Commuting - Review of Dawes Lightning 1000 From Bikesdirect.com

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/images/dawes_lt1000_500.jpg

Dawes Lightning 1000:
This is advertised as your entry level bicycle comparable to Trek's $800 bikes. Goes for $389 shipped and packs shimano 2200 derailleurs and sti shifters.

Bike Specs:
Main Frame Precision Handmade Dawes Altair 1 Compact aluminum with traditional round down tube,
Rear Triangle Dawes Altair 1 aluminum curved seat stay w/ rack mount, Dawes forged road dropout with replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork Dawes 1 1/8" steerer, custom tapered Cro-Moly, Aero Road
Crankset Dawes Forged Aluminum Road 30/42/52T Chainring
Bottom Bracket Semi Cartridge Bearing ST
Pedals (FREE BONUS ROAD PEDALS (these are regular flat pedals) If you would like clip/strap or clipless pedals, please go to www.bikeisland.com (http://www.bikeisland.com). They have great prices and free shipping*
Front Derailleur Shimano 2200 series, 31.8mm for triple
Rear Derailleur Shimano 2200 series
Shifters NEW Shimano 2203 shifters integrated into brake levers, 24-speed Triple
Cassette/Freewheel SunRace, 12-24T 8-speed
Chain KMC Z-72
Front / Rear Hub Formula Aluminum Alloy Road, 36h / Formula Aluminum Alloy Cassette Road, 8-speed, 36H (black finish)
Spokes 14G Stainless Steel
Rims Alex R-500 Double Wall Aluminum, 36H 700c clincher
Tires Kenda K-152, 700 X 25c, schraeder valve tubes (auto valve)
Brake Set ProMax Dual Pivot Forged Road
Brake Levers NEW Shimano 2200 shifter/brake levers and Tektro RL-570 Top Mount on flat portion of handlebar for additional braking position
Headset Ritchey LB 1.125inch sealed bearing
Handlebar Aluminum Alloy Road
Stem Dawes Adjustable Road Aluminum, Removable Clamp
Saddle Anatomical with Cro-Moly rails
Seat Post Dawes Comp Micro Adjust Aluminum, 250mm x 27.2
Seat Clamp Ultralite alloy, 31.8mm, Lazer etched

The Packaging:
Wasn't off from a good start how i saw the UPS guy (a ******bag) drop my box. The cardboard box it came in was standard issue bicycle cardboard box, there was plenty of bubble wrap around the handlebars and fork but everywhere else was a bit skimpy.

Drive train:
Comes with some generic crankset along with some standard shimano 2200 derailleurs/shifters and sunrace cassette. Pedals are plastic and will have to be changed eventually. The derailleurs were amazingly properly installed and didn't require reinstalling them. The minor derailleur adjustments were done and shifts beautifully (with the exception of cross gearing which makes an uncomfortable clicking sound).

Frame:
Welds look pretty solid, made of "altair 1" aluminum, not sure how that compares to 7000 or 6000 alu. Paint job is nice and smooth, decals are under a clear coat, so you can't peel off the badges. The whole bike weighs 22lbs!

Brakes:
Brakes feel nice, provides good stopping power. Has brifters along with small pair of top clamped on tetro brake levers. I like the additional braking option there.

Wheels:
Two QR skewers, wish only had front QR. The rims are a bit on the heavy side but provide sufficient performance for commuting. The bike's not winning a tour anytime soon.

Seat:
Velo seat is okay, stem doesn't have vertical rotation adjustment. Its gotta go!!

Conclusion:
For the price, you definitely get a good bang for your buck. Nice, speedy, and responsive shifting with 2200 brifters. Good drive train parts, good frame, and has option to add fenders or racks. Great commuter bike which is what i use it for; 8 miles each way. Can crank out much better performance if one upgrades wheels and crankset. Great overall value.


Bikesdirect shipped very quickly, ordered thursday, received tuesday via UPS. Looking to purchase a FG from bikesdirect.com when i gather some cash. Read some bad reviews on Bikesdirect, but i think those are just isolated experiences. Or maybe i just got lucky.

Can you mount full fenders plus a rear rack on this?

that frame and those components are pos.

that frame and those components are pos.


Not only do you not know what you are talking about
You are totally unware of the thousands of riders who have riden that exact bike for many many miles with no issuue. Including many customers who sure it daily for commuting and several who have taken tours cross country with no problems.

Or - you are just an elitist

{PS - factory that builds that frame also builds for Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Fuji, and several others**

The bike seems on par with other entry level road bikes but about 20% cheaper.

Just wondering why you went with that over the Windsor Wellington 3.0 on their site. It seems to be superior on most ways (next step up on the drivetrain + CF fork) I dont know how altair1 compares with 6061 aluminum though.

Got to admit I like the red and black. My girlfriend said that bike looked like the devil though.



Or - you are just an elitist


Calling people elitist is so passe.

You should have just pointed out that these are entry level parts and most bike mfg's put them on their most entry level bikes at least in part, and this is an entry level bike.

Th



Calling people elitist is so passe.

You should have just pointed out that these are entry level parts and most bike mfg's put them on their most entry level bikes at least in part, and this is an entry level bike.


You are probably correct - but it hits me wrong when people throw our POS at every turn. And most people who say things like that do not know how much some of these entry riders use their bikes.

In fact, many entry buyers from us; do not use cars and ride daily. They are people with limited funds, students, and some with dreams of a long distance tour they can only do if it is cheap enough.

The Dawes Lightning Sport which is sold at under $250 delivered on ebay is a good example. I have read hundreds of e-mails of people raving about this bike as a commuter or light touring bike - by cyclists who have gone as far ar coast to coast on it. It holds up great. Then you see a post by someone who has never ridden it saying "POS" -- what can you call someone who passes uninformed judgements like that?

I just feel sorry for the suckers who pay retail when you can get a nice used bicycle for half the price that's all. B/C that bicycle is no way $400. It's more like $70 to my eyes.

At that price point, I'd go with a Jamis brand bicycle. You get a lot of bang for your buck.

I can't really comment on the 1000 as I don't own one, but I do own a 1200 version of that bike and feel it's pretty good quality. Granted it's not as polished as say a Trek 1000, but then again it's also at least $300 cheaper.

I just feel sorry for the suckers who pay retail when you can get a nice used bicycle for half the price that's all. B/C that bicycle is no way $400. It's more like $70 to my eyes.


This is due to your lack of experience

Used bikes are a mixed bag
for experts that can screen one - you can find good deals if you shop hard and have the time
for those with limited bike knowledge they can easily be a very very bad deal

I have seen thousands [not dozens, not hundreds, but thousands] of used buyers be disappointed beyond beleif by how much work their 'bargin' used bike needs. When you see a lady break into tears over spending $200 on a 'great barely used bike' that needs over $300 of work to work correctly and safely; you a feel for the real risk of buying used. [this happens on used cars, used motorcycles, and used bicycles all the time]

By the way; the bike you say is not worth $400 is sold in shops all over for over $600 [recall that the same factory builds many brands] Specs make the bike - not stickers

At that price point, I'd go with a Jamis brand bicycle. You get a lot of bang for your buck.


Please name a $399 Jamis Road bike you can get all over USA brand new [and if you can - who made it].

I will be very interested in seeing that

By the way; the bike you say is not worth $400 is sold in shops all over for over $600 [recall that the same factory builds many brands] Specs make the bike - not stickers

Well with this and the Jamis quote I figured I'd just reply that I could get a Jamis Ventura Sport for under $500 from a local LBS. I don't know if it could be located everywhere in the US, but it's available in my city. It's probably about equal to be honest bikewise, but more likely a little better (sora rear DR iirc)

Aside from that, the reason the shops sell them for more is arguably the free service you get with them, typically bike shops will give a year of free service, some even give better than that. The real question is (imo) is that worth $100 to you if that's an option.

I guess what I'm saying is they aren't charging for the sticker so much as they're charging for the service, which seems fair to me.

That doesn't make MB USA bikes bad bikes or bad deals, but it doesn't make lbs bikes bad deals either.

This is due to your lack of experience

Used bikes are a mixed bag
for experts that can screen one - you can find good deals if you shop hard and have the time
for those with limited bike knowledge they can easily be a very very bad deal

I have seen thousands [not dozens, not hundreds, but thousands] of used buyers be disappointed beyond beleif by how much work their 'bargin' used bike needs. When you see a lady break into tears over spending $200 on a 'great barely used bike' that needs over $300 of work to work correctly and safely; you a feel for the real risk of buying used. [this happens on used cars, used motorcycles, and used bicycles all the time]

By the way; the bike you say is not worth $400 is sold in shops all over for over $600 [recall that the same factory builds many brands] Specs make the bike - not stickers

Do you seriously expect us to take your opinion seriously? Your username throws all your credibility out the window. You could be Lance and I still wouldn't listen to what you say.

Do you seriously expect us to take your opinion seriously? Your username throws all your credibility out the window. You could be Lance and I still wouldn't listen to what you say.


On Used bikes
ask any dealer that has been in the business over a few years
Every shop has seen customers roll in 'used' bargins that need hundreds of dollars of work

I have been in the industry for 30 years
including 20 years on the floor daily in bike shops
and maybe that is not enough to have seen it all
But i have seen lots of customers throw 'used bargins' they just bought away in front of my own eyes

Ask YOUR LBS - he has seen the same thing - sadly it is all too common

Well with this and the Jamis quote I figured I'd just reply that I could get a Jamis Ventura Sport for under $500 from a local LBS. I don't know if it could be located everywhere in the US, but it's available in my city. It's probably about equal to be honest bikewise, but more likely a little better (sora rear DR iirc)

Aside from that, the reason the shops sell them for more is arguably the free service you get with them, typically bike shops will give a year of free service, some even give better than that. The real question is (imo) is that worth $100 to you if that's an option.

I guess what I'm saying is they aren't charging for the sticker so much as they're charging for the service, which seems fair to me.

That doesn't make MB USA bikes bad bikes or bad deals, but it doesn't make lbs bikes bad deals either.

$500 for a Jamis Road bike at a shop is a good deal
Most dealers sell the entry Jamis for $700
And for 2009 models - prices will be way up from that [starting in Sept for 2009 models]

unfortunately; falling dollar; increasing Oil and metal prices will all add up to a 15 to 20 % increase in new bikes - so a $500 New Road Bike in a LBS is a really nice deal

Hate to intrude on the debate, but I would probably go with the KHS Flite 220 Triple myself. Similar specs, but on a cromo frame. True, the msrp of $499 is higher than that of the Dawes from BD, but did I mention that it's steel?
Also, I'm a noob. I don't have any tools to build a bike with, don't have the proper expertise to fit myself just by looking at numbers/figures on a screen/paper. I prefer to have the safety net a LBS provides. Also, a part (admittedly a very small part) of the sales tax goes towards infrastructure, like road resurfacing/re-stripping, street lights, money for the parks dept. that maintains the trail system...

Has anyone pointed out that the 1st post is a Shill in the same BD format we always see? And that it gave BD a forum to argue?

Has anyone pointed out that the 1st post is a Shill in the same BD format we always see? And that it gave BD a forum to argue?

I will point out that there has never been a shill post by any bikesdirect employee on bike forums

This is an urban legend

To read about other urban legends go to:
http://www.snopes.com/

My favorite is "Did you hear about the old-lady that put her cat in a micro wave oven to dry it off and it exploded!"?

Hate to intrude on the debate, but I would probably go with the KHS Flite 220 Triple myself. Similar specs, but on a cromo frame. True, the msrp of $499 is higher than that of the Dawes from BD, but did I mention that it's steel?
Also, I'm a noob. I don't have any tools to build a bike with, don't have the proper expertise to fit myself just by looking at numbers/figures on a screen/paper. I prefer to have the safety net a LBS provides. Also, a part (admittedly a very small part) of the sales tax goes towards infrastructure, like road resurfacing/re-stripping, street lights, money for the parks dept. that maintains the trail system...



KHS Flite 220 is a great bike for the price!

I have friends who ride BD bikes, and they're pretty nice rides. Two of 'em got the upper-spec 29ers, and one who has a couple of the high-end roadies. All are nice looking, and riding, bikes that the owners are very happy with. These bash posts are just plain ridiculous, IMO. A bike is a bike, why don't some of you stop being elitist and just welcome the guy?

What I find amusing is that if this post would have been about a low-end LBS bike, everyone would have been like "yeah, awesome! Welcome to the commuting life!"

I have friends who ride BD bikes, and they're pretty nice rides. Two of 'em got the upper-spec 29ers, and one who has a couple of the high-end roadies. All are nice looking, and riding, bikes that the owners are very happy with. These bash posts are just plain ridiculous, IMO. A bike is a bike, why don't some of you stop being elitist and just welcome the guy?

What I find amusing is that if this post would have been about a low-end LBS bike, everyone would have been like "yeah, awesome! Welcome to the commuting life!"

Because this is the wrong forum to put up a "For Sale" sign...

and as a mechanic I feel that the Dawes framesets are crap. And I sincerely doubt that Specialized, Trek and Cannondale (which are made entirely in the US) make their bikes at the same factory.

Flagged as Spam.

Move on

On Used bikes
ask any dealer that has been in the business over a few years
Every shop has seen customers roll in 'used' bargins that need hundreds of dollars of work

I have been in the industry for 30 years
including 20 years on the floor daily in bike shops
and maybe that is not enough to have seen it all
But i have seen lots of customers throw 'used bargins' they just bought away in front of my own eyes

Ask YOUR LBS - he has seen the same thing - sadly it is all too common


So someone already asked this, but I didn't see the original poster answer. Perhaps, if he was real, he fled the vitriol of the responses.

So anyway, can you put fenders/racks on this bike? If not what's the least expensive bike you sell, for which that can be done?

I was looking into your windsor tourist or fantom cross cx, for a comuter bike before my budget got severly downgraded and went the used route. I am happy with what I ended up with, but it does have it's limitations, and am wondering what other routes I could have taken with had I wanted to look at things a bit cheaper on your site.

I will point out that there has never been a shill post by any bikesdirect employee on bike forums

This is an urban legend

To read about other urban legends go to:
http://www.snopes.com/

My favorite is "Did you hear about the old-lady that put her cat in a micro wave oven to dry it off and it exploded!"?

Nobody said it was an employee. Just another "user" posting the exact same format review that we see for no other bikes than BD bikes. Please help me to understand why only BD buyers use this format and how all these new forum members magically pick the exact same format?

things you DON'T get with a bikes direct bike:

a professionally assembled bike, and after sale shop support. you DON'T get a local bike shop able to help you with your new bike issues, down the road adjustments, etc.

a bike improperly assembled suffering subsequent failure will get laughed at as a warranty claim.

at the bike shop I work at, sometimes we give away cleat bolts, water bottle cage bolts, tubes if a rider claims 'the tube you sold me was defective', always a stand to inspect the bike for adjustments or something 'not feeling right'.

So someone already asked this, but I didn't see the original poster answer. Perhaps, if he was real, he fled the vitriol of the responses.
.

That excuse is used a lot too. Apparently BD posters are the only ones with skins so thin that they post once or twice about their AMAZING NEW BD BIKE and then disappear due to the vitriol.

You'll notice that a bunch of people recently flamed a poster named Caroline and her supporters who asked about a Walmart bike. Caroline never disappeared, she fought the good fight and gave as much as she received.

So someone already asked this, but I didn't see the original poster answer. Perhaps, if he was real, he fled the vitriol of the responses.

So anyway, can you put fenders/racks on this bike? If not what's the least expensive bike you sell, for which that can be done?

I was looking into your windsor tourist or fantom cross cx, for a comuter bike before my budget got severly downgraded and went the used route. I am happy with what I ended up with, but it does have it's limitations, and am wondering what other routes I could have taken with had I wanted to look at things a bit cheaper on your site.

You can put rack and fenders on this bike

Also Windsor Wellington 2.0 sells at lot to commuters
Mercier Galaxy comes with rack and lots of commuters use it

I like bikes used for commuting and touring
and so we stock lots - maybe 20 models or more that are suitable for commuting

Nobody said it was an employee. Just another "user" posting the exact same format review that we see for no other bikes than BD bikes. Please help me to understand why only BD buyers use this format and how all these new forum members magically pick the exact same format?
Why? Because bikesdirect has an ingenious website. It's easy to go there and copy/paste all information into a new post. Other bike websites hide information in numerous menus.

My congratulations! It's a nice upgrade from Walmart's GMC Denali.

Not only do you not know what you are talking about
You are totally unware of the thousands of riders who have riden that exact bike for many many miles with no issuue. Including many customers who sure it daily for commuting and several who have taken tours cross country with no problems.

Or - you are just an elitist

{PS - factory that builds that frame also builds for Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Fuji, and several others**

Actually, I have the Dawes lightning sport 1000 which is somewhat "retro" in that it has stem shifters and the frame is chro-moly. I have about 1300 on mine with only a few modifications:

the rear wheel on mine was a "freewheel" and I got about 800 miles out of it before the axle started to bend... bought a tiagra rear wheel thru my lbs - cost : 100.00 (plus tax)...

the wheels were ok and I got about 800 miles out of them before needing to be replaced... I got bontrager race lite 23 mm tires... (dont get the "hard case" because it felt like pedaling a motorcycle...)

I added a stem extender which brought the handlebars a bit more upright for my back.

the cassette for the new wheel I already had lying aroung my shop and i believe it was about 20.00...

that bike has held up for me with the wheelsets (except for the axle thing and that could still have been
ridden on... ) I have had to true them maybe once and they were / are still going strong (the rear wheel that I bought was bought for its strength as I am an uber clyde....)

its a comfortable bike that is affordable and much better than "walmart" quality...

My girlfriend said that bike looked like the devil though.

That's good, right?

So someone already asked this, but I didn't see the original poster answer. Perhaps, if he was real, he fled the vitriol of the responses.

So anyway, can you put fenders/racks on this bike? If not what's the least expensive bike you sell, for which that can be done?

I was looking into your windsor tourist or fantom cross cx, for a comuter bike before my budget got severly downgraded and went the used route. I am happy with what I ended up with, but it does have it's limitations, and am wondering what other routes I could have taken with had I wanted to look at things a bit cheaper on your site.

well, not sure about the bike that the poster was reviewing but the lightning sport does have eyelets for fenders and a rack... I personally don't have full fenders, I use the ez-fenders that are held on by a rubber strap and I use a backpack to haul my stuff around...

Why? Because bikesdirect has an ingenious website. It's easy to go there and copy/paste all information into a new post. Other bike websites hide information in numerous menus.

Of COURSE! Why didn't I think of that! It's the ingenious website. After all, we see LOTS of posts about how GOOD the BD website is, right? All the other 1st time posters and brand new bike owners think they should post an identical review to all the BD ones, but when they go to their bike manufacturers website, it is too difficult to figure out how to cut and paste it into the template. Got it. :rolleyes:

Personally (and i have 4 bikes) like to commute on my BD bike. I've got no beef with it - its a nice ride for the money.

"Dawes"??? Is that Brit for "Huffy"? What teams are riding "Dawes" in the TdF? HAHaha, cyclists are going to laugh at your Huffymobile! I bet you don't even wear real Lycra (R)! AHhahahahaha!!!1! Not even a full 105 gruppo! Are those wheels and spokes aero? No? Does it come with handlebar streamers? You will get dropped by everything that moves, including 6 year olds on Big Wheels! You be the laughingstock of the peleton! Looser!

;) ;) ;)

Can you mount full fenders plus a rear rack on this?

Nope, theres only one eyelet hole on the blades for EITHER a fender or a rear rack. You could possibly get a rear rack that mounts to the seat post.

As for the accusations of my affiliation with bd.com the website and poster, they are, simply put... stupid. My post is intended for the sole purpose of a review. Some people will find it helpful, those of you riding a $3000, will not care.

Oh and please forgive me if i don't respond to your post within 2 minutes.

"Dawes"??? Is that Brit for "Huffy"? What teams are riding "Dawes" in the TdF? HAHaha, cyclists are going to laugh at your Huffymobile! I bet you don't even wear real Lycra (R)! AHhahahahaha!!!1! Not even a full 105 gruppo! Are those wheels and spokes aero? No? Does it come with handlebar streamers? You will get dropped by everything that moves, including 6 year olds on Big Wheels! You be the laughingstock of the peleton! Looser!

;) ;) ;)

:wtf:
I don't see anywhere in the OP's post about using his Dawes for TDF. You're way out of line.

You're way out of line.

You're way out of humor.

Checked out the website out of curiosity.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_noir.htm

I almost went with one a few months back but decided against it because I knew nothing about the company and found threads in the forum with posts from people experiencing problems. :(

this thread is a lot like spamalot on BD's parts... we arent idiots

Checked out the website out of curiosity.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_noir.htm

I almost went with one a few months back but decided against it because I knew nothing about the company and found threads in the forum with posts from people experiencing problems. :(


The Cafe Noir was the first flat-bar road bike of the modern type that I know of
and we have sold thousands

Zero complaints - and many buyers have bought extra ones for family & friends

I would be shocked if you ever read about anyone experiencing a problem with a Cafe Noir

Our biggest problem with the Cafe Noir is getting enough, honestly. Watch and you will see we are out about half the time. Like all hand-made steel frames; there is a long lead time and factory delivery is often late. Other than that; we love this bike

This guy turns my thread into a long ad, thanks.

Nope, theres only one eyelet hole on the blades for EITHER a fender or a rear rack. You could possibly get a rear rack that mounts to the seat post.


But you could probably get a longer screw and run them both through the same eyelet right? Are there rack eyelets up on the frame below the seatpost?

shill-tastic.

Because this is the wrong forum to put up a "For Sale" sign...

and as a mechanic I feel that the Dawes framesets are crap. And I sincerely doubt that Specialized, Trek and Cannondale (which are made entirely in the US) make their bikes at the same factory.

Flagged as Spam.

Move on

You mean that "Made In China" sticker on my Trek 4300 is really code for "Made in the USA"?

You mean that "Made In China" sticker on my Trek 4300 is really code for "Made in the USA"?

He just meant Cannondale

I hate compact geo.
Ugly as piss.

and as a mechanic I feel that the Dawes framesets are crap. And I sincerely doubt that Specialized, Trek and Cannondale (which are made entirely in the US) make their bikes at the same factory.




I question weather you are a mechanic that works in a bike shop

The vast majority of Specialized and Trek bikes are made in China and Taiwan. If you were working in a bike shop; you would know that. Cannondale started last year moving models to China and certainly that trend is likely to continue.

No bicycles are "made entirely in the US"
in fact , I know of none that meet the 50% standard used by Nafta
and no where close to the 98% content that courts used to require for "made in USA"

If the Dawes frame is "crap" so are most Trek, Jamis, Specialized, Giant, Felt, etc frames

People should get facts before their brand other peoples equipment as crap

I just will back up the fact that these frames arent total trash unless you also think that the fuji newest frames are total trash.

Just do a simple comparison. They have the exact same geometry, they have the same sloping rear seatstay, they have the same mounts for rack / fender, and they're both made of Altair 1 aluminum.

As far as the bike goes, it probably is just like any other entry level road bike. Whether or not those are trash also I guess is subjective to your deffenition of trash.

Anyone else think that the Dawes lightning 2300 or 2100 is the ugliest color scheme possible on a bike?

I just will back up the fact that these frames arent total trash unless you also think that the fuji newest frames are total trash.

Just do a simple comparison. They have the exact same geometry, they have the same sloping rear seatstay, they have the same mounts for rack / fender, and they're both made of Altair 1 aluminum.

Isn't it odd that so many bikesdirect bikes appear exactly the same as Fuji models? I have sometimes wondered if bikesdirect is an outlet for frames that don't pass quality control for one reason or another....kind of like my blue jeans with a ripped thread I got cheap at Marshall's department store?

Isn't it odd that so many bikesdirect bikes appear exactly the same as Fuji models? I have sometimes wondered if bikesdirect is an outlet for frames that don't pass quality control for one reason or another....kind of like my blue jeans with a ripped thread I got cheap at Marshall's department store?

Could be but I sort of doubt it would be because they didnt pass QC in terms of integrity, because if that were the case you'd have quite a few complaints about their frames bending or breaking on the forums.

And it couldn't be paint QC because they all have different paint jobs.

I suppose it could have something to do with the metal density but then again I dont know anything about metalurgy.

My best guess is that at the end of the year Fuji or whoever may have a ton of last seasons frames left over that they never had shipped and built, so they sell them wholesale, at which point mbusa or bd or whoever buys them repaints them (in ugly ugly colors in the case of the Lightning 2100 or 2300) and resells them online one the cheap as they dont have to support them nearly as much as a local bike shop.

I'm thinking of picking up a use BD bike today though. So I hope the frames are reasonable.

I think the Fantom line (their CX bikes) look incredibly similar to the fuji cross bikes also, particularly how the bottom tube tapers toward the crankset / bb. The geometry looks exactly the same too...

Nobody said it was an employee. Just another "user" posting the exact same format review that we see for no other bikes than BD bikes. Please help me to understand why only BD buyers use this format and how all these new forum members magically pick the exact same format?

No reply?