Originally Posted by 53-11_alltheway
All these companies make nice frames, but aside from "quality" (ie, welds, etc) what is there magical about these products?
If any of these companies (and I mean overseas companies too like Pinarello, etc) don't test various parts of the finished frame for stiffness, etc then why buy them?
OK, to answer my own question "experience" in judging things comes into play, but I often wonder what sort of engineering these companies invest in?
Come on give me a break. Where did guys like Masi, De Rosa, Colnago, and such test their bikes without fancy computers and million dollar testing equip. They often tested on equip. called Merckx, or Hinault.
Since 1982, I have owned, raced, crashed and abused a more then good few Italian pro frames. They have help up great. I don't think a Trek, for example, can take that kinda abuse.
I have been to Masi under the Velodrome, De Rosa, and a few so call factories. They are just small buildings a little larger then our houses here in the states. No fancy testing equip. but i trust them with my life flying through a turn or in an all out sprint. I am too old and have no more power, so I don't worry much about that anymore. Cheer,
Jeff