Road Cycling - Favorite Company?

[COLOR=Red]what is your favorite bicycle company and why? i myself am a diehard specialized fan and wouldnt own another brand of bike, but i hoping to find out more about the fans of other companys and what makes those companys special.

[COLOR=Red]what is your favorite bicycle company and why? i myself am a diehard specialized fan and wouldnt own another brand of bike, but i hoping to find out more about the fans of other companys and what makes those companys special.

I've only ridden a few bikes from a few of the companies listed, but I found trek to be a better fit than the others. I'd also say that the local trek store is by far the best local store around. The owner is very active in the community and is friendly and helpful regardless of what you ride.

[COLOR=Red]what is your favorite bicycle company and why? i myself am a diehard specialized fan and wouldnt own another brand of bike, but i hoping to find out more about the fans of other companys and what makes those companys special.

So why is it Specialized?

P.S. You should have made a check box poll, so people can choose more then one, since they might favor different brands of bikes for different kind of riding.....

Rivendell.

Just can't justify spending that much on a bike :-(

none of the above....

You misspelled Litespeed, my favorite. :D

What's a "lightspeed"? :)

I have to say Marin, because the one bike I spend most of my time on is my '95 Marin Team. That's because I commute and tour on it. I own a Ti Seven, a carbon Look, a FS Santa Cruz, and an 853 Lemond but I just spend ungodly hours on my trusty commuter so I have to say Marin just to give it credit for getting me to my job so I can afford the other bikes.

Jay

none of the above.
If I had to choose I'd pick Trek, but only because
I love my 85 steel is real trek. the new ones are
boring.

Marty

Trek. Made in America (mostly(?)), they stand behind their merchandise, they have designed an economical bike for third world use. Oh, and they fit me great and ride smoothly.

My favorite is also Specialized for MTBs. Why? Because it is the only one I have any real experience with, plain and simple. Now, my roadie is a 1977 or 1978 Raleigh Grand Prix steel frame. Wow, what a blast to ride! So, that is my favorite for a roadie. Again, no experience with anything else.

I must say that I am very open minded. I am always looking at other bikes, talking to guys who ride them and even go on a test ride now and then. There are many quaility machines out there. I have no way of testing them all... but I'll keep trying! :D

I've owned Specialized, Giant, Trek, Cannondale and now Orbea. I have no blind loyalty to a bike company, as they have no loyalty to me. There's no reason to stick yourself to one brand when there are so many incredible bikes out there made by so many different folks. You really miss out if you wear blinders, just as you would if you wore blinders during a ride.

LeMond - Because I'm a friend of Greg's

I think Cannondale rocks big time and I will continue to buy their products.

I also love old Merciers and Gitanes,which were awesome rides.

Regards.

Santa Cruz get mentioned in the Thrills song "Santa Cruz (You're not that far) so they must be cool

I've owned Specialized, Giant, Trek, Cannondale and now Orbea. I have no blind loyalty to a bike company, as they have no loyalty to me. There's no reason to stick yourself to one brand when there are so many incredible bikes out there made by so many different folks. You really miss out if you wear blinders, just as you would if you wore blinders during a ride.

I fully agree with ImprezaDrvr...Trek and Specialized have done some interesting things. I've had a Klein, 2 Treks, a Schwinn Paramount track, a Ritchey, a Kestrel, and a Davidson tandem, and has anyone heard of Haral? ...different bikes, different company's. :o

There's no one perfect company. Look here

http://www.lvrc.org/lnfr01.htm

(click Custom Builders) to see some wonderful bikes.

Santa Cruz are perfect, but they're (not that fast)

In reality, Lemond and Gary Fisher, as well as Klein, are all part of Trek. Althought I don't know about the latter two, I know Lemond stands behind their products like Trek.

I have also heard many horror stories about Cannondales lack of support. The advertise the CAAD7 frame as having a lifetime warranty, but also say that for "aggressive" riders, they will only last about two years. Many have had the experience that "lifetime" warranty to Cannondale means it's good until just before it breaks.

I am not a blind Trek loyalist, but my LBS has been more than fair with me, going out of their way to accomodate me. They carry Trek, Lemond and Cannondale and I am going to buy from them. If they carried Orbea or Specialized or Giant, I would also consider those bikes, but they don't.

It is a combination of the brand name and the LBS.

I checked the Cannondale box because my F3000Sl hardtail and soon too arrive Scalpel are my favourite bikes.
My road bike is a LiteSpeed though and I've always wanted one.
Can't really separate the two companys as both have excellent reputations.
I don't know anyone who has had a problem with Cannondales warranty though they are very thorough.
I like their innovative approach to design.

I could probably forgive you for your oversight if this thread was anywhere else but road cycling :D but you do not have Bianchi up there so I cannot vote!

In fact even though all the ones you listed up there make road bikes a majority of them are known more for MTB

There are too many missing companys to vote on this list. Especially since three of the names you have listed are actually all made/owned by Trek.

Thats true, the poll seems tobe loaded in favour of Trek.

Another Trek marketing ploy??

MTB's.... YETI

Road..... Dean Titanium

Rivendell.

Just can't justify spending that much on a bike :-(

---------------

I second Rivendell. I just bought one of their Romulus bikes which didn't cost that much by today's standards (well under $2,000 for the complete hand-built, lugged-frame bike plus a bundle of accessories).

The reason I like Rivendell is that they offer a fresh look at bicycling. Rivendell's Grant Petersen points out how market-driven new bike designs are whether they make sense or not. His company offers some attractive alternatives in a wide range of prices and sizes, including extra tall and (soon) extra short.

Reading his Rivendell Reader has taken me back to the era (mid-'70s to mid-'80s) when bicycling was fun; when I could still take apart, clean and reassemble my whole bike down to the last ball bearing and understand what I was doing; when just riding around or commuting was good enough. I didn't have to play Tour de France wannabe to fit in.

Now everything seems to be focused on racing, and we've entered a technological arms race in which it is impossible to compete for very long unless you have unlimited resources. Rivendell sidesteps the one-upmanship by adopting a simpler approach that appeals to me.

At first I thought Rivendell was snooty with its exclusive, high-priced frames and "retro grouch" attitude, but now I think they're really onto something with their well-reasoned critique of the bicycle industry.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

condor

---------------

I second Rivendell. I just bought one of their Romulus bikes which didn't cost that much by today's standards (well under $2,000 for the complete hand-built, lugged-frame bike plus a bundle of accessories).

The reason I like Rivendell is that they offer a fresh look at bicycling. Rivendell's Grant Petersen points out how market-driven new bike designs are whether they make sense or not. His company offers some attractive alternatives in a wide range of prices and sizes, including extra tall and (soon) extra short.

Reading his Rivendell Reader has taken me back to the era (mid-'70s to mid-'80s) when bicycling was fun; when I could still take apart, clean and reassemble my whole bike down to the last ball bearing and understand what I was doing; when just riding around or commuting was good enough. I didn't have to play Tour de France wannabe to fit in.

Now everything seems to be focused on racing, and we've entered a technological arms race in which it is impossible to compete for very long unless you have unlimited resources. Rivendell sidesteps the one-upmanship by adopting a simpler approach that appeals to me.

At first I thought Rivendell was snooty with its exclusive, high-priced frames and "retro grouch" attitude, but now I think they're really onto something with their well-reasoned critique of the bicycle industry.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

condor

Very well put I still own an '83 San Remo and my freind ownsa '79 Nishiki they are not only quality machines, even by todays standards, but they are a joy to work with even a non mechanic like me can get around those bikes with a wrench. I have rode in several centuries with newer bikes and they are good but nothing like the San Remo, what a cush ride. Older can be better is what I say ;)

All-Star Bike Shops (esp. #2)

Well, of all the choices there, I had to pick K2 because I own one of their bikes and love it. Admittedly I'm not overly excited about any of their newer bikes though.

Theres no racelines, scotts or wheelers..... :(
Because i have a raceline!!its pretty :D
Marie

None of the above!

My Bianchi is not only my favorite road bike, it's the only one I've ever owned or ridden! Ditto for my Trek mtb.

Klein

Trek does let the other brands maintain there independence. They are not like the car companies.

I have to say Bianchi, based on one single test ride I did on a GIRO 2003, awesome ride and fit, fitted me like a glove. Can't wait to check/test others like the Imola, Vigorelli and Eros as I make my decision by the end of the year.
The Univega Via Montega hybrid which I own now is ok, but not too responsive.
Corsaire

Colnago and Pinarello are not on the list!

Neither is Serotta. I will vote for Trek due to the help they are giving me on restoring my 1988 770 frameset as well as they good things they do to support cycling in general (USPS Team, for instance).

But, I would vote for Serotta first due to the great help of Todd LoIacono in helping me research and refurbish my 'one-off' Serotta 'Rosse' prototype. He has been very helpful and hasn't complained a bit about the many questions I have ask.

none of the above, pal. try again.

too many bikes. so little time.

for me, it's Fuji. Their stuff is surprising and around these parts affordable. Well, more so than most other bikes.