mconlonx 

fify

Some bikes Trek has manufactured overseas are designed here in the US, others, not so much. Not sure how un-predatory Trek appears when lines like Klein and LeMond disappear. Gary Fisher is putting a good face on the new "Gary Fisher Collection" bikes which are now badged as Trek, but he's selling a boatload more of them, so probably smiling all the way to the bank.

When a company gets to the level of Trek, C'dale, Spec, and Giant, I'm sure there's all kinds of things going down that would have us non-business types of people all up in arms.

svtmike

Using a specialist partner to optimize the carbon layup for a particularly high end of a model isn't the same as building a "catalog bike".

And I appreciate stealthhammer's tidbit about the Roubaix having its genesis in a geometry from a custom bike that someone had built by Seven. That doesn't make the Roubaix a "catalog" bike either.

There is information aplenty that supports the characterization of Specialized as a bicycle design and engineering (and marketing) company, from their heavy involvement in sponsoring pro cycling teams to the unique shapes and features of their frames. A "catalog" bike company is somebody like Bikes Direct or Planet X who is just sourcing frames from an OEM like they would stems or seatposts.

RngSpnr

try a selle smp. used to ride a specialized.

wkg

lol?

mikepwagner

I don't know about the particular laws in PA, but I'd check out your lawyer's credentials pretty carefully if he is telling you that after you voluntarily leave a company, your previous employer must pay you for 6th months in some kind of non-compete mechanism.

I'd also expect that if a number of engineers leave a company to start a company making a very similar product, the former employer is going to look very carefully at IP issues. In fact, if they did not do so, they'd be negligent. Intellectual property may at times be a bogus concept, but it's the lifeblood of tech companies.

That's all from a software engineers perspective, where these things are common.

sbxx1985 

And you have a few years to get ready for trial.

ravenmore

Just sent a note to Specialized that they are alienating customers with this issue. Probably won't get a response but if they were smart they'd listen.

Stealthammer

I agree that the Roubaix is not necessarily a "catalog" bike, but it's design concept was "stolen" from an existing builder, and by far the vast majority of Specialized bikes are simply ordered from an importer with Specialized branding.

Bike Direct and Planet X are not "catalog" bike companies, they are simply bike distributors. They don't build or assemble anything, but they are essntially just a bike shop with no brick and morter presence, and no mechanics room.

svtmike

Or was it (essentially) prototyped by Seven to the specifications of a Specialized employee? It's certainly not clear that Seven owned the design.

Still struggling with your "most of" assertion. Which of these are "simply ordered from an importer with Specialized branding"?

-Venge
-Tarmac
-Roubaix
-Crux
-TriCross
-Allez
-Secteur
-Ruby
-Amira

They do get their own branding on it though, so don't they simply order from an importer with Bikes Direct or Planet X branding?

VaMoots

Oakley full gloves are the favorite of military people in tough conditions. Boots too.
I was in the market for a Roubaix but find Specialized distasteful due to their constant lawsuits. So Im not buying one which Im sure Specialized doesn't care about.