lance armstrong?When you think of Trek you think of Lance Armstrong.
who?
trek?
lance armstrong?When you think of Trek you think of Lance Armstrong.
rock? me? yeah i've been living under a rock, what about it?lance armstrong?
who?
trek?
Lets look at a few things;
Sam's name starts with a S and so does Specialized...Hmmm...
Specialized is in Morgan Hill and Sam Hill's last name is Hill...
The rumor must be true these facts are to big to ignore.
I will second this entire statement.When I think of Trek I don't think of Lance Armstrong. I think Of a company who for years shunned the current style of "freeride" or "DH" riding and basically said it was for meat heads. I think of a company who for years has made absolute crap in terms of mountain bikes. I also think of a company who without a doubt is using an exact copy of another design that although hasn't been "issued" a patent, is clearly owned by another company. Not to start the whole patent thing again because I don't think the ABP or Split Pivot should be issued a patent of any sort, but it's not revolutionary by any means. I'm more into the tubing and the link fabrication than I am into the suspension. I'm more likely to support a company that actually shares my vision and passion for riding a mountain bike not just another big budget company with a team of engineers trying to reclaim something they wanted nothing to do with from the start.
make sure to watch all the "big brother" reruns as you Tivo the new episodes! then you can do Big Brother marathons! You'll be talking cockney in notime!Hell I just got braces last week to mess up my teeth so I look like a brit.
But freeriding is for meatheads:biggrin:. I dont blame Trek for shunning freeride (not downhill though). Its image (at least at the moment, although has never been great) is **** and only appeals to 14 year olds, who are although a pretty big market I guess, full of wannabe Andeau Lacondeguy wankers riding single speed, one brake, dual suspension bikes trying to pull basic bmx tricks. Not exactly the image we want our sport to be portrayed by.When I think of Trek I don't think of Lance Armstrong. I think Of a company who for years shunned the current style of "freeride"... and basically said it was for meat heads.
mine is more like a boulderrock? me? yeah i've been living under a rock, what about it?
Atherton's bigger than Palmer??? That be like saying Jerry Rice was more famous than Bo Jackson...Anyone is marketable, everyone has a marketable story to tell, but this Atherton 'thing' has endless possibilities. Male market, Female market, families on bikes, sticking together, good role models, kids think its cool they are brother and sisters (my friggin 3yr old said she wants a brother and sister now after meeting them), young people can dig on their speed, talents, etc and old people (my parents) think it is so 'neat' that they all travel, train, race and win together.
The Atherton thing has legs like nothing we have ever seen before. If done correctly they 'could' be bigger than some snowboard guy.
That kind of thinking made Trek the largest bike company in the world.When I think of Trek I don't think of Lance Armstrong. I think Of a company who for years shunned the current style of "freeride" or "DH" riding and basically said it was for meat heads. I think of a company who for years has made absolute crap in terms of mountain bikes. I also think of a company who without a doubt is using an exact copy of another design that although hasn't been "issued" a patent, is clearly owned by another company. Not to start the whole patent thing again because I don't think the ABP or Split Pivot should be issued a patent of any sort, but it's not revolutionary by any means. I'm more into the tubing and the link fabrication than I am into the suspension. I'm more likely to support a company that actually shares my vision and passion for riding a mountain bike not just another big budget company with a team of engineers trying to reclaim something they wanted nothing to do with from the start.
also "7000"That kind of thinking made Trek the largest bike company in the world.
I think Trek is doing a better job with FR/DH, but their bread and butter has these initials: "OCLV".
When the guy who might be jogging or golfing is riding a FR bike, that's when Trek will spend millions to sponsor a DH rider, like they do for Astana.
Money talks in this sport your not round long so you gotta make it while you can i bet her brothers would tell her to leave if the money was right.lol rachel atherton wouldn't leave her family
Exactly. As I work PT for a shop that sells Trek, I have been to the Trek seminars and I see the daily decisions that a shop makes. You stock (and make) the bikes that sell the most. FR/DH maybe has 10% of the entire bike market, if that.That kind of thinking made Trek the largest bike company in the world.
I think Trek is doing a better job with FR/DH, but their bread and butter has these initials: "OCLV".
When the guy who might be jogging or golfing is riding a FR bike, that's when Trek will spend millions to sponsor a DH rider, like they do for Astana.
10%?Exactly. As I work PT for a shop that sells Trek, I have been to the Trek seminars and I see the daily decisions that a shop makes. You stock (and make) the bikes that sell the most. FR/DH maybe has 10% of the entire bike market, if that.
Besides OCLV, the big seller is the 7000 series "comfort" bikes. Cannot keep them in stock...
Fixed that for you.10%?
probably something closer to .5% of the whole market. Maybe less.
yeah, but on the plus side, trails are reasonably clear, and its still profitable for companies to invest in DH bikes, since it pushes the tech alot further forward. Used to be high end bikes that had suspension forks. Now everything does. Used to be high end road bikes that had carbon forks/frames. Now you find carbon forks on pretty much everything. As long as its profitable for the company to keep investing in the sport, should be all good.Fixed that for you.
If you consider all disiplines of cycling this is sadly true.
useless thread - not worth getting through the incredibly annoying reg process.
I love sites that make you register just to view the damn thread. Fawking annoying
I think it is a culture issue. Trek is in Wisconsin, so not surprisingly they don't nothing about DH. I can't believe how many people brag about their 3 inch XC bike.yeah, but on the plus side, trails are reasonably clear, and its still profitable for companies to invest in DH bikes, since it pushes the tech alot further forward. Used to be high end bikes that had suspension forks. Now everything does. Used to be high end road bikes that had carbon forks/frames. Now you find carbon forks on pretty much everything. As long as its profitable for the company to keep investing in the sport, should be all good.
Really I'm hoping that MTB pulls away from looking like a lesser MX clone. Don't think it does alot for the sport. trek hopefully understands that when you're trying to sell expensive bikes, appealing to kids and to blue collar adrenalin junkies isn't as profitable as appealing to mid/upper class. Hopefully whoever they hire to win races, they can work that angle.
in all fairness to the remedy, its the nicest AM bike i've ever touched. Fycking amazing.I think it is a culture issue. Trek is in Wisconsin, so not surprisingly they don't nothing about DH. I can't believe how many people brag about their 3 inch XC bike.
But they hired a Manitou suspension guy, Jose Gonzales, built a California test center, and they are more commited to the mountain bike.
Unfortunately, for the DH scene, it looks like they want to develop the 6 inch Remedy before the Session. I think from a sales standpoint, Trail/All-Mountain is more popular, so I hope there will be some trickle-up to the more sophisticated dh bikes.
the gist of it
Poor Sam? I don't think he would sign with a bike company if he did not like the frame.poor sam!
My signature will get changed end of yearlthumbsdown:
Sam used to race an FSR bike - Ironhorse SGS (prior to the DW link)Poor Sam? I don't think he would sign with a bike company if he did not like the frame.
and Intense prior to thatSam used to race an FSR bike - Ironhorse SGS (prior to the DW link)
Wasn't aware of that...and Intense prior to that
When the guy who might be jogging or golfing is riding a FR bike, that's when Trek will spend millions to sponsor a DH rider, like they do for Astana.
Trek worked extremely hard with Shandro to get the new session 88 up to snuff with the rest of the line. If you notice, the new remedy was released about 2 months prior to the 88, Trek was still doing testing with the frame. They originally intended just to redo the session ten, tweaking it to make it lighter and more race friendly. After the application of the ABP and floating link on the EX's and Remedys they completely scrapped the project and moved onto the session 88 platform that is out now.I think it is a culture issue. Trek is in Wisconsin, so not surprisingly they don't nothing about DH. I can't believe how many people brag about their 3 inch XC bike.
But they hired a Manitou suspension guy, Jose Gonzales, built a California test center, and they are more commited to the mountain bike.
Unfortunately, for the DH scene, it looks like they want to develop the 6 inch Remedy before the Session. I think from a sales standpoint, Trail/All-Mountain is more popular, so I hope there will be some trickle-up to the more sophisticated dh bikes.
its kind of a double bladed sword. Yes, its great exposure and having bikes available at multiple price points will allow more riders to join the sport. But with more riders comes more muppets.As for the hate towards trek, it doesn't make any sense to be bashing a company with this much publicity. The more exposure the sport gets, the more resources that will become available to the community.
The sword only has two edges if you're an elitist who doesn't want the sport to grow. More people on downhill bikes=more demand for bike parks and trails catering to this discipline of cycling.its kind of a double bladed sword. Yes, its great exposure and having bikes available at multiple price points will allow more riders to join the sport. But with more riders comes more muppets.
I learned a long time ago not to trust reps about new products and gossip unless they had literature to back it up.I talked to my rep at Trek, and Trek DOES have Sam for next year. Shame he seems so unhappy and is overall an un-personable character; he'll fit in perfectly with all the Trek team road riders.
I'm with you there, we'll have to wait and see. Honestly, it's a bit weird how much attention is being given to this, but whatever makes us all happy is fine by me...I learned a long time ago not to trust reps about new products and gossip unless they had literature to back it up.
I talked to my rep at Trek, and Trek DOES have Sam for next year. Shame he seems so unhappy and is overall an un-personable character; he'll fit in perfectly with all the Trek team road riders.
When I went up and introduced myself to sam at this year's US open he acted like a total pretentious dick to me. Almost "too good" to talk to a lowly fan like myself. So yes, I have met sam, but no, I have not gotten to know him as he didn't seem to want to give me the time of day.This argument is flawed on two points.
I spoke directly with Sam yesterday and he hasn't yet made a decision. So no, Trek DO NOT have Sam, at this point. He may choose them, he may not. He has plenty of offers.
Nor is he an un-personable character. Have you ever met him and got to know him? He is a whole lot more personable than some "golden boys" who vandalise other competitors bikes or trash opposing sponsors equipment. But maybe people think that's tough and worthy of accolates?
Introverted people can sometimes be mistaken for jerks because they don't talk much. Have you ever seen Sam Hill's interviews before? The dude barely says anything and when he does it's so quiet you have to strain to listen, and that's to reporters and regulars on the WC. I don't think it's because he thinks he's too good to talk to people, it's probably because he's uncomfortable talking to people.When I went up and introduced myself to sam at this year's US open he acted like a total pretentious dick to me. Almost "too good" to talk to a lowly fan like myself. So yes, I have met sam, but no, I have not gotten to know him as he didn't seem to want to give me the time of day.