All bikes are the same...
 

Really, they are....

What makes one bike that is made by Raleigh better than Trek or Specialized if they are all spec'd the same?

Size and color. Color is really pretty important.

LOL Nice.

All riders are the same...they all have skin, a rear end, at least one leg, a head and blood. They're all spec'd the same in terms of clothes.

It's not what they are made of but how they are made but you're right, some of the bikes you mentioned are made in the same factory.

It's all in the name, can't help but feel special when peddaling a Hetchins now can we?

I'd like to collect data with which to test the proposition implied by your rhetorical question.

"It's all the same. It 'ain't nothin' but the Blues." John Lee Hooker

I'll swap my dual suspension Next MTB bike for one of your Trek, Cannondale, Specialized bikes any day! Even an older one, since they are all the same.

Anyone who believes that all bikes are the same has ridden very few bikes.

One thing my horrible obsessive collecting has done for me is that I have a pretty wide field of comparison.

Trek, Cannondale, Motobecane, Raleigh (Several), Peugeot, Mercier, Bottecchia, even Schwinn . All are different, all have their strengths.

Wait...I'm looking on line at some Gvt. grant money to help aquire the needed assets to verify such claims

Viva the scientific method!

Yup, nothing new under the sun.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...6-15-43-06.jpg

Yep...nothin new...cept maybe the jet engine.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=165744

All Bikes Are NOT The Same!!!!
 

When you say spec'd the same I presume that you mean components wise such as derailleurs, cranksets etc.

Different makes of bike frames can have different geometry and tubing material and sizes used in construction which definitely has an effect on ride, handling and weight. They are not spec'd the same generally speaking as most companies such as Trek try to make sure there are specification and component differences between their bikes and the competition's.

Your original comment is about like saying all cars are the same. Either statement is a gross simplification.

In many cases for similar bikes my choice would be determined by local dealer reputation.

Some bikes have a certain je ne sais quois. They can be very similar in specification yet feel very different. Some feel dead under your feet. Others feel positively alive. Some are very compliant, while others are stubborn. I could go on, waxing poetic. I could make the distinction between intrinsic and perceived value. Most people looking at a stone in a ring couldn't tell if it's a diamond or glass, but much more value is put on a diamond. Certain camera lenses are prized for their bokeh — the particularly artful way that they blur the background of an image. Some people value subtleties and others deem them a waste of time. It's that way with bikes too.

When you get a quality bike you will see the difference.There is no comparison of a Corvette to a Cavalier even though each will get you from point A to B. Have ya seen many Huffy's winning the T.D.F.?

Team 7-11 rode Huffys.(built by serotta)

They're not the same :)

Yep... this is just an old ten speed.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/cooper2010a.JPG

Geometry and construction can vary a great deal, but for the most part, you're right - it's a fairly standard carbon frame with either Dura Ace or Campagnolo components. The really interesting stuff is in alternative bicycles - triathalon bikes are often full of really wild designs to allow exhausted athletes to get the most out of their weary muscles, and folding bicycles (such as the very nifty Montague or various full-sized Dahons) have finally become alternatives to "real" bicycles. That's not even considering alternative riding configurations like recumbents, semi-recumbents, trikes, "prone" bicycles, and more.

Troll, anyone?

A clever troll at least--22 responses in 5 hours without any kind of over-defensive or jabbing defense of his position at all. Seems more like a very pointed statement intent on sarcastic responses.
Success?

Mr Garrison's bike is pretty different than most. :innocent:

I have a usual loop of a little over 40 miles. On that loop I ride a 50 year old lugged steel bike with a double and a 4-speed cluster. I also ride a modern tig-welded with carbon bits with a double and a 10-speed cluster.

The difference in time between the bikes is no more than 10 minutes. So yes, they are pretty much the same.

Soon, I'll have a 60 year old bike with a single and a 4-speed cluster and a 70 year old bike with a single and a 3-speed cluster. My guess is they will pretty much be the same.