Which is best: Trek, Giant or Specialised
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You forgot Cannondale (and a few others).
Last edited by mymojo; 05-06-11 at 03:18 PM.
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I really think its a "Ford or Chevy" thing. You are gonna find fanbois of each brand.
The more important questions are:
1) whats your budget?
2) whats your fitness level?
3) what kind of riding are you planning on doing?
The more important questions are:
1) whats your budget?
2) whats your fitness level?
3) what kind of riding are you planning on doing?
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Technically, at any given price point they are practically the same. I guess I should have said that at any given price point the bits that make the bikes work are of the same, or very close to, that of a similarly priced bike.
Decide your budget then go test ride some bikes.
Decide your budget then go test ride some bikes.
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The real question is which brand does your best local bike shop support.
At any mid-level pricepoint they are all comparable, made in similar Taiwanese factories, draped with identical Shimano components.
There may be some difference in sizing, useful if you are an inbetweener for one brand but Ok for another.
At any mid-level pricepoint they are all comparable, made in similar Taiwanese factories, draped with identical Shimano components.
There may be some difference in sizing, useful if you are an inbetweener for one brand but Ok for another.
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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And depends on type of bike you are looking for.
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Nobody rides Treks anymore; they're too popular.
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Brand is pretty far down on the list of things you should be considering when looking for a bike.
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They are all the same quality wise especially once you get passed a certain pricepoint. You have to realize that almost all mass produced bikes like Wreck, Specialized, and Giant are made in about a handful of bike manufacturers in China and Taiwan. Giant is the biggest one of them all and even makes bikes for other companies like Specialized or at least they use to. The thing that makes them different is the design of the frame and the geometry. One company may make one size 1 or 2cm longer or shorter than another making that a better fitting bike or a seat tube angle is more steep or shallow than the other, etc. etc. So, get the bike that fits you the best. Design wise, Specialized, is the leader in my opinion with their forward thinking frames than the other two companies in recent times.
Last edited by 531phile; 05-07-11 at 07:01 AM.
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if at a certain price point they are all practically even, what price point is that?
if we are talking about entry level, what would be "best"? I know it depends on what kind, its just a question i think the OP (and me ) would like to know...
if we are talking about entry level, what would be "best"? I know it depends on what kind, its just a question i think the OP (and me ) would like to know...
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jdaykin73 and johnj2803 ... neither of you have answered the first basic question yet:
1. What do you want to do with the bicycle?
Do you want to commute? Tour? Ride long distances? Race on the road? Race mountain bike events? Ride trails casually? Ride with a partner?
First you need to determine what you want to do with the bicycle. Brand means nothing at this point. "Best" means nothing. I could tell you what I think is a good choice for an entry level road racing bicycle, but that would do you no good at all if what you want to do is to ride trails or commute.
Answer that question and the responses in this thread could become a bit more informative. But until you answer that question, we'll continue to be vague.
1. What do you want to do with the bicycle?
Do you want to commute? Tour? Ride long distances? Race on the road? Race mountain bike events? Ride trails casually? Ride with a partner?
First you need to determine what you want to do with the bicycle. Brand means nothing at this point. "Best" means nothing. I could tell you what I think is a good choice for an entry level road racing bicycle, but that would do you no good at all if what you want to do is to ride trails or commute.
Answer that question and the responses in this thread could become a bit more informative. But until you answer that question, we'll continue to be vague.
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#20
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jdaykin73 and johnj2803 ... neither of you have answered the first basic question yet:
1. What do you want to do with the bicycle?
Do you want to commute? Tour? Ride long distances? Race on the road? Race mountain bike events? Ride trails casually? Ride with a partner?
First you need to determine what you want to do with the bicycle. Brand means nothing at this point. "Best" means nothing. I could tell you what I think is a good choice for an entry level road racing bicycle, but that would do you no good at all if what you want to do is to ride trails or commute.
Answer that question and the responses in this thread could become a bit more informative. But until you answer that question, we'll continue to be vague.
1. What do you want to do with the bicycle?
Do you want to commute? Tour? Ride long distances? Race on the road? Race mountain bike events? Ride trails casually? Ride with a partner?
First you need to determine what you want to do with the bicycle. Brand means nothing at this point. "Best" means nothing. I could tell you what I think is a good choice for an entry level road racing bicycle, but that would do you no good at all if what you want to do is to ride trails or commute.
Answer that question and the responses in this thread could become a bit more informative. But until you answer that question, we'll continue to be vague.
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When I looked for my sport touring bicycle, I let my fingers do the walking first. I looked up websites for all sorts of bicycle companies to see what they had in that type of bicycle. Unfortunately a lot of bicycle shops don't actually stock that sort of bicycle ... they tend to stock either racing bicycles or mountain bikes. So part of your decision making might be to find out what your shops will order, or what you can order online ... what's available to you.
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For that sort of riding, I'd suggest something in the touring or sport touring (often called "Audax" or "Randonneuring") or maybe cyclocross range. A road bicycle with a somewhat more relaxed geometry and the capability of taking somewhat wider tires.
When I looked for my sport touring bicycle, I let my fingers do the walking first. I looked up websites for all sorts of bicycle companies to see what they had in that type of bicycle. Unfortunately a lot of bicycle shops don't actually stock that sort of bicycle ... they tend to stock either racing bicycles or mountain bikes. So part of your decision making might be to find out what your shops will order, or what you can order online ... what's available to you.
When I looked for my sport touring bicycle, I let my fingers do the walking first. I looked up websites for all sorts of bicycle companies to see what they had in that type of bicycle. Unfortunately a lot of bicycle shops don't actually stock that sort of bicycle ... they tend to stock either racing bicycles or mountain bikes. So part of your decision making might be to find out what your shops will order, or what you can order online ... what's available to you.
Is this directed at me?
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