Yes. All bikes are the same.

Same with beer.

And women(!)

Right, they all have two wheels.

I read an article about marketing some years ago. The point was that adverts are designed to inspire feelings in the viewer that force them to make the purchase. I would assume that a certain combo or colors, materials, shapes and textures attract each of us to something about our bikes.

It would be a bit much to expect people to know and tell truthfully what the attraction is. Thick chrome plating with tiny speckles of rust makes me tingle but care nothing for truck bumpers.

ftwelder...that's funny stuff.

They didn't win the TDF, either. :)

All bikes are created the same....all bikes are created the same....

Words of wisdom, according to Regan....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/...fd0a2ee877.jpg

Where did you ever get the idea that all bikes are the "same" ?

Many, many years ago a friend of mine and I returned to bicycling with the bikes we already had. Mine was the '81 RRA and his was an '82 or '83 Nishiki 12 speed. The two were nearly identical, even down to color. Both were low end, pretty and heavy.

When we became serious and decided to update I found Cannondale to be exactly what I wanted and he went with Bianchi. Both were the first bikes we rode that fit our personal ideal. As much as I like C'Dale road bikes, I prefer Trek mountain bikes. My friend initially went with a Rock Hopper and then switched to a Trek for the slightly different geometry.

Except for the possible exception with the Raleigh/Nishiki they're all at least just a little bit different, but different enough to matter... one would expect me to also like a Klein, but there's something that puts it behind the C'Dale for me.

Brad

PS A non bicycle difference can be found in electric guitars. I prefer Gibson, others prefer Fender... they're both just guitars, right? Well, not to those that play.

One of the big cycling magazines did a test of several steel framed bikes, This was from the 1980's. They ranged in quality from Columbus Aelle up to real nice expensive frames. In a blind test, the Aelle framed bike was perceived as the best riding.
I once had a copy of the actual article & it has been discussed in this forum before. Maybe someone can post it.

Sure, but the two biggest factors, in my belief, are fit and tires. Not the frame. The frame is the most expensive piece of the bike, so it's wise to choose it well, but that doesn't make it the thing that makes the most difference.

I like to think bikes are like wine. For the majority of people, when it comes to wine, it is glaringly obvious we know what we DON"T like, same goes for riding a a"bad" bike. But distinguishing between a $15 bottle and a $150 bottle, well....that's a very tough nut to crack. Check this video out by John Cleese, http://www.hulu.com/watch/79439/wine-for-the-confused he conducts a blind test with interesting results.

I think bikes are the same way.....can you tell the difference between a $2000 bike and a $5000 bike? My butt says no....for me at least.

I doubt I can tell the difference between a $2000 bike and a $5000 bike. And I'll bet there is little, if any, functional difference. But I can certainly tell the difference between a $400 bike and a $2000 bike!

Probably not, but I can tell the difference between a $200 bike and a $2000 bike, which is more in line with your wine comparison. My butt can tell the difference between a $15 saddle and a $150 dollar saddle though.:D

Mine can't. Hmm, maybe I haven't tried a $150 saddle. Oh wait, I have a Brooks Pro. I do like that. But I also have a gel saddle which looks like hell, but I love it.

This is the link to the article comparing 7 different Columbus frames made by Mondonico. The tester could not differentiate an Aelle frame from an SLX with all said and done. Very interesting article.

http://www.habcycles.com/m7.html

My perspective is that it's all about getting out & riding! If a $75 bike from Craigslist get you out & riding, It did it's job.
If a $7000 carbon bike makes you ride, It's worth the money. If being a fan of great workmanship makes you happy, be happy with that.

When are you stopping by to visit ?

You can take the Cooper out for a ride (hope you can ride a 56cm) and will set up a test ride on a custom Arvon touring bike and see if we can find a spot where you can ride no handed at 35-40 mph.

And then we can talk about frames and forks...

:)

Sixty Fiver, we couldn't go ahead with our grand trip plans. Maybe next year. Money is tight.

When are you getting married!?

Yup, you are 100% correct. And because they're the same, I'm going to sell you a GREAT bike for $100. I know you're going to be interested because it's a Centurion Ironman, the rare metallic burgundy model or was it that Huffy I picked up, but hey, you don't care because they're all the same.
Please have cash ready, I don't take checks.

Well that sucks... we haven't scheduled a date yet as there are some life matters that have to get settled at each end but if you come out next year I am sure you will get to meet the Mrs.... :)

I can tell the difference between my Supercourse and anything else I've tried, even after working out the difference between the wines.
Now, there's the $15 vodka and the $150 vodka. After that, I can tell my Schwinn clunker from other bikes cause the tubes are thick enough for me to focus on.

All the same?

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/index.html

:lol: How true...I just got my butt handed to me by a young lady rider with one leg. Turns out she's a Paralympic track and road cycling champion and skiing champion.

True that!:D,,,,BD

Forget the entire bike; what about wheels? I can tell the difference between my small or high flange wheelsets - even my Campy Hi-Low rear - blindfolded! It's all about feel; some have it, some don't.

It's why Michael Schumacher has lots of millions of dollars and I just dream I could drive like him. On a bike, however, I've got "the feel". Nice.

I think that might have been Bicycle Guide - I have an old issue from the mid-90s that used frames built by Mondonico, all identically kitted out and painted metallic green. I can't remember which tubing ended up being preferred above all, but I do know they used Reynolds 531, 753, Columbus Aelle, SL, SLX, Cromor and Max. I'll see if I can dig it up and report back.

Tires too. I just put together my Peugeot PH10 yesterday afternoon, with a set of Cheng Shin 27x1 3/8" knobby tires, since I had nothing else at the moment. It felt like I was riding a Continental with low tires. It zapped my leg strength in short order. I imagine it would be a good training bike. The same bike feels like a high end racing version with a decent set of tires on it.,,,,BD

By the way, are there 27 x 1-3/8 non-knobby tires? I've been looking for a long time and haven't had any luck. I wish the Pasela were available in that size.

They're one of those chance finds. I'm sure they could be found, but not easy. 27x1 1/4 Pasela's are large for their size designation, so not too far off from 1 3/8's. Here's a set on my world voyageur. I remember them being quite large.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/CIMG0197.jpg