Flasher wrote:

I don't think it has anything to do with being a snob, it's just nice to have something less common, some care, some don't.

Completely agree with the above statement, Trek, Giant, and Specialized are all good, solid brands...where I live the LBS sells Cubes, by the bucket load. Again, another brand that sells affordable, well put together machines, but not for me. I went out of my way to purchase my last road bike; just for something different I did a 300 mile round trip to pick up a Cinelli, not because it is any better than other brands, but at least I know which is my bike when I come outside of the cafe

pride4ever

Cheshire Cat wrote:

Flasher wrote:

I don't think it has anything to do with being a snob, it's just nice to have something less common, some care, some don't.

Completely agree with the above statement, Trek, Giant, and Specialized are all good, solid brands...where I live the LBS sells Cubes, by the bucket load. Again, another brand that sells affordable, well put together machines, but not for me. I went out of my way to purchase my last road bike; just for something different I did a 300 mile round trip to pick up a Cinelli, not because it is any better than other brands, but at least I know which is my bike when I come outside of the cafe

Exactly, on the button. Some seem not to comprehend this. My bike gets stares and interested looks and people who would more than likely pass me without a word stop and ask me about my bike. Its what cycling camaraderie should be all about and its not because it does anything their bikes don't do its simply something different to what they are used to seeing on a day to day basis.

crikey

Wow.

At the risk of continuing an already extremely dispiriting thread, anyone who is so concerned about what you ride rather than how you ride is not a great incentive to buy something 'niche'.

Cinellis? Bottechias?

Please. Superannuated Italian brand names sold on the basis of tradition?

pride4ever

crikey wrote:

Wow.

At the risk of continuing an already extremely dispiriting thread, anyone who is so concerned about what you ride rather than how you ride is not a great incentive to buy something 'niche'.

Cinellis? Bottechias?

Please. Superannuated Italian brand names sold on the basis of tradition?