Specialized - Are they the be all and end all?
Discussion
yonex said:
Yes, mediocrity is calling. I guess the guy doesn't know that Giant, that little know and most un-corporate 'anti Fred' manufacturer has a large stake and also supplies some frames for his beloved brand? The irony is killing me 
Kind of an own goal here, isn't it? I mean, this is one of the things I was talking about in the second post. Again, ride what you like. You seem take it all bit too seriously, almost Fred-like...
yonex said:
Well, fairly. Most bike snobs I meet are full of s
t when it comes to riding. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule but show me someone who writes off an entire brand and tries to lord it over others who perhaps don't have the means or desire to own something 'worthy' and I'll show you someone who probably wouldn't be very rapid. It's not about the speed, there's always someone faster but this condescending nonsense gets on my nerves. There's nothing between the high end bikes with a top rider on board.
Pretty much this, the random st when it comes to riding. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule but show me someone who writes off an entire brand and tries to lord it over others who perhaps don't have the means or desire to own something 'worthy' and I'll show you someone who probably wouldn't be very rapid. It's not about the speed, there's always someone faster but this condescending nonsense gets on my nerves. There's nothing between the high end bikes with a top rider on board.te spilled over riding a Boardman - from people riding middle of the line Giants and bottom end Bianchis is endless - where ironically mine is a hell of a lot nicer (7kg, SRAM Red, Dura Ace Wheels vs 8-9kg and 105)I still get stuffed by people on "worse" bikes and stuff people on "better" bikes.
I'm reminded of a track day at the ring doing a passenger ride in a diesel Audi estate, 4 up, while the driver was overtaking caterhams and sitting on the back of a Ferrari 360 till the driver let us past.
As much as I'm a big fan of shiney toys and shiney kit, lets not delude ourselves - it's in the legs.
If you can drop me, you can drop me, no matter what I'm riding.
TheInternet said:
Quite a few brands do that. It is deceptive and irritating.
How is it deceptive?? You read down the spec and if there is something that isn't quite what you want, then tough. If you are buying a 'full 105', then I'd want Ultegra brakes anyway all manufacturers mix and match components. I was looking at a Tarmac Sport yesterday. It does't have 105 chainset. Doesn't bother me one bit.
scherzkeks said:
You seem take it all bit too seriously, almost Fred-like...
Ummmm... HE takes it too seriously ?scherzkeks said:
Because they (along with Giant) are the GM of the bike world and, unfortunately, have driven more interesting makes out of business, or have (or are) forced (ing) them into the same low-cost production model Specialized employs in order to financially compete.
Because they have an army of corporate lawyers beating up on the cycling community and attempting to trademark things they have no business trademarking.
Because they bully their dealers and inhibit competition.
Because they have pushed the 6-sizes-fit-all mentality, 'cause it maximizes profits.
Because they don't make even one product that comes near justifying its incredibly inflated price.
Because they are a typical American cutthroat business, producing products that fall somewhere on the spectrum between junk and average quality that no one should aspire to because the products are designed entirely on a computer, churned out on an assembly line, and designed from the ground up solely to maximize profit for Specialized.
Is there a place for them? Sure, but it should not be at the expense of diversity, especially when there are far finer things out there that are being snuffed out, simply because they don't follow this business model. It's like McCulture; it's slowly consuming the world, and you know everyone is worse off for it, but how do you stop it?
Because they have an army of corporate lawyers beating up on the cycling community and attempting to trademark things they have no business trademarking.
Because they bully their dealers and inhibit competition.
Because they have pushed the 6-sizes-fit-all mentality, 'cause it maximizes profits.
Because they don't make even one product that comes near justifying its incredibly inflated price.
Because they are a typical American cutthroat business, producing products that fall somewhere on the spectrum between junk and average quality that no one should aspire to because the products are designed entirely on a computer, churned out on an assembly line, and designed from the ground up solely to maximize profit for Specialized.
Is there a place for them? Sure, but it should not be at the expense of diversity, especially when there are far finer things out there that are being snuffed out, simply because they don't follow this business model. It's like McCulture; it's slowly consuming the world, and you know everyone is worse off for it, but how do you stop it?
bakerstreet said:
How is it deceptive?? You read down the spec and if there is something that isn't quite what you want, then tough. If you are buying a 'full 105', then I'd want Ultegra brakes anyway
all manufacturers mix and match components. I was looking at a Tarmac Sport yesterday. It does't have 105 chainset. Doesn't bother me one bit.
I bought a bike with "full Sora groupset". It had Tiagra hubs! all manufacturers mix and match components. I was looking at a Tarmac Sport yesterday. It does't have 105 chainset. Doesn't bother me one bit.
But that is a Charge, and they are weird.
Bungleaio said:
I found the guys in Birmingham to not care, I called in once to ask about the Diverge and the bloke didn't want to talk much, the second time I was looking at the helmets and both guys next to the counter didn't want to offer any assistance.
Different in the Nottingham one, they couldn't offer me any more assistance including showing me different bikes in various ranges and offering different sizes for me to try. When I went in looking at helmets one guy pointed out the differences between the various helmets.
Guess which store I've ordered my new bike and helmet from.
Amusing...both stores are owned by the same chapDifferent in the Nottingham one, they couldn't offer me any more assistance including showing me different bikes in various ranges and offering different sizes for me to try. When I went in looking at helmets one guy pointed out the differences between the various helmets.
Guess which store I've ordered my new bike and helmet from.
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