Road Cycling - False Advertising in the Peleton?

I thought this made for intersting reading. I'm surprised that so much of what the riders are using has been "re-badged".


http://www.velonews.com/tour2004/tech/articles/6551.0.html

did you read that article on bicycling.com about the TT bikes?

lemme dig it up...

here ya go.

http://www.tourdefrancenews.com/tourdefrance/experts/columns/0,3489,s1-8928,00.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=56756

I loved Jan's TT bike from '03 (hence the icon) shocked to find out it's not even a Bianchi! :\

Well the frames just too much, The thing that caught my eye was that they "re-badged" stuff like seats and stems. To "re-badge" a frame is going too far!

The thing I like about the "production" bikes and the pro-bikes is that you'll see so many pro bike with Campy and the production model will be Shimano. Team Seaco is a great example of that.

I don't think it's that big of a deal, aside from a chuckle. The riders aren't brand-loyal - they're after performance. They're paid to advertise their sponsor's brand, not prove it's worth in competition (depending on the sponsorship contract, of course).

It brings to mind a paintball tournament I was in a few years ago. One of the teams had a sponsorship with one company, but wouldn't play with any of their gear because they preferred something else. They wore sponsor patches and stickers on their clothes and gear, though. And when they won their trophy, they had their huge sponsor banner out and made certain to thank the sponsor. Incidentally, a few months later I was chatting with a player on a different team with the same sponsor, and they were required to use the equipment in tournaments. Just depends on the agreement.

I don't think it's that big of a deal, aside from a chuckle. The riders aren't brand-loyal - they're after performance. They're paid to advertise their sponsor's brand, not prove it's worth in competition (depending on the sponsorship contract, of course).

Actually I think it does matter. Manufactures gain a lot of exposer from the Tour. Newbies will look at the bike that their hero is riding and think that they can go buy it. I could care less that Cippo rides a different stem that what comes on his Specialized. I do care when he "re-badges" that stem to try to fool the viewing public.

I know enough about bikes to look at a saddle or stem and tell that it is or isn't the one being sold on the "pro" model but not everyone is. I also find it a bit desperate for Specialized or any bike company to feel the need to recover a Selle San Marcos saddle as one of their own.

Manufactures gain a lot of exposer from the Tour. Newbies will look at the bike that their hero is riding and think that they can go buy it.


That's my point exactly - the riders are advertising their sponsor's equipment, and that's what they're paid to do.

I'm glad my wife doesn't read these forums, she'd be up this evening trying to re-badge by '86 Schwinn LeTour.

I'm glad my wife doesn't read these forums, she'd be up this evening trying to re-badge by '86 Schwinn LeTour.

LOL! I'm glad mine doesn't read these either because if she did she'd begin to figure out just how much all this bike stuff costs!

didn't lance ride a rebadged lightspeed tt bike for a while?

and what about the serotta-made huffy team frames from the 90s?

That's my point exactly - the riders are advertising their sponsor's equipment, and that's what they're paid to do.


Ok.....but if the stem is a 3TTT and is badged a Specialized they aren't advertising their sponsors equipment!

Wait, the LBS sales guy told me my Specialized Allez Sport is the exact same bike that is being ridden by Domina Vacanze. You mean it's not?!!! ;)

If their bike has "Specialized" all over it, they're advertising for Specialized...regardless of the actual componentry.

I don't think Grant Hill drinks that much Sprite, I don't think Shaq buys all his electronics at Radio Shack (or eats a lot of candy bars), and if a cyclist wants to use X-brand equipment and label it Specialized, that's just another sponsor endorsement to me.

If their bike has "Specialized" all over it, they're advertising for Specialized...regardless of the actual componentry.

I don't think Grant Hill drinks that much Sprite, I don't think Shaq buys all his electronics at Radio Shack (or eats a lot of candy bars), and if a cyclist wants to use X-brand equipment and label it Specialized, that's just another sponsor endorsement to me.


True on the Shaq and GH refference but I doubt that you'll find B&O stereo equipment at Shaq's pad rebadged as Radio Shack. My point is that by putting Specialized covering over a Selle San Marcos seat is deceptive. You are leading someone to believe that team Domino Vincenza rides a Specialized seat while in fact they are not. This is different than Jeff Gordon having DuPont on his car as an advertisement.

As I said before a savey cyclist would be able to tell the difference but a newbie going to his LBS and being told that "this is the exact same bike that Mario road in Tour" is just disshonest.

Well the frames just too much, The thing that caught my eye was that they "re-badged" stuff like seats and stems. To "re-badge" a frame is going too far!

The thing I like about the "production" bikes and the pro-bikes is that you'll see so many pro bike with Campy and the production model will be Shimano. Team Seaco is a great example of that.

You can buy a Campy equppied Seaco/Cannondale team replica. At least it is lised on their website.

As I said before a savey cyclist would be able to tell the difference but a newbie going to his LBS and being told that "this is the exact same bike that Mario road in Tour" is just disshonest.


That would mean the LBS was lying :)

I'll concede that it is deceptive, but I don't really think it's any different than the majority of marketing ploys out there. One I should have listed earlier - Jared and Subway! The guy lost 900 pounds eating Subway sandwiches all day long, right? Even worse - look at all the food companies and restaurants advertising "low carb" this and that. It's absolutely ridiculous - and they're allowing people to believe it's the healthy new lifestyle, to simply lower (or worse, eliminate) their carb intake. Most companies only tell you what they want you to see/hear so you'll go out and buy their product. It's up to the consumer to be more discerning. That's just the nature of the marketing beast.

PS - I hope I'm not opening a new discussion by bringing up Atkins-type stuff. I have an uncle that lost 100 pounds following the Atkins plan, but he did a WHOLE lot more than just "count carbs" like most people.

golfers do it all the time too

And those guys using the bow-flex? They didn't get that way by just using the bow flex.

Why does some kid need the same bike as Mario anyways, don't worry who makes your stem, ride your bike. The sport is not about being the best consumer.

btw yes he rides an S works frame, but its a custom one with a re-inforced head tube.

Actually I think it does matter. Manufactures gain a lot of exposer from the Tour. Newbies will look at the bike that their hero is riding and think that they can go buy it. I could care less that Cippo rides a different stem that what comes on his Specialized. I do care when he "re-badges" that stem to try to fool the viewing public.

I know enough about bikes to look at a saddle or stem and tell that it is or isn't the one being sold on the "pro" model but not everyone is. I also find it a bit desperate for Specialized or any bike company to feel the need to recover a Selle San Marcos saddle as one of their own.

Any newbie who buys a $10,000 TT bike because they want to "be like Mike" deserves what they get.

If their bike has "Specialized" all over it, they're advertising for Specialized...regardless of the actual componentry.

I don't think Grant Hill drinks that much Sprite, I don't think Shaq buys all his electronics at Radio Shack (or eats a lot of candy bars), and if a cyclist wants to use X-brand equipment and label it Specialized, that's just another sponsor endorsement to me.

As a resident of Los Angeles, it is my strong belief that Shaq eats plenty of candy bars.

yeah, well, Garth Brooks plays a takamine guitar on stage, though he would never record with one. hah.

have you all ever thought that the sponsors are more interested in providing stickers/decals than frames?

and what about the serotta-made huffy team frames from the 90s?

More like the 80's.

I used to own one (ex-Alex Stedia frame, built in 1980). Here in Canada it didn't attract a lot of attention (Huffy isn't sold in this market) but when I rolled up to the start line in US races it usually sparked a conversation :D

have you all ever thought that the sponsors are more interested in providing stickers/decals than frames?

BINGO! would you want to give away a couple $8000 bikes to each rider on the team or just give them a $10 decal pack.
in the case of the 3t zepp being relabled as specialized it will cost specialized about $0.50 to make the decal

didn't lance ride a rebadged lightspeed tt bike for a while?

and what about the serotta-made huffy team frames from the 90s?


Yes, I believe his '99 Tour TT bike was a Litespeed painted/badged as a Trek

oh come on. it's advertising.

legalised perjury.

fsnl
sparky

Do you think the necks running out to buy Monte Carlos actually believe their cars are exactly like the ones being used by their heroes on the left turn circuit?

Nevermind.