The demise of Campagnolo in the world tour
Comments
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A lot has to to do with personal preference over the shape of the hoods, the feel of the shifting etc. There is no one stand out brand and these things can make the difference between say me preferring Chorus and another person preferring Ultegra or Red or whatever.
As for quality, all manufacturers have put out duff groupsets - Campag had a problem with Centaur little levers snapping at one point as did SRAM with Red while Shimano have had problems with chain breakage and currently with drivetrain noise on Ultegra. If you get one of those "bad" groupsets it can put you off the brand.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
A lot has to to do with personal preference over the shape of the hoods, the feel of the shifting etc. There is no one stand out brand and these things can make the difference between say me preferring Chorus and another person preferring Ultegra or Red or whatever.
As for quality, all manufacturers have put out duff groupsets - Campag had a problem with Centaur little levers snapping at one point as did SRAM with Red while Shimano have had problems with chain breakage and currently with drivetrain noise on Ultegra. If you get one of those "bad" groupsets it can put you off the brand.
Well Said DeVWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
I always used to be a Campagnolo man, it's beautiful stuff and recently when riding a mates bike I was impressed by the clean, crisp shift. It's like clockwork.
However, when I bought my latest road bike I was determined to buy Campagnolo, I would have never dreamed of having shimano. I was massively limited to the bikes I could choose on Campagnolo and they were all so expensive when compared to their equivalent shimano cousins. I had to go for shimano in the end and to be honest, even 105 is great stuff and plenty racey enough for someone like me.
I still can't get my head round SRAM, the double tap thing is just odd and (I haven't seen the latest so they may look better) the chainsets look like they're made of plastic
For pro riders, they just ride what they're given don't they? Apart from Cav as I saw he swapped a few bits on his bike this year! SRAM and Shimano have massive budgets compared to Campagnolo.
2 Grand Tour wins for Shimano this year, 1 for Campagnolo. 2014 was 2 Campagnolo, 1 SRAM0 -
I'm a big Campag fan... well, since I started a real job and could afford the parts. When I started racing when I was 11 I had a whole range of Shimano 105 and 600 parts... loved them: but always longed for Campag. That was back in the day when Campag Delta brakes were doing the rounds... such beautiful equipment. Back then there were a lot of options even full Mavic groupsets and a sexy Suntour Superbe Pro gruppo.
The Campag stuff just has amazing heritage, but I agree it will die out soon as it cant compete with the mass-produced suppliers. In terms of quality: I never any real issues with Campag. I have had a pair of Eurus since 2008 and they probably have 35,000 km on them. Actually, they are probably close to being worn out and dangerous now. I did have an issue with an external EPS battery - but I think it was hit by road shrapnel and I did crack a Bora rim... which I put down to too many pies :-)**************************************************
www.dotcycling.com
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I always used to be a Campagnolo man, it's beautiful stuff and recently when riding a mates bike I was impressed by the clean, crisp shift. It's like clockwork.
However, when I bought my latest road bike I was determined to buy Campagnolo, I would have never dreamed of having shimano. I was massively limited to the bikes I could choose on Campagnolo and they were all so expensive when compared to their equivalent shimano cousins. I had to go for shimano in the end and to be honest, even 105 is great stuff and plenty racey enough for someone like me.
I still can't get my head round SRAM, the double tap thing is just odd and (I haven't seen the latest so they may look better) the chainsets look like they're made of plastic
For pro riders, they just ride what they're given don't they? Apart from Cav as I saw he swapped a few bits on his bike this year! SRAM and Shimano have massive budgets compared to Campagnolo.
2 Grand Tour wins for Shimano this year, 1 for Campagnolo. 2014 was 2 Campagnolo, 1 SRAM
Quite.0 -
I can't understand why everyone thinks Campagnolo will die out. Is there any evidence of this?
They sell a lot of wheels and their fair share of groupsets, it's a small company and still family run. If anything they do very well when based on company size. Cycling is booming and to be fair Campagnolo place is at the custom build higher end of things over OEMeating parmos since 1981
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
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I had a campag on an old race bike and never got on with the shape of the hoods, I did really like the button on the side to shift though. I really like shimano shifters and the look of the dura ace chain set.
I'm looking at buying an aeroad (if I can get a shot on one) at some point next year to celebrate a new job, new lease of life etc, the question seems to be, do I get Shimano or SRAM wireless.0 -
...................................... They do the wheels and the gruppos v.well but they don't appear to be doing disc brakes as yet .....................
I understand Campagnolo are going to be offereing badged Magura brake discs and calipers. No idea what they are doing about combined brake levers/shifters though.0 -
Just seen the price of SRAM wireless on wiggle. £1080 with 12% plat discount! Thats not much more than mech dura ace and about the same price as mech record.
I'm blown away I can honestly say as a bloke went with a custom build just to get eps on his tt bike, if chorus eps doesn't drop to a similar level or below I'm off to SRAM for 2017eating parmos since 1981
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
Cervelo P5 EPS
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Probably because Shimano is almost blanket coverage in the new bike market Campag feel it would be pointless trying to undercut them for market share. A newbie cyclist is mostly brought up with Shimano, regardless. I was lucky, my first decent bike came with Veloce and for most of my bikes I stick with it. My current winter steed has had the same Campy Veloce groupset on for the last 7 years and I have never even had to adjust anything. I am on my second chain, but I have replaced the brake pads a couple of times.
I use standard Record on my best bike, never seen the need for electronic shifters, I press a lever and the gear changes anyway so why bother with battery packs and electronics? OK for the pros with back up bikes but needless complication for me.
Disc brakes? Never needed extra braking, tyre grip is the limiting factor when braking for me. Its just a way for manufacturers to sell yet another "Innovation".
Cant get my head round the Sram gear changes yet, probably need to use one for a while. Sram and Shimano obviously throw a lot of money at the Pro teams, thats why they use there kit. Why dont Campag do the same thing? Who knows, they are Italian after all.0 -
Just seen the price of SRAM wireless on wiggle. £1080 with 12% plat discount! Thats not much more than mech dura ace and about the same price as mech record.
I'm blown away I can honestly say as a bloke went with a custom build just to get eps on his tt bike, if chorus eps doesn't drop to a similar level or below I'm off to SRAM for 2017
SRAM have a bit of ground to catch up so may have priced stuff a bit low...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
My bad just relooked at it and it's just for the mechs, shifters and charger. Still this would mean di2 money for full group.
The on the plus side I'm not in the market for a new road bike till 2017 so it gives me a year to see which way things go, 2016 is shaping up to be the most interesting year for a long time when it comes down to new tech direction. It's looking like 2018 might be the year things start to settle.eating parmos since 1981
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
Cervelo P5 EPS
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This discussion is 25 years old.
When Shimano pipped Campagnolo with the STI levers, the penny was dropped and Campag has since been the runner up...
Armstrong then put a heavy dent in Campag reputation and it took an improbable Pereiro to put Campagnolo back in yellow in 2006, then more realistically Nibali, but who is going to be next?
Bettini swears he won the worlds thanks to the new Ultra Torque chainset, but I think it's all baloney... he was a beast at the time and would have won with a cottered Chater & Lea chainset.
Nothing else is new... being the first on 11 speed didn't mean anything, seeing they got pipped again in the race to electric and their electric is anything but mainstream. Disc brake wise they are a million miles away from Shimano and SRAM and even if they team up with Brembo or other specialised companies in Northern Italy, it's unlikely they will catch up anytime soon.
They are left with a bag of history, which still matters a lot and a typography which is still the best out there 80+ years on.
Sadly in Italy very few buy Campagnololeft the forum March 20230 -
There are lots of discussions that are even older. Woody Allen's parents in Radio Days had a ongoing argument about which is better: the Atlantic or the Pacific...ugo.santalucia wrote:This discussion is 25 years old.
When Shimano pipped Campagnolo with the STI levers, the penny was dropped and Campag has since been the runner up...
Armstrong then put a heavy dent in Campag reputation and it took an improbable Pereiro to put Campagnolo back in yellow in 2006, then more realistically Nibali, but who is going to be next?
Bettini swears he won the worlds thanks to the new Ultra Torque chainset, but I think it's all baloney... he was a beast at the time and would have won with a cottered Chater & Lea chainset.
Nothing else is new... being the first on 11 speed didn't mean anything, seeing they got pipped again in the race to electric and their electric is anything but mainstream. Disc brake wise they are a million miles away from Shimano and SRAM and even if they team up with Brembo or other specialised companies in Northern Italy, it's unlikely they will catch up anytime soon.
They are left with a bag of history, which still matters a lot and a typography which is still the best out there 80+ years on.
Sadly in Italy very few buy Campagnolo
So the majority of people are swayed by basic economics and ubiquity of products. No surprise there.
No one, any more, seriously has the discussion about what's better: Coca Cola or Pepsi. Why is that? With Campag Vs Shimano (and now SRAM), there's a deeper association with ethos. There's no allusion about either Coke or Pepsi being anything other than mass produced fizzy drinks.
Companies like Rapha, Brooks, etc - and all those now trading on the "artisan" bandwagon - are pretty much utilising the same brand ethos as Campag have been quietly doing for decades (although Brooks have been around for ever - but are they still owned by Mr Brooks?)
Producing fantastic products using (mostly) local workforce and paying them well - that's a "brand ethos" I'm happy to buy into (now I can afford it) - even if it is tinged with PR BS. But either way - the fact that they are seen to be competing with a global company like Shimano is amazing in itself.
And if it wasn't for that stubborn b@stard Froome on Alpe D'Huez, there would have been a Campag winner this year at the Tour.
Talking of years... Happy New Year!0 -
Disc brakes? Never needed extra braking, tyre grip is the limiting factor when braking for me. Its just a way for manufacturers to sell yet another "Innovation".
Rim wear ?0 -
Too many special tools needed for campag and none of the local bike shops have them anymore. For example a micro bearing puller needed for my ultratorque crank bearings.
My 1998 Chorus is still miles better than my 2015 Ultegra bar the lack of 2 gears.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme0 -
I do think this ever increasing block size is pointless. What's next, 12, 13? All you end up with is a super thin chain that wears out quicker and costs a fortune and a massive dish on the wheel. How about some more innovation in to something different? If hub gears had as much time spent on them as mechs have they would probably be a viable proposition by now but as they are they are still too heavy.0
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I do think this ever increasing block size is pointless. What's next, 12, 13? All you end up with is a super thin chain that wears out quicker and costs a fortune and a massive dish on the wheel. How about some more innovation in to something different? If hub gears had as much time spent on them as mechs have they would probably be a viable proposition by now but as they are they are still too heavy.
[Slightly off topic]
There's a similar dichotomy with 4 stroke engines. If they had put as much engineering attention into Rotary engine's we'd all be driving around with them under the bonnet.
When you have ploughed so much R&D into a tried and tested system, it's difficult to go down a different route.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Front mechs are still godawful things though. In my opinion, the worst part of a bike. And the answer isn't just to add more on the back and run a single chainring!
You're right about the rotary engine though. Fantastic things, just not had enough development.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19770334#p19770334]SpecialGuestStar[/url] wrote:Disc brakes? Never needed extra braking, tyre grip is the limiting factor when braking for me. Its just a way for manufacturers to sell yet another "Innovation".
Rim wear ?
Disc wear?
Added weight?
Wheel change and setup?
Added complexity?
Cost?0 -
Camapgnolo will have disc brakes in 2017 a bit late but they will be here. They have patents filed. Not sure if they will go in the direction of there patents yet but one of them is for the reservoir to contained in the handlebar which will of course me they can keep there perfect hood shape. It may or may not be a good soloution. I may end up being too expensive. We'll have to wait and see.
On price I think shimano devalue there brand. They are turning there kit is the cycling equivelent of a electronic comsumer goods. Pretty much all the Shimano kits we buy comes in grey market (boxed properly but still grey import) and while that may not be a big problem for the end user it does create problems elsewhere in the industry. You can't plug your bike into the internet to fix it for one. Without the sale of bread and butter items shops find it increasingly hard to survive. Some shops will always do good trade but who buys a 105 cassette from a shop any more. I can't even sell them online for the online price because I don't buy them grey import. This is not a moan by the way but the downward trajectory of shimano and SRAM prices does devalue the brand. I wonder when madison will give up supporting shimano and all the warranty.
Campagnolo kit is not inferior. I use both Shimano and Campag kit. they both work equally well. what I mean by that is when I change gear both move the chain from one cog to the other reliably. Shimano's and campagnolo's brakes are equally good. Campagnolo veloce brakes and very grabby and stop me very well. I could say the same about 105 brakes as well.
On price Shimano wins but I wonder what the Shimano brand will look like in 5 or 10 years time if all people expect from the brand is the lowest possible price. Given the latest deals on ultegra that are about that are lower than the best trade price available I know I won't be selling any more of that groupset and I can't stay in business on labour alone unless the rates go up. Hence I am changing the business model of my shop (actually any good business constantly evolves anyway) as I see the writing on the wall otherwise. How many bike shop's are more cafe than bike shop that is trend that won't go away. I know this has gone of on a tangent but I think it is all connected.
What Campagnolo do about this I don't know maybe they will survive maybe they won't. They make alot of their money from wheels nowadays anyway so maybe that is there future. Also campagnolo do alot more than just bike bits. They are an engineering company with fingers in other pie's that could be there future too.http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19770334#p19770334]SpecialGuestStar[/url] wrote:Disc brakes? Never needed extra braking, tyre grip is the limiting factor when braking for me. Its just a way for manufacturers to sell yet another "Innovation".
Rim wear ?
Disc wear?
More hard wearing because they're steel. And who would honestly want to replace a rim built into a wheel in preference to a disc bolted to a hub?
Added weight?
I'll give you that one but it's negligible.
Wheel change and setup?
If you're using QR skewers it's exactly the same. Don't know what's meant by wheel setup.
Added complexity?
They're not complex: a lever operates a caliper either by cable or fluid, same as a rim brake. Hydraulic discs require considerably less maintenance than any sort of cable pull brake.
Cost?
Hydraulics are already getting cheaper and mechanical disc calipers are on a par with decent rim calipers.
This has been done to death on these forums. The general consensus is that those that have used them are in favour, those that haven't aren't.0 -
Think I have something in my eye...... How has it come to this?0
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Camapgnolo will have disc brakes in 2017 a bit late but they will be here. They have patents filed. Not sure if they will go in the direction of there patents yet but one of them is for the reservoir to contained in the handlebar which will of course me they can keep there perfect hood shape. It may or may not be a good soloution. I may end up being too expensive. We'll have to wait and see.
On price I think shimano devalue there brand. They are turning there kit is the cycling equivelent of a electronic comsumer goods. Pretty much all the Shimano kits we buy comes in grey market (boxed properly but still grey import) and while that may not be a big problem for the end user it does create problems elsewhere in the industry. You can't plug your bike into the internet to fix it for one. Without the sale of bread and butter items shops find it increasingly hard to survive. Some shops will always do good trade but who buys a 105 cassette from a shop any more. I can't even sell them online for the online price because I don't buy them grey import. This is not a moan by the way but the downward trajectory of shimano and SRAM prices does devalue the brand. I wonder when madison will give up supporting shimano and all the warranty.
Campagnolo kit is not inferior. I use both Shimano and Campag kit. they both work equally well. what I mean by that is when I change gear both move the chain from one cog to the other reliably. Shimano's and campagnolo's brakes are equally good. Campagnolo veloce brakes and very grabby and stop me very well. I could say the same about 105 brakes as well.
On price Shimano wins but I wonder what the Shimano brand will look like in 5 or 10 years time if all people expect from the brand is the lowest possible price. Given the latest deals on ultegra that are about that are lower than the best trade price available I know I won't be selling any more of that groupset and I can't stay in business on labour alone unless the rates go up. Hence I am changing the business model of my shop (actually any good business constantly evolves anyway) as I see the writing on the wall otherwise. How many bike shop's are more cafe than bike shop that is trend that won't go away. I know this has gone of on a tangent but I think it is all connected.
What Campagnolo do about this I don't know maybe they will survive maybe they won't. They make alot of their money from wheels nowadays anyway so maybe that is there future. Also campagnolo do alot more than just bike bits. They are an engineering company with fingers in other pie's that could be there future too.
Interesting perspective...
I think the business model has changed in that profit margins are lower and sales are higher... in line with the general retail industry.
30 years ago you would buy a road bike and use it for 5-10 years. Nowadays many people change their bike every 1-2 years, pay less and buy more... which is a model only sustainable by the big retailers.
Tools are freely available on the market, while 30 years ago only a workshop could afford the tools necessary to fit and remove a Campagnolo bottom bracket or a headset... now anyone can put together a decent workshop with a few hundred quid... even there workshops lose out.
Hard to say where the future is for independent workshop like yourself... I guess the wheel building is one avenue, but it might not last forever... maybe you can train to build bespoke frames, there will always be a market for that, big or small, big retailers are not interested in bespoke.
A cafe'? Maybe, if you make good coffee and can cook there is a future for that, although I suspect in your neck of the woods people are not after coffee at > 2 quid a shotleft the forum March 20230 -
The frame avenue is one to explore but that is a tough market too. The wheel part of the business is viable I don't see that going away but what I build is changing also it has too. What is clear is the model of buying of a distributor to re sell is the one that is dying and smaller shops will have to adapt to that trend hense the various things I am exploring. Shimano know that and that is why there kit is is mostly bought OEM these days or if it is not most of it yet that tipping point can't be far away.
The problem is though 10 years time I wont be running a retail shop. I won't be selling bikes. I will still be building wheels I suspect I will be selling various stuff on line. I will be importing most of what I sell direct and it will be brands that the big retailers don't have or it will be brands they buy of me (already happening). Other shops will have the same problem to deal with. So where will riders go with the warranty claims? Where will they go to fix that problem they can't. what there might be is alot more labour mechanics and a the bike shop might look alot more like a car garage. No stock to browse just a workspace and mechanic with tools. That will be probably someone's back garden. Big chains will still exist. Is this the future we really want? Changing bikes every one to two years means Shimano and SRAM will designt here kit to last that long. Is that what we really want.
I know this is the way it is going and I will adapt. However threads in ten years time might start why has my DA 20000 shifter that cost £200 broken after only a year.........http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.0 -
The frame avenue is one to explore but that is a tough market too. The wheel part of the business is viable I don't see that going away but what I build is changing also it has too. What is clear is the model of buying of a distributor to re sell is the one that is dying and smaller shops will have to adapt to that trend hense the various things I am exploring. Shimano know that and that is why there kit is is mostly bought OEM these days or if it is not most of it yet that tipping point can't be far away.
The problem is though 10 years time I wont be running a retail shop. I won't be selling bikes. I will still be building wheels I suspect I will be selling various stuff on line. I will be importing most of what I sell direct and it will be brands that the big retailers don't have or it will be brands they buy of me (already happening). Other shops will have the same problem to deal with. So where will riders go with the warranty claims? Where will they go to fix that problem they can't. what there might be is alot more labour mechanics and a the bike shop might look alot more like a car garage. No stock to browse just a workspace and mechanic with tools. That will be probably someone's back garden. Big chains will still exist. Is this the future we really want? Changing bikes every one to two years means Shimano and SRAM will designt here kit to last that long. Is that what we really want.
I know this is the way it is going and I will adapt. However threads in ten years time might start why has my DA 20000 shifter that cost £200 broken after only a year.........
At one point about 3 years ago I questioned whether I should "go pro" with the wheel building. I had a lot of demand and could not cope with it, had to say no and pass some of them to you or JRA. It did seem clear to me that the way to go PRO would be to buy direct from Taiwan, basically what Wheelsmith does.
Bitex offered me their road hubs for 40 USD a pair, the same model that Strada did retail at 120 GBP, so go figure the profit margin on those. Minimum order was around 50 pairs, not a lot. Those were mediocre hubs, but the new ones with spring loaded pawls are pretty good and I would have no hesitation to use them, as many out there do.... you stock up on spare parts and have nothing to worry about.
Rims are more of a fashion item, so buying "unbranded" parts from China has its drawbacks... Kinlin are decent rims, but people want them with a different sticker... Sun don't sell, Stans do... it's just a sticker. Get some nice stickers made by a professional graphic designer... you can't do worse than Pacenti, which are popular despite the revolting graphics.
Luckily I got out of the all thing and managed to regain interest in my real job with a switch and a move... otherwise I reckon that was the way to go to make it profitableleft the forum March 20230 -
This discussion is 25 years old.
When Shimano pipped Campagnolo with the STI levers, the penny was dropped and Campag has since been the runner up...
Armstrong then put a heavy dent in Campag reputation and it took an improbable Pereiro to put Campagnolo back in yellow in 2006, then more realistically Nibali, but who is going to be next?
Why does it have to be all about the Tour? Campagnolo have continued success on GT level not to mention Classics clean ups (Gilbert in 2011) and other top flight WT races. For the 'little guy' they're doing not badly at all. The last 5 years GT's:
2010 Giro - Basso - Campagnolo
2010 Vuelta - Nibali - Campagnolo
2011 Giro - Scarponi - Campagnolo (yeah yeah Contador, technicality blah blah blah)
2013 Giro - Nibali - Campagnolo
2014 Giro - Quintana - Campagnolo
2014 TDF - Nibali - Campagnolo
2015 Vuelta - Aru - Campagnolo
(2015 TDF 2nd/3rd spots)0 -
I have always managed to sell my old Campag stuff. It holds value better than Shimano in the second hand market which is a testament to it's reputation and longevity. This is not a Campag promotion post BTW, it's relative to the disposable consumer product and short product lifestyle mentioned above.
I would hate to think that Campag would go by the wayside because the market is going by the way of cheap disposable bike parts.
However, I don't subscribe to the sentiment of the thread title. Cyclists aren't stupid and do recognise quality.
I think it boils down to cost - if you can afford it from the outset, you're more likely to buy Campag. As there is so much money sloshing around in the bike industry at the moment...seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Low Cost Provider = Shimano (Very difficult to sustain)
Best Cost Provider = Sram (Generally gets squeezed in the middle)
Differentiator = Campagnolo
I know which one I would rather be.0 -
The frame avenue is one to explore but that is a tough market too. The wheel part of the business is viable I don't see that going away but what I build is changing also it has too. What is clear is the model of buying of a distributor to re sell is the one that is dying and smaller shops will have to adapt to that trend hense the various things I am exploring. Shimano know that and that is why there kit is is mostly bought OEM these days or if it is not most of it yet that tipping point can't be far away.
The problem is though 10 years time I wont be running a retail shop. I won't be selling bikes. I will still be building wheels I suspect I will be selling various stuff on line. I will be importing most of what I sell direct and it will be brands that the big retailers don't have or it will be brands they buy of me (already happening). Other shops will have the same problem to deal with. So where will riders go with the warranty claims? Where will they go to fix that problem they can't. what there might be is alot more labour mechanics and a the bike shop might look alot more like a car garage. No stock to browse just a workspace and mechanic with tools. That will be probably someone's back garden. Big chains will still exist. Is this the future we really want? Changing bikes every one to two years means Shimano and SRAM will designt here kit to last that long. Is that what we really want.
I know this is the way it is going and I will adapt. However threads in ten years time might start why has my DA 20000 shifter that cost £200 broken after only a year.........
At one point about 3 years ago I questioned whether I should "go pro" with the wheel building. I had a lot of demand and could not cope with it, had to say no and pass some of them to you or JRA. It did seem clear to me that the way to go PRO would be to buy direct from Taiwan, basically what Wheelsmith does.
Bitex offered me their road hubs for 40 USD a pair, the same model that Strada did retail at 120 GBP, so go figure the profit margin on those. Minimum order was around 50 pairs, not a lot. Those were mediocre hubs, but the new ones with spring loaded pawls are pretty good and I would have no hesitation to use them, as many out there do.... you stock up on spare parts and have nothing to worry about.
Rims are more of a fashion item, so buying "unbranded" parts from China has its drawbacks... Kinlin are decent rims, but people want them with a different sticker... Sun don't sell, Stans do... it's just a sticker. Get some nice stickers made by a professional graphic designer... you can't do worse than Pacenti, which are popular despite the revolting graphics.
Luckily I got out of the all thing and managed to regain interest in my real job with a switch and a move... otherwise I reckon that was the way to go to make it profitable
Think this warrants its own tread as its a massive subject that will impact us all.
I've looked in it bike industry as a change of profession in the future after doing a mechanics course and come to the same conclusion you just can't compete with the Internet on the retail side unless you've got 7 figures to invest on bulk products, web design and marketing.
This lead me to think about a model involving servicing, bike fitting, frame, wheel building and educational courses.
However I'm starting to believe the servicing model will start to dry up higher end as even with my limited knowledge only things that cause me problems are bb, headsets and hyd brakes. This is due to inexperience and not having done any press fitting. Now with etap building a bike has just come easier and I can't see it getting in harder. The old adage that any bike 3-4K plus can be built cheaper from parts is starting to look more sound than ever. At the moment I could build a cannondale Evo black with etap and top level parts for around 3.5k less wheels the bike from Cannondale is 10k.
This leaves the low end and after working on a few bottom end groups Sora and below their more time consuming and I find the owners to have unreal exceptions when it comes to price etc which would lead me to stay clear.
This leads me to the last 3
Bike Fitting this I believe with current tech that a lot of what's needed for a retul fit is already in most people's homes. Most Smart TVs have a camera, Xbox kinetic and the PS4 version or webcam coupled with a laptop will be able to do a job with the right software I really think a customer version of retul can't be more than 5 years off.
Frame building is one of the areas did strongly look to however I'd look at it in a different way to most and for me it would need some money behind it. One man with the knowledge of the bike design and fitting process and a good industrial welder. Anyone good welder who is time served will have the speed and knowledge that will take a builder decades to gain. The old story's of the Italian builders knocking out a frame a day isn't folk law, with this method I'd be unhappy with less than 700 frames a year as a max output if the work is there, I'd also out source painting. It still amazes me that people who buy 2k bikes aren't buying custom steel with 105 and good hand built wheels as it still can be done.
Wheel building, I wholeheartedly agree with ugo's comments.
Hard times ahead for the LBS which is for the most part is us the customers fault which is stupid as we the customer has the most to lose.eating parmos since 1981
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
Cervelo P5 EPS
www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=130387990
