rodchenko

If you need to pick between these three brands to sell in your bike shop, which one would you choose?

Factors to consider:
- Manufacturing quality
- Warranty coverage
- Range of products
- Cost/brand name
- Company relationship (with its dealers and riders)


Let me know your ideas. Thanks

sp00ki

charge, hands down. then i'd pm me and give me a discount on the skewer frameset.

but seriously, they offer an awesome range of bikes for multiple disciplines, have smart + gorgeous designs, and are doing some pretty exciting things.
it's going to be a year tops before they're as big a name here in the US as either of the other two you mentioned.
if i walked into a shop, saw all three and knew nothing about bikes, i'd pick charge every time.
if i walked into a shop and did, i'd pick the same even faster.

PedallingATX

I would go Surly just because of the amount of business it would bring in. I think they are the most reputable of those 3 brands...Charge is kind of goofy, I think, they do offer a wide range of products but I personally think they are pretty ugly

Gyeswho

Surly, but that's being biased since I bought one. Options and versatility is the main reason for why I would go with them

eogie

I've never seen anyone on a Charge. I've seen hundreds of people riding a Surly. Go with Surly.

sp00ki

that's because charge is an english company; their presence here is pretty new. i don't think he's looking to sell what everyone else has been selling, but rather what's going to make him the most money tomorrow.
if you see what they're doing with marketing and support from rider networking, you realize immediately that they're definitely moving in a good direction.
things like this:
https://www.chargebikes.com/team/
and this:
https://videos.chargebikes.com/
is the sort of stuff that resonates with urban riders today. not that there's is borne solely out of marketing, but they are the kind of company that listens to what's going on in this sense and embraces it.
that and the fact that they're one of the few frame builders who isn't doing the exact same boring thing everyone else in the game is doing, and you have a really good product to pay attention to.


you also live in nashville, TN. no offense, but i don't think the urban riding scene is as discerning there as it is in other places.

i guess it depends on where his shop is going to be. if he's going to be selling out of places like nyc or la, charge makes the most sense as they cater to that set.
if he's going to be selling out of the midwest or south, companies like surly seem to get more play...

eogie

^^^^ good point.

The cycling scene is actually growing here very quickly thanks to these guys.

https://halcyonbike.com/v1/

sp00ki

seems like a rad shop.
how do they do? shops that do used stuff as well as new really need to happen more.

eogie

They're kicking ass. Every time I'm in there I see one or more bikes leave the shop. I was there for about 5 hours one day (it's a great hang out) and saw them sell 4 bikes. They put a lot of work into every ride.

shapelike

Surly. Do your own research and figure out why.

PedallingATX

What are you trying to say about the South, Spook? Austin has some of the BEST cyclists and bike shops in the country and we are in the South. Within 5 miles of my house, there are about 12 bike shops. I can buy Cervelo, Bianchi, Trek, Specialized, Masi, IRO, Orbea, Fuji, Surly, Swobo, KHS, and tons of other brands at the shops here. I am not saying Surly is some amazing, unique company but they do make quality parts/bikes and people do like them. I would personally rather ride a Steamroller than one of those Charge frames which, no offense, looks like its trying really hard to be hip w/ its logo placement and everything and just looks, well, ugly.

IllSpecialist

Anyone know the retail on the CHARGE Plug Ti?

Edit: Frame only

sp00ki

right? that sh.t is sick...

eogie

I was just in Austin for South by South West. I've never seen so many bikes in my life. I rode everywhere and had a blast. Austin is a cool place. Oh, and I managed to get hit by a car, but I was being stupid.

sp00ki

nothing, just that people in different places tend to have different tastes.

me too. i'd think it uncivilized if you couldn't...

PedallingATX

Yeah we have a TON of cyclists. Especially rode/triathletes. MTN biking is pretty big here, too, but I don't do it. The fixed/SS thing has caught on with the hipsters just like in every other city, but the point is there are a lot of bikes here. We do have a problem with roads, though, b/c a lot of the main streets don't have bike lanes which is a problem b/c there are so many bikers on them and there is serious tension here b/w cyclists and motorists

PedallingATX

Hey have you ever been to Bell's bike shop in philly? I think that I'm going to buy from their ebay store, is it a good place?

IllSpecialist

I've purchased a few wheelsets from their fleaBay store. Aways fast shipping. Wheels were true and held up well.

sp00ki

yep. really friendly guys. i've actually shopped on their ebay store before and picked up locally.
shipping, however, was insanely fast (though, probably because i'm 20 minutes away) the one time i didn't pickup.

brandonspeck

I've heard really good things about Charge from a friend who lived in England. We stock a lot of Surly stuff in the shop I work at already, but if I were to personally open a shop, I'd still sell Surly.
But Charge's stuff looks awesome. I just have never had any personal experience.

Any kind Brits or Charge affiliates want to send me some stuff, so I can experience it for myself?

sp00ki

i'm seriously trying to get my hands on a charge skewer, but i can't find it anywhere...

2wheelsgood

what kind of hipster picnic nonsense is this? having a "team" and making videos like this is the total opposite of what's resonating (from me at least). It seems like a lot of the new fixed gear bike companies wished they had got into skateboarding in the 90's but missed the boat and now they're trying to create some kind of new "extreme" sport. I'll choose what company I patronize based on product, warranty and reputation. Not the "attitude" they're team brings to the table.


p.s. surly

sp00ki

yr probably square.

2wheelsgood

i'm probably your father.

bmcginn

new shop in Nashville? Any details on this?

but no one has a charge and if you can become a dealer in the states with them readily available i think you could profit from that.

surly makes a lot of great bikes which offers a great selection

i would say it is between these two