all of a sudden Specialized bikes ?

[masking_agent]

I've been out of the sport for many, many years. I come from the era of NON aero road frames. In my day, specialized was in the sport but they made these geeky helmets and were more into mountain biking than road racing.

But now, I see Specialized bikes everywhere in the Peloton and in other levels of road racing.

What year did they decide to take a serious stab at Road Racing ?

And are they actually committed to Road Racing for the long term ? or is this just another phase of bikes in the peloton.

I'm a little skeptical as I've seen the likes Huffy, Murray, Trek, come and go,..

Does anyone know ?

 

[marathon marke]

I've been out of the sport for many, many years. I come from the era of NON aero road frames. In my day, specialized was in the sport but they made these geeky helmets and were more into mountain biking than road racing.

But now, I see Specialized bikes everywhere in the Peloton and in other levels of road racing.

What year did they decide to take a serious stab at Road Racing ?

And are they actually committed to Road Racing for the long term ? or is this just another phase of bikes in the peloton.

I'm a little skeptical as I've seen the likes Huffy, Murray, Trek, come and go,..

Does anyone know ?

I have a similar background as you. Last (road) bike I had was a steel Cinelli. I pretty much gave up cycling about 20 years ago, but got back into it a couple years ago. I'm now riding a carbon/aluminum Felt. But as far as I know, Specialized has never made anything on their own. Trek, on the other hand, has always been a bike manufacturer, making their own bikes. Although these days, only the top Madones are still made by them.

 

[forty four]

wow you guys are behind actually specialized makes some of the best frames period based on independent testing regarding weight/stiffness cervelos and scotts are great to. treks are quite heavy compared and colnago pinerello etc heavy and outdated it amuses me that people still pay for names when buying frames.

 

[Johnny Rotten]

I'm a little skeptical as I've seen the likes Huffy, Murray, Trek, come and go,..

Does anyone know ?

Trek think Trek has come and gone? hmm Not sure how you come to that conclusion?

I don't own Trek but they have been around for some time and produce a fe nice machines.

As for Specialized, they have been around for a while so who know?

Now you really can't compare a North American Manufacturer to the like of Colnago etc as they sport has been huge in Europe far long than the US.

 

[elapid]

Specialized are not exactly new to road cycling, and seem intent on staying at the forefront of the sport. They sponsored Astana and SaxoBank in 2010 and will be sponsoring HTC-High Road in 2011. Like Cervelo, they want feedback from professional riders for product development. Another indication that they want to be in the forefront of cycling is their support of women's cycling, both professionally and grass roots.

Trek is still relevant in the bike industry, especially with sponsoring professional teams and with US sales. Trek provide bikes for RadioShack this and next year and will sponsor the new Luxembourg Team in 2011.

Forty-Four is a little delirious in writing off anything not carbon or it seems non-US, but Pinarello and Colnago are still fantastic bikes and most would consider at the pinnacle of the sport.

 

[masking_agent]

thanks for the input. I just seem to be looked at funny when I admit my wishes to attain a Colnago C40 over a cervelo, specialized. etc. etc.

 

[elapid]

thanks for the input. I just seem to be looked at funny when I admit my wishes to attain a Colnago C40 over a cervelo, specialized. etc. etc.

Anyone that looks at you funny for wanting a C40 have been sucked in by marketing from the professional peloton. The bikes the professionals ride are great bikes, but they are paid to ride them and only for one year. The majority of bikes provided to the professional peloton are mass produced in Taiwan and have a limited history and tradition compared to European bike makers like Colnago. Regardless, the C40 is a superb, superb bike and many on this forum would rate that as their #1 choice. Just look funny back at those people in the smug knowledge that you have better tastes than them!

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Anyone that looks at you funny for wanting a C40 have been sucked in by marketing from the professional peloton. The bikes the professionals ride are great bikes, but they are paid to ride them and only for one year. The majority of bikes provided to the professional peloton are mass produced in Taiwan and have a limited history and tradition compared to European bike makers like Colnago. Regardless, the C40 is a superb, superb bike and many on this forum would rate that as their #1 choice. Just look funny back at those people in the smug knowledge that you have better tastes than them!

who says this forum has good taste

 

[Anonymous]

I'll take a stab at this. I think Specialized senses big vulnerability at Trek. When Trek intriduced the 2009 Madone, their sales exploded in the US at the expense of, primarily, Specialized . Then comes the AC/LA feud, AC come available... specialized signs on as a "personal" sponsor. Then 2010 is a disaster for LA and the Trek brand (LeMond suit) and Specialized senses a little blood in the water and now has 3 PT teams riding their bikes.

I like a good conspiracy theory.

 

[luckylegs]

IIRC, Specilaized will outfit Saxo Bank, Astana and HTC next year (just to address the Euro-pro teams).

 

[lostintime]

Who knows how these Team deals are made.... under bidding , over bidding , promises under the table ...... the list is endless. Specialized frames are here today for the pros, but could be gone from the peloton as fast as they appeared.

I recall the CSC guys like Cancellara saying how great their Cervelo frames were .... "the best" . The next year, there's Fabian at Paris-Roubaix saying the Specialized frames were "the best". All too funny to observe. Riders are paid to ride whatever they're supplied with. The dumb public thinks because a pro rides X brand, that their frames are so superior and I should buy one! It's just salesmanship, the fuel for pro racing.

 

[LugHugger]

Who knows how these Team deals are made.... under bidding , over bidding , promises under the table ...... the list is endless. Specialized frames are here today for the pros, but could be gone from the peloton as fast as they appeared.

I recall the CSC guys like Cancellara saying how great their Cervelo frames were .... "the best" . The next year, there's Fabian at Paris-Roubaix saying the Specialized frames were "the best". All too funny to observe. Riders are paid to ride whatever they're supplied with. The dumb public thinks because a pro rides X brand, that their frames are so superior and I should buy one! It's just salesmanship, the fuel for pro racing.

yep, I remember Stephen Roche saying that the best bike he rode was the bike he was paid to ride!

Iirc, I saw an article somewhere which said that that when surveyed, the majority of pro's had a colnago and/or a cervelo in the garage paid out of their own pocket. Make of that what you will.

 

[elapid]

IIRC, Specilaized will outfit Saxo Bank, Astana and HTC next year (just to address the Euro-pro teams).

Maybe not SaxoBank. They don't want to be associated with drugs in the sport and may pull out because of Contador.

 

[M Sport]

Maybe not SaxoBank. They don't want to be associated with drugs in the sport and may pull out because of Contador.

I think they're in the wrong game if they don't want to be associated with drugs.

 

[M Sport]

Iirc, I saw an article somewhere which said that that when surveyed, the majority of pro's had a colnago and/or a cervelo in the garage paid out of their own pocket. Make of that what you will.

In my opinion Cervelo would have to be one of the most over rated bikes currently in production, the reliability of the frame is quite frankly pitiful.

 

[LugHugger]

In my opinion Cervelo would have to be one of the most over rated bikes currently in production, the reliability of the frame is quite frankly pitiful.

Yep, i've heard that too re reliability on various forums but never known anybody first-hand who has had a cervelo frame failure.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Trek think Trek has come and gone? hmm Not sure how you come to that conclusion?

I don't own Trek but they have been around for some time and produce a fe nice machines.

As for Specialized, they have been around for a while so who know?

Now you really can't compare a North American Manufacturer to the like of Colnago etc as they sport has been huge in Europe far long than the US.

Specialized is certainly a 'North American Company' but not 'North American' manufacturer. Nothing they sell is made in the US.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Who knows how these Team deals are made.... under bidding , over bidding , promises under the table ...... the list is endless. Specialized frames are here today for the pros, but could be gone from the peloton as fast as they appeared.

I recall the CSC guys like Cancellara saying how great their Cervelo frames were .... "the best" . The next year, there's Fabian at Paris-Roubaix saying the Specialized frames were "the best". All too funny to observe. Riders are paid to ride whatever they're supplied with. The dumb public thinks because a pro rides X brand, that their frames are so superior and I should buy one! It's just salesmanship, the fuel for pro racing.

Like NASCAR..the only thing 'Chevy' on one of those cars is the decal on the hood and the $ that goes to the team...

"win on Sunday, sell on Monday'.

 

[Boeing]

I've been out of the sport for many, many years. I come from the era of NON aero road frames. In my day, specialized was in the sport but they made these geeky helmets and were more into mountain biking than road racing.

But now, I see Specialized bikes everywhere in the Peloton and in other levels of road racing.

What year did they decide to take a serious stab at Road Racing ?

And are they actually committed to Road Racing for the long term ? or is this just another phase of bikes in the peloton.

I'm a little skeptical as I've seen the likes Huffy, Murray, Trek, come and go,..

Does anyone know ?

You have been gone a long time I guess.

they started with the lugged allez in the early eighties. It was a nice spec with Superbe Pro and tubular rims One of the first entry level road race geometry bikes designed to compete with the Italian bikes in the states

 

[M Sport]

Yep, i've heard that too re reliability on various forums but never known anybody first-hand who has had a cervelo frame failure.

Oh I know of two, and of those two one has had multiple failures (under warranty). Even the Cervelo forums are full of failure stories so it's not like they're made up.

 

[masking_agent]

thanks for the all the posts. Yes I have been gone a LONG time.
I think I'll be quite happy with my Colnago C40.

 

[Black Dog]

Anyone that looks at you funny for wanting a C40 have been sucked in by marketing from the professional peloton. The bikes the professionals ride are great bikes, but they are paid to ride them and only for one year. The majority of bikes provided to the professional peloton are mass produced in Taiwan and have a limited history and tradition compared to European bike makers like Colnago. Regardless, the C40 is a superb, superb bike and many on this forum would rate that as their #1 choice. Just look funny back at those people in the smug knowledge that you have better tastes than them!

Ummm...the C-40 has not been made for 19 years. The current model is the C-59. The C stands for Colnago and the number is the age of the company.

 

[masking_agent]

I'm going for the Colnago frame used to sponsor the Rabobank Team. Old, but not 18 years old. A true classic in my mind. I'm not going to opt for the C59 as I don't like "aero frames"

I'm hoping to get this bike, except with Record gruppo

http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/showphoto.php/photo/1042

 

[LugHugger]

Ummm...the C-40 has not been made for 19 years. The current model is the C-59. The C stands for Colnago and the number is the age of the company.

Actually, the c40 is named after the year of Colnago's anniversary. The C40 was still in production as recently as 2004.

A good source of well-researched Colnago info may be found here

 

[LugHugger]

I'm going for the Colnago frame used to sponsor the Rabobank Team. Old, but not 18 years old. A true classic in my mind. I'm not going to opt for the C59 as I don't like "aero frames"

I'm hoping to get this bike, except with Record gruppo

http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/showphoto.php/photo/1042

I'm not sure that the C59 could be considered aero by most measures