Commuting - Stay with my Brand OR Switch

OK I have been a trek rider for 12 years now, a 720 and a 5200. the 720 died of neglect when the 5200 came. Well my cycling needs have changed and i have got older and hopefully a bit wiser. I love treks they just fit me well. But i havent tried anything else.
I have graduated from FRED to Superhero Spandex BUt i dont wanna HAVE to dress up like a super hero. So i am going to a hybrid.
2 LBS here one i dont care tooo much for BUT they carry Specialized, Giant and Trek.
The other IS a great SHOP They Carry Fuji, Lemond (for how long???) redline and Gary Fisher and Cannondale. But when i go iin there the guy say dude these ar all nice BUT look at this Surly i built. plus they gave me a test ride on a diffenernt surly that was a daily rider by a shop employee. None of which they have in Stock. Even though they know my budget AND my time frame which is not going to be a quick sell. So they are not pushing a bike just to get it off the floor.

Is it more important to have a good LBS relationship than it is to have X brand?

I've never understood voluntarily limiting your choices in the name of brand loyalty.

I say just buy the bike you want - preferably from the shop you like.

I'll go with a good LBS over an X brand any day. Besides, the Surly is not a brand to sneeze at anyway. That is a fairly popular bike known for its reliability and quality. And if turns out that the Surly doesn't work for you, Lemond and Gary Fisher are actually made by Trek anyway. So, its a win-win.:D

Personally I have 4 different brand bikes. I go for what fits me not what name is on the frame. ;)

I would much rather buiy from a shop I like/trust than one that happens to have the brand I think I want. I would be willing to bet the shop that you like could aquire brands that they don't currently stock if that is what you have your heart set on.

i think your right Not sure i'll go with the Surly this time. but i still might. They had several lemonds and fujis that i liked. that are in my price range. @ least 12.

I have been very pleased with my Gary Fisher Nirvana hybrid. It has been trouble free and just finished up 2300 miles, with the last 6 months consisting of daily commuting through a Buffalo Winter. I just bought a LeMond Buenos Aires road bike. The LeMond frame seemed to fit me better than the Trek. Fit is very subjective. The only reason I could afford the bike was that it was an '06 that the store was eager to finally sell. They had three larger previous year model LeMond bikes in the store. I guess this was one time where being well over 6' in hight helped save me money:). The LeMond road bike is SO much more effient than my hybrid. I am also ensuring that I don't add any more weight to the bike. The road bike will definitely remain my fair weather bike, with the hybrid being well setup for all weather riding.

Find a store that treats you well and that doesn't try to push you into something you don't need/want. Customer service is where you realy end up being happy in the long term. You could buy a cheap bike at a store with no service and be happy... till something goes wrong with the bike...

As a side note, I am now trying to figure out how to integrate a pilgrimage to either Waterloo or Whitewater WI for a Trek factory tour for our family vacation next year. I want to see where and how my LeMond was made. I know LeMond proably won't be around much longer under the Trek label, but at least I am very happy with the bike.

Happy riding,
André

I'll go with a good LBS over an X brand any day.

amen, if the bike shop is important to you
personally i build my own bikes & do my own work.
big brands are only loyal to you as long as you keep buying their new stuff... you're just a number in someone's sales sheet.

I suggest don't even look at the brand. Look at the important stuff:
the shop
the fit
the features
the cool colors ;)

Cheers

Love my Surly (its a Steamroller). Try everything, go with what fits and the features you want.

Is it more important to have a good LBS relationship than it is to have X brand?

I think so.

Love my Surly (its a Steamroller). Try everything, go with what fits and the features you want.

Been riding mine for about a month love it so. Do you have a tensioner on yours? I think I have to tighten my chain again.
I am thinking about getting some bullhorns for it the drops are ok but I need something a little better for climbing and hand positions.