bruce19

I've been cycling for about 40 years. And, as with most of us, I've spent a lot of money. Everything from bikes to components to tires to kit. Over the years I have found some favorites. Some, like Vittoria tires. are favorites but I'd ride others like Conti or Michelin in a heartbeat. Currently riding a Guru steel and a Masi AL but I'd ride TI or CF and other brands without a thought. But, I realized that the one thing I can't seem to substitute for is Assos gear. This is pretty surprising to me. I'm not usually that guy. But, Assos is amazing. It got me to wondering if others have "go to" cycling gear that they stick with. Part of this is because I have been looking at Sidi shoes and wondering if I will have a similar reaction to them.

WhyFi

I'm not really a fan of Specialized bikes, but for some reason their shoes, helmets, and saddles all work well for me. I've tried exploring other options, but keep ending up back at Specialized. Well, actually they've changed the last in their shoes since buying my current pair, so I might end up unmoored when I need new shoes.

generalkdi

Giordana's high end bibs are generally a very good fit, so I keep going back to them.

Dirt Farmer

Conti tires

Shimano (of course!)

Time ATAC pedals (for my road and mountain bikes)

Dan333SP

Bike frames... don't care. Own a Trek but have ridden/rented many other brands and they've all been fine at a certain level.

Groups... Shimano. Personal preference. Have owned a Campy bike and used SRAM, but prefer the ergonomics and mechanics of Shimano.

Tires... Continental. Maybe it's the hype on the forums, but I've always used either gatorskins or GP4000s.

Gear... giro. Have a Giro helmet, shoes, and gloves. Just fit well, no need to change.

Kit... a local company called Cutaway. The bibs and jerseys are what our team sources, but they're as good as I'd ever need cycling clothing to be so I see no reason to branch out and try the super high end stuff.

caloso

Me too. Romin Evo saddle, S-Works shoes, and Prevail helmet. They just fit me.

indyfabz

Conti Top Touring II tires for touring.


Rapha clothing.

Bob Ross

A go-to brand? Perhaps on a product-by-product basis. E.g., I'll almost always default to Continental for tires...except when I don't. And if I was the victim of some bizarre hypothetical ultimatum where all my kit had to be from a single manufacturer I'd probably choose Pearl Izumi without too much hesitation. Or maybe Assos. And my saddles are all fizik, and if they still made the model I like that'd be my go-to saddle in perpetuity, but they don't so the next time I need a new saddle I might have to get something other than a fizik.

So actually I guess the answer is no, I don't have a go-to product brand.

rjones28 

No

bruce19

Re: Assos....for years I tried everything from Capo to Giordana to Pearl to you name it. Then I saw a killer deal on some Assos bibs and thought "What the hell, why not give it a try." They fit like they were made for me. The quality was an added bonus. Not proselytizing. They just work for me.

bruce19

Although I'm kind of jonesin' to try some Sidi shoes, I have a pair of Specialized shoes that are 2 yrs. old and in perfect shape. I have no issues with them. I'm trying to convince myself that there is no need for new shoes, which is true.

Dopefish905

Assos, shimano, cervelo.

Assos bibs always!
Shimano shoes and groupset always!
Cervelo bikes for the last 10years.
Though I do want to purchase a titanium Lynksey in the near future.

ohlins8990

Saddles - Either Fizik or Brooks
Bartape - Bontrager Grippytack
Tires - Continental
Groupset - Prefer Campagnolo ergos, but Shimano parts availability
Frame - Don’t really care as long as its a nice steel tubing
Apparel - mostly Pearl Izumi, but like my Assos bibs and Louis Garneau gloves. Helmet is a Bontrager.

noodle soup

I don't have "go to" companies as much as I have "No Go" companies.

Trek
Specialized
SRAM
Rapha

gvelayo

Here are my go-to brands:

Shimano Components
Fox Helmets
Giro Shoes
Lezyne for pumps, lights,
Cateye for Cyclocomputer
FSA for components
Token for components

woodcraft

Not really 'go to', but I've found Giro

to be consistently good.

The other day was wearing Giro helmet, shorts, jersey, & shoes.

Never had a disappointing product from them.

Seattle Forrest

Arc'teryx for clothes.

Dan333SP

With shoes I definitely adhere to the "if it ain't broke..." mentality. My wife got me a gift card with the intent of me buying really nice cycling shoes, but I stuck with the same mid-level Giros I'd been using for a few years, just with a new pair. I've never had any hotspots or issues with them, so what more can I ask of cycling shoes? Nothing to gain by paying more for something that might not even fit.

fried bake

Without compartmentalizing, I'd say Fizik imbues its products with such style and forward thinking, that I instinctively find myself wanting to purchase whatever they sell, whether it be saddles, cockpit components or shoes.

mercator

After trying many different brands of helmet, I find plain old Bells fit me best. Same goes for Sidi.
I'm also fairly biased towards Ritchey stuff.

furiousferret

Castelli for kits. I've just had so many bad kits and I know they made a good product.

Aubergine 

Hmm. Sidis, Terry and ancient Idéale saddles, Spécialités TA cranks of all generations. Suntour Barcons for old bikes, Campy 10 speed brifters for new.

Mindcrime

Fizik microtex 3mm bar tape. Always. Tried others, always regret it.
Preferred tire is the Specialized Roubaix Pro 25mm, though I do like conti 4k as a secondary backup. I do NOT like gators.
Shimano A520 pedals on everything (except actual MTB.)
Shimano groups on everything
Jagwire housing and cables for all my builds
The Black Bibs - $40 bibs that are actually really good are my go to bibs at this point. Yes, there are nicer, but they perform as well as my prior favorite (and pricy) Santini bibs. And I can afford more than a pair or two.


Actual frames/wheels? Nah. The best I can find and afford for whatever use I want them for.

KraneXL

Same here. I have their inexpensive shoes and have zero foot issues. I only wish I were a lucky with my Selle italia saddle. I like Primal specialty logo jerseys.

kansukee

Campagnolo, Veloflex, Look, Cinelli.