General Cycling Discussion - Is brand of bike important?

I am very new to the biking world but I am trying my best at soaking up all the info I can. One area in which it is hard to learn about is the difference in brands because any reviews one might read are easily padded and difficult to know if you are getting a real review. I'm sure, like other products, different bike brands have excelled in some areas or style of bikes will maybe not in others.

My wife and I are interested in either a hybrid or an all out road bike. Do you think there is a specific brand we should work with or even brand(s) we should avoid?

Try to stay away from the brands from Kmart, Toys R Us, WalMart and other places such as that. Those bikes are not assembled properly because of lack of training and can be very dangerous. Also, because these stores buy in such big volume, they sometimes have say or control in what is put on those bikes. Such as certain "exclusive" schwinns found only at Walmart and not on the Schwinn website. Good luck on your search! :)

Any of the major brands of bike manufacturers should do. Cannondale,Giant, Jamis,Trek, Specialized are a few of the more recognized brands.

Bike fit and finding a good Local Bike Shop (LBS) is also important. Once you decide on a style, I would suggest riding as many different brands as possible before making a decision.

Among the "top ten" factors to consider when buying a bike, "brand" would rank about "number eleven". The most important factors are that the bike be "fitted" for your riding style and riding needs, and for your physical size, that the bike be skillfully assembled and tuned, and that your bike be kept in "A 1" condition a month, a year, and five years after your purchase.

The only sure way to obtain those objectives is to buy a bike from the BEST bike shop in your neighborhood. To find that shop, visit the four or five shops closest to your home. Ask lots of questions. Buy from the folks who are most serious about getting you fitted to the "right" bike for your needs.

The brand of the parts is probably a better indicator.

Mostly already said.....any brand from an actual "bike shop" is fine. They are all a wash, mostly.

1. STAY AWAY from big shop stores like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Sports stores, etc.. They have people assembling who are unqualified and use substandard components (brakes, shifters, sprockets, derailers, etc..).

2. Go to as many bike shops as possible and test ride as many bikes as possible, you and your wife may not feel comfortable on the same type of bike (keep that in mind).

3. Once you find the bike you like, spend the extra money to get the bike "fit" to you (if its not free with bike purchase). Getting the right "fit" is very important. I still can't convince my father that there is more to bike fit than adjusting the saddle height.

Bike depends on your style. If you like to cruise, get a yellow bike. If you like to go fast, get a blue one!:D

Bike depends on your style. If you like to cruise, get a yellow bike. If you like to go fast, get a blue one!:D

No, no... its the other way around... boy, some people. :D

DAMMIT! Both my bikes are blue! Wish someone woulda tolt me before I bought 'em!:p

I like the made in USA cannondale's. Keep jobs there in the mid-west where they belong.

Brand is important... After all, I wouldn't want to defile my Specialized team jersey, Specialized team shorts, Specialized shoes, Specialized helmet, Specialized gloves, etc. by riding on a non-Specialized. I mean how silly would I look wearing full Specialized kit while riding a Trek?

Seriously though, I agree stay with brands found in a bike shop and you should be better off in the long run than with a brand found at Wally-World.

I just recently got into the riding thing. I test road so many different brands I don't think I can even name them all. Trek, Specialized, Giant, Jamis, Bianchi, Cannondale, Motobecane, REI (forgot the name) etc...

And to me anyway, in a specific class of bike (hybrid, mtb, relaxed road, agressive road) they all pretty much offer the same thing and look and feel VERY similar. In fact there is more overlap than there are differences between the brands. They also all tend to offer the same quality components at a given price point.

My advice now, having just spent a month researching bikes to death, to new bike riders is to decide on your budget, put $200 a side for helmet, shoes, shorts, and then go to a few shops. Find the style of bike you like and try a few brands. Buy the one that gives you the best components for the price and that makers "you" happy.

For me it was a Cannondale Synapse. I came real close to buying a Giant OCR but I just liked the C-Dale a little better, and got a crazy good deal on last years model. YMMV

I like the made in USA cannondale's. Keep jobs there in the mid-west where they belong.

Yeah really!! I hear ya, man!! Screw Rivendell, Soulcraft or even Vanilla!! Pfft. They need to move. :rolleyes:

The OP is from the midwest, I am from the mid west, and you can actually find cannondales. But other than that any american made brand is fine.

I thought c-dale factory was in PA?

I thought c-dale factory was in PA?

Yep.

Cannondale Bicycle Corporation
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The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation is a major American bicycle manufacturer, headquartered in Bethel, Connecticut USA and manufactured in Bedford, Pennsylvania USA.

What do you consider that to be the east?

What do you consider that to be the east?

Ummm.......A little bit. Pennsylvania looks more Easty than mid-Westerny to me. But I could be wrong. *shrugs* ;)

http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa-map.jpg

Ok, but still buy american if at all possible and if the quality is similar.

Although I have a few great bikes NOT from here, I must admit that my American (Colorado) bike is by far the finest. :)

Yes to all of the above.

In addition to enquiring about 'brands' the OP mentioned hybrid or road type bikes. I submit that as important as getting a reliable brand is, it is also equally important to get the type of bike that will suit your needs. Carefully consider the type of cycling you and your wife will do, ie, gravel paths, dirt roads, pure asphalt etc. Hybrid bikes can easily handle gentle versions of the two former while road bikes are really meant for the latter.

I couldn't think of a worse way to begin cycling than to get a bike that doesn't meet your needs. These forums represent a wealth of advice on the merits of each type of bike and readers are always happy to answer questions...good luck.

I bought a hybrid bike from Target and so far I've had no problems and I really like the bike. Is the target bike OK? I like it :-)

Here's the deal as I see it. At any given price point, all the major manufacuterers have similar bikes. Component mix will vary but over-all they're pretty much the same. And given that the critical factor in a bike purchase is that it fit you correctly and that it be the right bike for your style of riding. And as you're starting out, the differences between a Trek, a Giant, a Specialized, etc. are not going to be the kind fo thing you have enough experience with to judge how they'll impact YOU.

So, my advice is always find a really good local bike shop. That's one that will sell you the right size frame regardless of what they have in stock, rather than sell you the wrong frame because they need to move a bike. A good shop will spend some time with you finding out about you, and making some suggestions. They'll have good mechanics on staff and the bikes will be built up well.

So, trust them to select a brand or two.

jtetje

I like the made in USA cannondale's. Keep jobs there in the mid-west where they belong.


Am I the only person that "Made in the USA" means nothing to?

I don't give a crap where it is made, as long as it is the best product. Cannondale is quite nice and I'd consider one, but not because it's made in the states. That's irrelavant to me.

I bought a hybrid bike from Target and so far I've had no problems and I really like the bike. Is the target bike OK? I like it :-)

Don't worry about it. As long as you are happy and the bike hasn't given you any problems and been reliable, it's all good.

Am I the only person that "Made in the USA" means nothing to?


No. Some of us don't mind spending our dollars in a manner that, heaven forbid, they might find their way into a Taiwanese pocket. Or Chinese. Or Italian. Or whatever.

Am I the only person that "Made in the USA" means nothing to?

I don't give a crap where it is made, as long as it is the best product. Cannondale is quite nice and I'd consider one, but not because it's made in the states. That's irrelavant to me.

Think the question becomes: What exactly does "Made in the USA" mean to Cannondale? Is it just the frame and maybe the fork or the whole/entire bike including components? Would it be more accurate to say "assembled in the USA" and give percentages like the automakers do? The economy is pretty much global and everybody is looking for the lowest price/cost per unit to stay competitive. And that may mean jobs going overseas or to lower cost labor in other states that offer incentives/tax breaks to move there.

Bike depends on your style. If you like to cruise, get a yellow bike. If you like to go fast, get a blue one!:D

Oh No! I don't have a yellow or blue.

Don't worry about it. As long as you are happy and the bike hasn't given you any problems and been reliable, it's all good.

Amen. I have an old cheap MTB with no suspension - does have good Shimano derails though. It's the most trouble free bike ever. Always shifts to the gear I select, never requires any repairs, just routine lube and cleaning. My son has a high dollar full suspension MTB with all the cool stuff - I have to work on that all the time for him. Guess which one I think is the best bike. :)

Any brand from a real bike shop is good. Quality will be about the same in a given price range. What matters is how well a bike is suited to your body and your riding conditions.

There are two brands that may deserve a special mention due to historical connotations: Schwinn and Raleigh. They are most familiar to older folks who believe them to be best established and superior to others. But they aren't what they used to be. They are not quite as crappy as Huffy or Supercycle: they do seem to have some ok bikes with ok components, but these days they tend to be carried in Walmarts and such, and that alone makes me suspicious. For one thing, if you don't understand bike sizing and don't do your own wrenching, never buy a bike from Walmart or similar place even if it's of ok quality because it won't be properly assembled and the employees will not know how to fit the bike to your body.

I like the made in USA cannondale's. Keep jobs there in the mid-west where they belong.

Headquartered in Bethel, Connecticut, Cannondale designs, develops and produces bicycles at its factory in Bedford, Pennsylvania. The company operates subsidiaries in Holland, Japan, and Australia, and and is owned by Pegasus Partners II, L.P., a private equity investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Since when are Raleigh's sold at Wal-Mart or any of the other big chain stores?
I have been checking out nothing but Raleigh's, and they are easily just as good as the other name brand bikes in the same price range.

Since when are Raleigh's sold at Wal-Mart or any of the other big chain stores? Canadian Tire is the primary supplier of $hitty bikes to the Canadian buyers. They carry Raleigh.


I have been checking out nothing but Raleigh's, and they are easily just as good as the other name brand bikes in the same price range. No self-respecting bike company would come out with this (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673782&bmUID=1185512175431&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443296289&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true) (if it asks for the postal code, just enter m3j1p3... stupid Canadian Tire website, I know!).

Maybe it's different in the U.S., I don't know.