Originally Posted by Raiyn
ithink one of the main reasons people hate Tek is due to the fact that people who know jack**** about bikes "know" that "Trek has to be the best 'cause that Lance guy rides one in the Tour Duh France" It's those people that cause a lot of the backlash.
Agreed. That was my attitude when I first started getting into mountain bikes relatively recently. Then I realized I would never buy a pair of shoes because a pro-athlete endorsed them, or a car because a super-model flogged it. So I slowed down and actually
researched and test rode some bikes in the price range I established (mid-level).
I ended up getting a Trek 4500. I rode Giants and Specs and Kleins and Fishers and Tass's, etc...........and in the end I picked what felt best FOR ME.
My 4500 is going strong after many 100's of miles now - not all of them easy, and I do not regret my choice for a moment. While I now have other MTB's in my garage and the 4500 is not my favourite, it was a good jumping off point and tought me many things beyond the "Lance rides one - it must be good" mindset.