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#1
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
After not having a bike for many many years, I am about to buy a new
one. It is for general riding in London, commuting and some long rides e.g. in the Cotswolds. Almost all on road but perhaps some off road on reasonable tracks. I am not bothered about suspension but would like to have SPD type pedals with an option for normal shoes. For £599 I was offered a Trek 7500 FX with non-suspension forks and wheels that have more spokes than the website version (to suit city roads), plus dual use pedals (suitable for spd and normal shoes) and a rear luggage rack. The bike is shown on the manufacturer web page: http://www.trekbike.co.uk/bikes/2004/city/fx/7500.php A friend that has been bugging me to get a bike said he has that frame and that it was good. He said I should take a look at the equivalent Marin. I suppose he must mean the San Anselmo £595 http://www.marin.co.uk/marin-2004/bi...php?ModNo=2456 or the Lucas Valley £599 http://www.marin.co.uk/marin-2004/bi...php?ModNo=2460 I was an enthusiastic cyclist in my younger days and even entered a couple of races. I have done a fair amount of cycling in recent times (including African mountains and deserts) but only on borrowed or hired bikes. Now that I have to make a purchase decision, I am now astonished about how technology and the market has changed. The bike shops are now dominated by bikes from American companies. In addition to the Trek, I was also offered Cannondale and Specialized but they were even worse from my point of view because they had big markings boasting about the fact that they were American and/or made there. I would like to be able to consider a non-US bike if possible without compromising value for money. I know that specification is not everything, so I will try riding the options before buying. I am fairly comfortable with the idea of going to a 'proper bike shop' to get good after sales tweaking but I want to get the basic decision close to ideal. What do you guys think of what I have been offered? Are they really the best value, or is there another make (model suggestion would help too) from another country that I should consider? Surely America cannot have the entire market sewn up. If anyone has a good second hand one I might consider it too. Many thanks |
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#2
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
Jo Stoller wrote:
Many thanks Orange: http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/main/main.php Dawes: http://www.dawescycles.com/ Orbit: http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/ Edinburgh Co-op: http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/ YMMV WRT price. |
#3
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
If you want a good value bike - try
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/ Their own brand bikes get consistently good reviews as being exceptionally good value for money. Also consider Dawes bikes. The Discovery range is good value. Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune **$om $ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- |
#4
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
Simonb wrote:
Jo Stoller wrote: Many thanks Orange: http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/main/main.php Dawes: http://www.dawescycles.com/ Orbit: http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/ Edinburgh Co-op: http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/ The Orion City 2x9 looks good at £495: http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/orion3.shtml |
#5
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
On 14 Jun 2004 13:25:30 -0700, (Jo Stoller)
wrote: Are they really the best value, or is there another make (model suggestion would help too) from another country that I should consider? My bikes (ie last bike(crashed) and last bike but one(stolen)) usually come from Ridgeback who can be found at http://www.ridgebackbikes.co.uk/. They don't actually build frames in the UK but I don't think many people do these days, with the exception of custom builds. They are, however, refreshingly not Merkin. I was happy with both Ridgebacks that I owned. |
#6
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
On 14 Jun 2004 20:41:50 GMT, dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers
wrote: If you want a good value bike - try http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/ Their own brand bikes get consistently good reviews as being exceptionally good value for money. Also consider Dawes bikes. The Discovery range is good value. Seconded. Just got a Discovery 201. Very happy with it compared to my old Carrera Crossfire. I'm not sure just how British their bikes are anymore, though. Frink -- Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail' See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/ Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook "No sir, I didn't like it!" - Mr Horse |
#7
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
Doctor J. Frink wrote:
I'm not sure just how British their bikes are anymore, though. Confirmed by my LBS -- Fort (Czech Republic) makes the Dawes Audax frame. But most US frames are made in TW anyway. |
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
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#9
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 21:56:43 +0000 (UTC), paul
wrote: price point. Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) Is that comparison made on their market share, or the quality of their products (or both)? There's certainly nothing wrong with dominating a market if you're producing good stuff, but not if you abuse the position to keep down those that would. Frink -- Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail' See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/ Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook "No sir, I didn't like it!" - Mr Horse |
#10
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Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?
in message , Jo Stoller
') wrote: After not having a bike for many many years, I am about to buy a new one. It is for general riding in London, commuting and some long rides e.g. in the Cotswolds. Almost all on road but perhaps some off road on reasonable tracks. I am not bothered about suspension but would like to have SPD type pedals with an option for normal shoes. The bike shops are now dominated by bikes from American companies. In addition to the Trek, I was also offered Cannondale and Specialized but they were even worse from my point of view because they had big markings boasting about the fact that they were American and/or made there. I would like to be able to consider a non-US bike if possible without compromising value for money. There are actually plenty of good non-US manufacturers, but, unless you're prejudiced (and I know people who are) many of the big American brands do offer good value for money. Of UK-built bikes in the sort of robust hybrid category you're thinking of Dawes and Orange are names to consider (but beware that the low-end models in each range have frames made in Taiwan). If you're prepared to consider European as well, Nicolai make bikes at least as good as the best of the big American brands. And there are many others. What do you guys think of what I have been offered? Are they really the best value, or is there another make (model suggestion would help too) from another country that I should consider? Best value for a robust but performant hybrid is probably the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op's Revolution Courier (frame made in Taiwan, I believe, but to EBC's design). -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ ;; "If I were a Microsoft Public Relations person, I would probably ;; be sobbing on a desk right now" -- Rob Miller, editor, /. |
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