Road Cycling - why are bike makers so bad at informing about yearly design changes??

This is a point that has aggravated me when looking for used bikes and even new ones. How come the big bike manufacturers have no simple page on their website detailing how each model has changed over time? This would help lots of people (like me) who buy used bikes and want to know what has changed each year, and what's improved. Sometimes (like Lemond) I can't even tell what material a bike is supposed to be because it's evolved so much. It took me about a month to come across a link describing how the Trek OCLV line had changed over the years.

Why is this so hard? Even the simplest, roughest description would be better than is currently available. It's as if no model year but the current one exists in their minds (as shown online). Wouldn't it be good for them to provide such pages for us to see? To show how their designs have improved, as well as give a handy reference for used bike buyers? Let's have some sanity here!

Sorry for the rant.

Because they are not in the business of selling used bikes?

There are component changes throughout the year, that are difficult enough to keep up with, let alone over many years.

sometimes the changes are merely cosmetic, sometimes the changes are dictated by outside forces, i.e. component redesigns or introductions and most of the time its marketing. If a company says why their bike is an improvement/upgrade from the previous model, it may reflect badly on the older model. Remember that bike companies have to keep on producing new bikes in order to keep on....producing bikes! Therefore, it's not surprising that their websites will focus on new models and new buyers. Let's face it, where is a bike company going to profit from the sale of a second-hand bike?

Finally, it's good to know that bike manufacturers still rely on the bike dealer network to handle the more technical and detailed questions, but if you can't find your answers from your LBS then an e-mail to the relevant tech support contact, which all good bike companies have, may provide you with the answer.

I have noticed that some are starting to put links to at least one prior year's bikes on their websites. Otherwise, let the buyer beware. Not like they have ad budgets like the big auto manufacturers.

....because the average Joe out there could care less what those changes are...

maybe they don't want to reveal how little their bikes actually change from year to year.

You can look at Cannondale's back to 1997...

Cannondale Bikes (www.cannondale.com/bikes/)

the ones earlier than 2003 are at the bottom of the page when you get to the model listings.

Trek's web site includes a link to last year's models. Fuji's site includes links to, I think, three previous years. As far as manufacturers are concerned, however, this year's models are the only ones that exist. Same with all manufactured items.

I hate when companies use the same name for two totally different frames. Like the lemond Zurich, from all steel to carbon hybrid. WTF? It's not even close.

maybe they don't want to reveal how little their bikes actually change from year to year.


Good point, especially when the price goes up more than usual. Sometimes however, it goes down.

Specialized's top of the line Road frame for 2003 was the S-Works E5. It retailed for abour $1600.00 In 2004 they came out with the Tarmac, Its top half is carbon, and the bottom half is Aluminum. Thats right, its split horizontally down the middle. It's new, It's trick, It's the latest Marketing fluff.

But how much is the consumer going to pay for a Specialized frame? I mean if youre going to spend more than $2000 you'd be looking at Merckx, Colnago, etc... Specialized knows this and prices its new technology at a attractive $1600 or so. But hey, If you can get the Newest Half Carbon Tarmac for $1600, where does that leave our trusty Cipollini riden E5 that remains unchanged for 2004???

MSRP is now $1076.