Xherion

Just noticed on my daily online retailer browsing for deals that Nashbar now carries Lynskey frames. I'm a bit surprised to say the least. This could be a huge sales avenue for them, but I wonder if this is going to cheapen their name at all. I also wonder if they will be excluded from their coupon sales.

rpenmanparker 

Why would the Nashbar brand cheapen any merchandise it represents? Nashbar is a top notch seller of cycling goods at all levels. It is known for its customer service, tech support, reliability and return policy. You can't be better represented than by Nashbar.

Fox Farm

Because Nashbar has always been associated with closeouts on stuff that is a few years old or more.

rpenmanparker 

As a part of their offering. Plenty of other stuff. Besides, what's cheapening about that?

D1andonlyDman

30 years ago, I bought my Tommasini bike from Nashbar, equipped with Campy Super Record. At the time, they were also selling De Rosa and Colnago frames, among others, in standard sizes and configurations. I don't believe any of these brands were cheapened.

Xherion

I have no qualms with Nashbar. As a matter of fact, most of my purchases come from Nashbar or Performance Bike as they offer often the best prices for US customers. Frames and complete bikes are peculiar (but not unique) in the idea of exclusivity of brick and mortar only sales (as is the case with nearly all major brands - Specialized, Giant, Trek, Scott, Cannondale, Cervelo, BMC, etc). Any bikes that are sold online like Fuji, GT, Kestrel, Motobecane/BD, Diamondback, etc. are often looked down upon just because they can be purchased online and thus become involved in pricing wars causes their name to be diluted when they are sold by companies offering 20-25% off sales nearly every other day ala Nashbar sales. Some might also make the argument that these brands also put less into R&D as the pricepoint they target is the more value conscientious consumer.

That being said, I am the happy owner of a Motobecane fat bike and a Kestrel Ultegra road bike so I couldn't care less of the brand name on the downtube. But there are always people that put a lot of credence into the name on the sticker, even though ironically only a handful of manufacturers produce the majority of all frames. In the end of the day, Kia could produce a Ferrari quality car, but the simple fact the badge says Kia will always discredit the product. That's all I'm saying.

garciawork

In this case, they are more expensive than Lynksey's own website. Odd...

rpenmanparker 

Wait for it...

rpenmanparker 

I agree, but in fairness to those who might think otherwise, that WAS a different Bike Nashbar back then.

cale

Did you know that Performance Cycles owns Bike Nashbar? Just saying, Performance Cycles organizes (markets) products across (2) websites and the retail locations.

I've bought consistently from Nashbar over several decades and did so because "value" has always been the promise. When Performance started some years later (catalog sales only), they "positioned" themselves as a "performance" vendor. You could find good prices on the same stuff plus a few more "exclusive" offers on high-end stuff. (You could tell the difference between the two companies by the way the catalogs were printed. Nashbar used a uncoated paper and a "circular" style of layout. Performance used more expensive coated glossy paper and featured a modern catalog layout. The two catalogs came monthly, 10Xs year, arriving on almost the same day and were distinctly different in appearance.)

This background is significant because the two companies, now one, have continued to retain their look (marketing focus) for a long time. It is the reason why Performance bought it's closest competitor and rather than shut it down they invested in the business because it reaches a "different" customer or buying need.

In my opinion, Lynsky does risk losing a bit of value by appearing on Nashbar. It doesn't make sense that they would give up some cash just to boost sales. I'm wondering if this change is coming out of a real need.

BTW, anyone could have received 20% off a Lynsky frame yesterday. You won't find that sort of "lightening" discount from a big name bike retailer of Litespeed frames. (Which is not to say Litespeed frames aren't discounted elsewhere.)

Xherion

Yep, that's why I even mentioned Performance. I'm actually a bit surprised that Performance didn't carry Lynskey vs. Nashbar, even though they are the same parent company. Kind of like how Performance carries Ridley, but Nashbar doesn't.

Lazyass

Nice but I'd rather have a Colorado built Dean.

rpenmanparker 

Naturally there should be some question re: Lynskey's motive. I think they are clearing out excess stock, and Nashbar is the right company to do that for them. Now why is the stock excess? Well, there have been numerous indications that Lynskey's business is dragging lately. Maybe this is the most telling one of all. Very likely a cash flow problem. By unloading the remaining 2015 stock in bulk to Nashbar, Lynskey is ready to start 2016 with a clean slate and plenty of cash on hand. Likely they negotiated a "fair trade" agreement regarding pricing of the frames, something like nothing lower than MSRP - Nashbar's deepest coupon discount that would also cover anything they sell. Win-win.

cale

Carrying Lynsky on the Performance site, at the sort of discount prices Nashbar offered yesterday, would undercut the Performance brand.

Chandne

Is Lynskey even considered high-end? Lynskey fans- please don't get wound up over my opinion but I never considered Lynskey among the high end builders- small or relatively large. I see guys like Potts at the extreme high end, then Moots, Ericksen, maybe Dean and Seven, and then Lynskey, after which are the lower end overseas importers.

My knowledge about Lynskey comes mainly from the MTB world and a few years ago when I was much more active there, I used to read about Ridgelines and Pro 29s frames cracking at welds. Eventually there were stories of them rejecting warranty claims because x number of years was considered a "lifetime" of use for a Ti frame. f Many of us never considered them high-end in the MTB world but again, I'm not as familiar with their road frames nor am I familiar with recent developments in that company.

I miss Supergo. That used to be where I bought all my bike-related stuff way back when. They had amazing sales and good price on a big selection. I think they got bought out by Performance just like Nashbar did. Performance and Nashbar seem to have fallen behind the others with selection and prices.

rpenmanparker 

Lynskey isn't considered high end in the "hard-to-reach-price" sense. It is considered high end due to the respect and profile Lynskey has in the industry for his expertise in Ti bikes. After all, he was one of the pioneers in Ti bikes with his Litespeed brand. Just because his pricing is reasonable doesn't mean his product isn't superior. Fluff can be pricey, but it doesn't make a bike ride well. The man knows how to build a Ti bike right. What more does anyone need?

merlinextraligh

Uhm, when your listed next to the Mekk Pinerolo, and the Cavalo Gara, that's not necessarily a good thing. The road bikes Nashbar currently sells are mostly formerly good brands (Schwinn, and Diamondback) and knock offs.

Fuji would be about the closest to a mainstream brand.

As for frames, The Lynskey is right next to Nashbar branded open mold Chinese frames.

The only other close to high end frame they currently sell is a CIOCC, which Gods knows who makes these days and where.

Lazyass

Yeah, they were like the first internet businesses I bought from in the 90's. I had a Supergo Access MTB.

ARPRINCE

High-End = OVERPRICED

rpenmanparker 

Hey, some folks are aware of what a good deal they can get on a top-notch frame. Besides, Nashbar is good enough for Dura-Ace stuff, why wouldn't it be good enough for Lynskey?

RPK79

Are Sony and Samsung 'cheapened' as a brand because they are sold at Walmart?

merlinextraligh

I think you may be mixing up Lynskey and Litespeed.

The Lynskey family sold Litespeed to the American Bicycle Group, and then went back into business under the Lynskey name. I've heard bad things about Litepseed's handling of warranty claims under ABG, but I've not heard bad things about Lynskey.

cale

I think your analysis is good. I'm concerned (interested) that Lynsky would dilute the brand in this fashion. There must be a huge amount of overstock. That would lead to the cash flow problem you mention. But why there's so much stock on hand is a mystery. (You can order, listed as in stock, any size of 2015 Helix, all popular sizes of 2015 Pro Cross, all popular sizes of 2015 R140, and the same for the R240, R265, R460 and Sportive frames.) This isn't the sort of close-out I'm used to where the odd sizes, only, are available. This appears to be a solid relationship that will endure into 2016.

noodle soup

A few years ago Lynskey made a road frame for Performance. I don't think it cheapened the brand any.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ame-700-a.html

cale

Sorry, I get a little wound up when Diamondback gets associated with Schwinn. You don't know Diamondback but I worked as a trusted supplier to the company for over 17 years. They don't sell only through Nashbar, they also sell through Performance, Sports Authority, etc., and the move to selling through mass-merchandisers was a strategic decision made 10 years or more ago. Formerly a good brand? They'll laugh all the way to the bank at Accell. (Accell bought Raleigh America some years back and acquired Diamondback in the process.)