Anybody that rules in or out a bike brand because of what doper did or didn't ride it, or because they're big corporate bullies or whatever are fahking idiots. Ride the bike, if it feels good buy it. If they applied some of their same logic to other products they use they would find life very hard to live. If Trek or Specialized feels the best to you why would you not but it?

Aren't there more pro road teams riding Specialized than any other brand? Perhaps those teams are too busy racing to give any thought to their equipment...

Lots of people make buying choices based on corporate behaviour. It's called a social conscience, and not everyone has one. Some are able to adhere to it very rigidly, and others are forced to make certain compromises (like putting gas in the car). To call them fahking idiots for it means you must be looking in the mirror.

The same situation applies to me as well. The only "bigger" (yet still tiny) LBS only sells Specialized, which means I simply do not shop locally. Besides not wanting to purchasing Specialized because they do not honor their warranties, but who buys only Specialized? My LBS only sells Specialized tires. When was the last time Specialized tires were discussed or recommend? Not really picky, give me Conti, Michelin, Vitorria or Schwalbe tiress, but Specialized?

No. He's looking at you...lol.

You should. Specialized makes the best bikes in the world.

Perhaps you don't understand how pro teams work.

Shill alert.

I bought a Trek because it was highly discounted for year-end clearance, and I couldn't find another bike in any other LBS with as good components for as little cost. If it was a Specialized then I would be riding a Specialized. If it was a Giant then I would be riding a Giant. I know that there's all the corporate mumbo jumbo and manufacturing here and there. But when it comes down to it I'm just looking for a reputable brand and a good value, and that's what I got. If somebody wants to hate my Trek because it's "Trek" then that's their issue. But as far as I'm concerned I got a great bike at a great price that suits my needs perfectly.

Yet I haven't uttered word one about how I make my buying decisions so I'm interested as to how you'd draw this conclusion. To call others idiots because they may choose not to ride, or consider riding a Specialized for whatever reason is the pinnacle of idiocy. It's sad how defensive Specialized riders seem to get, and reminds me a lot of the Tiger Woods fan-boy vs hater threads I've seen on golf forums.

No I wasn't looking in the mirror I was referring to people exactly like you

I wasn't referring to you specifically, I read so much on here about how people hate Trek because Lance rode Trek. Or they don't like the way they treated Lemond... you know what that was wrong for them to do but that's life in the business world, bad things happen all the time. And I don't ride Specialized either. I test rode one, I liked it but I didn't buy it. The most important thing to me after the feel of the bike is the relationship with the LBS. The LBS does not make a lot on the bike, the margins are so slim, they make their money on service and parts etc. I'm not going to "punish" a locally owned LBS because I don;t like the brand. It reminds me of the old saying... opinions are like ********, everyone has one and they all stink so I really don't give a **** about anyone's opinion of what I ride. I ride what I ride because I like it and the local shop owner. Never in these forums have I ever told anyone they should buy one bike over another, I always say "ride them and choose the best one".

I love threads like this purely for the entertainment value! :thumb:
Fan boys vs Haters... :lol:
I obviously don't have any brand loyalty, just look @ my bike list.:innocent:

Thank LT luv ya... ;)

True. Still an interesting question, though. 3 teams are racing Specialized (Tarmacs and Venges) this season. Why? None of those teams is named "Specialized," as in BMC, Trek, or Cannondale. While Specialized may provide the gear free of charge, it must be top-shelf stuff, no? Same, as to Zipp wheels, SRAM Red group, etc.

But you noticed the big S on the headtube, & the bunch of spesh decals scattered over the frame...
;)

With each time trying to convince the other how correct they are.

You don't care about what other people think of your choices, and yet you're calling people elfin' idiots because they have a different set of criteria for choosing a brand they want to ride? "Choosing the best one" means different things to different people. There are lots of bikes out there and more than one will give people a great ride, so they can afford to let other factors influence their choices. What if the bike that seemed to ride the 'best' for you was only available in hot pink or some colour you detested. Would that factor into your choice?

People were saying the same thing a couple of years ago about how many teams used SRAM so it had to be great. Now none use it. I guess it really sucks. A bigger tell are teams that would rather pay for their own components rather than get free stuff.

Exactly!
I don't even need to watch Maury anymore. ;)

"You pay for what you get."
Winners = camera time = marketing/sales.

Exactly, pro teams ride what they are paid to ride. Does not mean what they ride is better or even good.

I'm putting together a new bike this Spring and this frame is still on the candidate list.

http://www.sportbikes.be/images/size...mage1-0955.jpg

Yes, but that's not the point of the thread or my question: already assuming manufacturers donate lots of product for publicity purposes, would pro teams not named "Specialized" be riding Tarmacs if the product sucked or the company was staffed with baby seal clubbers?

(I'm neither a fan-boy nor hater; simply trying to understand the logic. My other passion is acoustic guitars. Endorsements are everywhere, but you won't see Eric Clapton playing an Esteban, no matter how many freebies they offer.)

That's ridiculous.

My reply was in reference to your statement of pro teams using Shimano over SRAM.

Nice choice!
I believe there's one of these built up in this thread sporting deep dish Madfibers.