Kestrel Brand Manager saying hi
Just want to introduce myself to the group. I'm here for any Kestrel questions or anything related to carbon fiber.
You can also visit www.kestrelbicycles.com for our new 2009 lineup and tech questions. Thanks, Steven |
hello!
love your bikes! and i love the history of kestrel as leaders and innovators! i've almost bought a kestrel on several occasions, most recently as a backup roadbike to my Look 595. i'm sure i'll end up with a kestrel one of these days! |
Kestrel has really cool aspects to it as a company. Welcome to the forum.
|
hey man sounds good! thanks for joining us!
|
Is your EP /Pro deal pricing out yet? just curious...
|
My question:
Why the hell is BikesDirect selling your bikes? Do you expect real bike shops to carry Kestrel when BD can sell them for what we pay for them? Ditto for Fuji. PlatyPius Fuji Dealer |
Toasty!!!
|
Welcome, how are your boys doing in the Tour of Cali? :)
|
Originally Posted by PlatyPius
(Post 8368147)
My question:
Why the hell is BikesDirect selling your bikes? Do you expect real bike shops to carry Kestrel when BD can sell them for what we pay for them? Ditto for Fuji. PlatyPius Fuji Dealer (I'm neutral toward BD - I may buy one of their bikes, but I see lots of benefits in my LBS purchase) |
Originally Posted by agarose2000
(Post 8397941)
You just realize that you unintentionally gave them one of the best BD marketing lines ever, right?
(I'm neutral toward BD - I may buy one of their bikes, but I see lots of benefits in my LBS purchase) I'm more pissed off at Fuji about it. They're just starting to come back after being on the brink of non-existence, and now they do this crap. I guess I should expect to see Breezers on BD soon too. Looking over BD, the only bike that isn't a super bargain is the one that they have to buy like the rest of us....the Surly LHT. I'm sure they get a discount from QBP (the maker of Surly, Salsa, etc) for buying in volume, but a local shop could come close to their price on that bike. Then they (Fuji) wonder why bike shops drop them. The shop I currently work for (for the next week) just dropped them. The shop I'm going to used to be Fuji-only, but has now added a bunch of other brands so we can buy fewer Fujis. Once I'm fully in place as manager, we'll be buying even fewer. I'm not going to compete with BD. Advanced Sports (Fuji, Kestrel, SE Racing, Breezer) is going to find itself solely a BD brand if it doesn't get it's ***** together. |
I own a 2005 KM40 with 650 wheels , it's a sweet bike. Its fast, very fast, Ive added a old picture of it. http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3281/dsc02884cs0.jpg
I just had a crack on the top tube repaired by Calfree. I cant wait to ride it again next week. If I ever need to buy another Tri Bike again it will be a Airfoil. In you next model you should put the brakes behind the forks and behind the cranks. Also this might be crazy but, I would like to see a set of forks with a built in magnetic pickup to measure speed. :thumb:
Originally Posted by Kestrel Bicycle
(Post 8282657)
Just want to introduce myself to the group. I'm here for any Kestrel questions or anything related to carbon fiber.
You can also visit www.kestrelbicycles.com for our new 2009 lineup and tech questions. Thanks, Steven |
Originally Posted by PlatyPius
(Post 8398018)
I'm just really pissed off with BD and Fuji at the moment. I was looking at BDs hybrids....they are Fujis that are rebranded with one of BDs purchased names (and some of them are actual Fujis). They're selling them for what we pay for them.
I'm more pissed off at Fuji about it. They're just starting to come back after being on the brink of non-existence, and now they do this crap. I guess I should expect to see Breezers on BD soon too. Looking over BD, the only bike that isn't a super bargain is the one that they have to buy like the rest of us....the Surly LHT. I'm sure they get a discount from QBP (the maker of Surly, Salsa, etc) for buying in volume, but a local shop could come close to their price on that bike. Then they (Fuji) wonder why bike shops drop them. The shop I currently work for (for the next week) just dropped them. The shop I'm going to used to be Fuji-only, but has now added a bunch of other brands so we can buy fewer Fujis. Once I'm fully in place as manager, we'll be buying even fewer. I'm not going to compete with BD. Advanced Sports (Fuji, Kestrel, SE Racing, Breezer) is going to find itself solely a BD brand if it doesn't get it's ***** together. So my questions is, instead of being angry at direct sellers, why not dump them for exclusive wholesalers? If you all did that, the exclusive wholesalers (the smart ones) would lower their margins enabling you to compete. That would be a win for them, you and us consumers. It just seems pointless to me to try to shame them into selling exclusively wholesale. Money talks and will force them to go one direction or another. If it makes better financial sense to sell direct, no amount of shaming in the world will convince them. But considering the number of LBS's, I can't imagine why you're not more competitive. Now, if the wholesale companies are refusing to budge on their margins, that's different, but it only takes one to lead the way. That company needs to be rewarded big time. The others need to suffer. It's just the way it is. For retailers to survive, they need to become better buyers. My 2¢ |
Originally Posted by Kestrel Bicycle
(Post 8282657)
Just want to introduce myself to the group. I'm here for any Kestrel questions or anything related to carbon fiber.
|
It is out. Your local Kestrel dealer handles all sales. Kestrel doesn't sell direct to consumers.
Hope that helps. |
when you guys tested your aerodynamics in the wind tunnel was it with a person on the bike ride or just the bike by itself?
|
Originally Posted by bmcginn
(Post 8453073)
when you guys tested your aerodynamics in the wind tunnel was it with a person on the bike ride or just the bike by itself?
We use the same size bike, set all the seat heights, bar heights, etc. at the same measurements or close to even where we can. All that said, the riders is still 80% of the equation so we really focus on stack and reach and our overall measurements of our bikes. We also test what parts work best on each bike. i.e which wheelset works best, what bar works best, etc. etc. Hope that helps... |
Good responses,good to hear from you on the forums - it takes a lot of guts to get out here nowadays, ESPECIALLY the bike forums, where the word "shill" seems to come from the corners faster than a speeding bullet. (I think I've been called a shill for 3 different products now. Maybe I am?) It's always cool to hear the manager's take on things, and for us to have a line, however small, of communication.
Congrats to your coup in the Rock Racing team using your bikes. I know it's mostly rider, but it does count for some that an entire team can ride successfully on bikes that are accessible to many buyers. I'll be looking closely at your lineup in the near future. Oh - and I like that you sell bikes through Bikesdirect. |
I'd like to know how much of an incredible moment it was when Rock Racing won a stage on an RT800. What was the general mood around Kestrel? It had to feel pretty good!
|
Hey,
I almost bought a Kestrel Talon. It is a sexy bike and my friend had one and loved it... until he had a small crack in the top tube. He never wrecked the bike or raced it and had about 4,000 miles on it. The bike was not in bad shape of poorly kept either. He spoke to a Kestrel dealer and didn't get any where, they refused to warranty his bike. The reason I didn't buy a Kestrel is because of fear that I could have faced the same problem but a company like Specialized would take care of it, and I've seen it happen with a Tarmac and Epic. Unfortunately, no on on our school team will ever buy a Kestrel, the hate for kestrel is pretty epic around our team and some other local school teams that have heard teh story. |
making a UCI TT legal bike anytime soon?
|
I think my first tri bike will be kestrel ...... from BikesDirect.
Sorry... I bought my road at my LBS......... and for the price.....no one in my area touches kestrel and bikes direct. No.........I'm not shilling for them either. I actually try to avoid BD. But... Cant this time. |
Originally Posted by paste_me
(Post 9038611)
Hey,
I almost bought a Kestrel Talon. It is a sexy bike and my friend had one and loved it... until he had a small crack in the top tube. He never wrecked the bike or raced it and had about 4,000 miles on it. The bike was not in bad shape of poorly kept either. He spoke to a Kestrel dealer and didn't get any where, they refused to warranty his bike. The reason I didn't buy a Kestrel is because of fear that I could have faced the same problem but a company like Specialized would take care of it, and I've seen it happen with a Tarmac and Epic. Unfortunately, no on on our school team will ever buy a Kestrel, the hate for kestrel is pretty epic around our team and some other local school teams that have heard teh story. First, the dealer doesn't warranty the frameset, Kestrel does so they story doesn't sound quite right. Second, NOT everything is a warranty. When a frameset comes back for evaluation, is is immediately inspected for an impact. Customers don't always realize that an impact is not a warranty. Third. We always offer up the option to repair or replace a frameset at a reduced price So, the epic hate for Kestrel seems a wee bit out of place here. I'm happy to help out your friend and he can contact me directly @ sharad@kestrelbicycles.com |
New TT bike
Originally Posted by sirious94
(Post 9038852)
making a UCI TT legal bike anytime soon?
|
Originally Posted by jhodgson
(Post 8602859)
I'd like to know how much of an incredible moment it was when Rock Racing won a stage on an RT800. What was the general mood around Kestrel? It had to feel pretty good!
|
I passed on your e-mail to my friend. I hope something works out. I was test rode the new 2009 talon this weekend and it goes toe to toe with the Orca I am looking at, for far less...
|
I will back Steven up on the cracked frame. My Talon developed an odd crack in the underside of the top tube. I still have no idea where it could have come from. My bike is well cared for and I know everyone at the LBS that works on my bike. They shipped it back to Kestrel and it was approved for warranty replacement to my surprise.
Now to be totally transparent here, they still haven't shipped the replacement (LBS shipped it in March) so I had to buy another frame just to compete and train. So that was disappointing, but I can tell from scrambling to find another 56cm frame, that everybody has constrained inventory at the moment. All that said, I contacted Steven immediately upon finding the crack, he replied within the hour (from a business trip in Taiwan), explained the process and cc'd the people who would be inspecting the bike so they knew it would be coming. Just try that with another company. Very few people will open themselves up on forums like this and others. It's a ballsy thing to do as people with an alias will just take shots at you, but Steven does this and provides his contact information. He also has a great Twitter feed if you're interested. |
weight limits
Hi Steven,
Are there any weight limits to the Kestrel bikes? |
Was looking for a forum like this. Just bought one of your bikes and I love it. Thinking about replacing the headset. How do I know which headset will fit on these bikes? Thanks in advance.
|
Originally Posted by PlatyPius
(Post 8368147)
My question:
Why the hell is BikesDirect selling your bikes? Do you expect real bike shops to carry Kestrel when BD can sell them for what we pay for them? Ditto for Fuji. PlatyPius Fuji Dealer We live in a free market economy and you need to learn to compete or your resources will be limited. I am not a shill, but can offer to help you learn - Read the Invisible Hand by Adam Smith ... good luck!:thumb: |
Originally Posted by FlatSix911
(Post 9183496)
PlatyPius, Wow ... talk about sour grapes ... I am surprised with your immature response.
We live in a free market economy and you need to learn to compete or your resources will be limited. I am not a shill, but can offer to help you learn - Read the Invisible Hand by Adam Smith ... good luck!:thumb: As a bicycle dealer, I expect market territory protection. Can you buy a new Trek online? Can you buy a Cannondale online? No, you can't. We want to carry Masi, but we can't because there's a dealer 4 miles away. It's the way the industry works. Fuji/Kestrel/SE/Breezer, by allowing BD to sell their bikes online, has removed the main reason a dealer deals with a certain brand. How was my response immature? It's in our dealer agreements that territory will be protected. Ideal (Fuji) has broken that agreement. What exactly do I need to "learn"? Why exactly do you feel superior and qualified to tell me that I need to learn? Wouldn't you be upset if you invested time, money, and brand-promotion into a brand, only to have it show up online? We can't buy 500 Kestrels at a time. Ergo, we can't compete with BD. Ergo, we sold our remaining Kestrels on eBay (ALSO breaking the "rules" of our dealer agreement - we can't sell on eBay, but they can sell via BD? I don't think so.) and won't be carrying them ever again. Ditto Fuji. Ditto Breezer and SE. While I don't like Trek, I'll give them kudos where they deserve it. They do not allow ANYone to sell their bikes online. You want a Trek? You buy it from a dealer. If a dealer tries selling a Trek online, they lose their Trek dealership. Trek understands that selling online cheapens a brand. If BD sold Treks for $200 less than a dealer, people would come to think that that model of Trek was only worth what BD was charging. Then, they'd pressure the dealer to sell it for BDs price, even though the dealer paid more for it. Then the dealers pressure Trek to lower their price so they can compete with BD. Trek loses money. Less R&D is done. Bikes become more boring. Then BD pressures Trek to lower their price further, since they buy in larger volume than the dealers, and the process starts all over again. Soon, Treks are in WalMart, selling for $150. An exaggerated example, but that's how it works. |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:30 AM. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.