Which is best: Trek, Giant or Specialised
 

I need to know because I am buying a bike.

Thanks. :)

You forgot Cannondale (and a few others). ;)

Ok, then. What's the best brand to buy? :D

Cervelo R5CA is the best brand.

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?

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.

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.

Giant

Aaron :)

It really depends on the bike.

And depends on type of bike you are looking for.

Nobody rides Treks anymore; they're too popular.

Yogi?

Indeed.

The one that fits.

Marinoni
Hasa
Merlin
Santana
Fuji
Shogun

Brand is pretty far down on the list of things you should be considering when looking for a bike.

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.

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 :D) would like to know...

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.

Oh yeah! that question. :D I don't know with the OP but i would be riding roads and light to medium trails for exercise and leisure :D

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.

Troll.

Thanks for the info... I went to some shops and when I asked for a hybrid they offered me a giant Sedona... But I was more interested in the dx version where you can lock the front suspension


Is this directed at me?

From what you've indicated ... roads and light to medium trails ... you probably don't want a hybrid. Have a look at cyclocross bicycles in particular ... maybe drop into the Cyclocross forum and browse through some of the threads there: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl.../23-Cyclocross

Surly.