WHAT'S NEW
Comments - Q&A: The Trek Edition
April 06, 2009
I would like to buy a pair of womens medium Assos cycling shorts, where may I find them in Reno,NV?
- Hope, Reno
January 21, 2009
This is an interesting point. However, I will have to disagree. Bike shops, although many are not very competant, should be able to offer service before and after the sale. Internet companies can offer support before the sale, but can't offer much after the sale. If your bike does not fit right, or is the wrong size, your local shop can take a quick look at you, and at you on the bike and make the approperate suggestions as to size and fit. If your internet sales company is in some other size, this support is not possible. Further, big bike brands have a huge liability. When a bike is boxed and sent to you, you need to put it together. Although it may sound stupid, many people put the right pedal on the left side. Then there is a warranty question. This is where a shop puts the bike together and makes sure all is well before you leave the shop. Again, assuming a competant shop. You can leave with your bike and ride out the front door. Lastly, online beats sales tax. Looking at the economy right now, that is about to change. So the savings that you see online will quickly dissapear. So, I am not saying that online sales do not have their place, but I am saying that there is nothing like going down to your local competant bike shop to find local trails, local rides, locals to ride with, and a connection with the local shop to get those fixes done to your bike that you can't do, that includes warranty issues. If your shop is willing and able to take care of you and your bike, why would you shop online? My guess is mainly for the discount, which is looking like that will dissapear soon.
Last point. I know that when I was racing, I ended up buying all my parts online. Why? Because all of the shops in my area 20ish years ago were not friendly, or helpfull. Every time I would walk into a shop, I would have to yell for service, and then I was talked down to. Even after I proved myself, and raced cat 2, I still got talked down to by the locals. So why should I buy locally. I understand this. Infact, the online stores were friendlier, and more helpfull than the locals. This is where the locals have to change, or they will loose out, especially in the current economic position our country is in. So, check your local shops, and if they don't help, then buy online.
Rich Staley
Great Basin Bicycles
Reno NV.
- Rich, Reno
January 18, 2009
My LBS-bought Trek's frame broke after only a few months. Less than two weeks later I was on a factory-fresh replacement. No hassle or arguing. Try that with your Colnago...they break too you know.
- David, Winnipeg
November 21, 2008
"We have zero hesitancy to say it: Trek bikes are outstanding"
You guys will say anything to sell a bike, especially in this climate...I recall a conversation with someone at CC giving me grief I had a Trek and not a Cervelo, and it wasn't tongue in cheek. Lemmings!
All that aside, it really is the engine and not the chassis, paraphrasing of course, but who said that?
Regards
- David, Calgary
November 21, 2008
CC Writers, All:
I've worked in the industry off and on since the mid-80s, and seen a lot of changes: the owner of the small independent shop I first stepped foot in ("refutably not the worst shop in town" claimed their logo) some years later going to head up tech for the big P folks who had set up shop one town over; or another LBO that left the Performance catalog on the counter, then worked behind the scenes to leverage good deals at Interbike and elsewhere on a unique blend of bikes and accessories; or another that wouldn't--and still won't--install aftermarket items not bought in-store (with some rare exceptions).
Local shops have been slow to market themselves on the sheer value of their local, on-the-ground, knowledge and presence. On the knowledge aspect, businesses like your own can compete well with the local shop, and lend a thinking voice to the industry (cf. this column). However, the other critical part of the equation--presence--can't be replaced, and is itself a powerful business tool. See this from the latest NBDA e-newsletter, touting upcoming conferences:
"BICYCLE ADVOCACY, BIKE DEALERS, AND PROFITABILITY
Jay Graves, The Bike Gallery, Portland, OR
YOU WILL LEARN:
- To become involved in bicycle advocacy to not only support bicycle use, but also increase sales and profits
- How to work more closely with local clubs and the government to make the world a better place for bikes
- Jay's story of successful involvement with advocacy, and how it has benefited his 6-store business"
Even given some trenchant points you make, if more LBOs were to lay claim to these two potentially powerful resources already at their disposal, the LBO model still comes out ahead--even taking into account the other challenges it may face from within and without the industry itself.
Sincerely,
DAJ
Nashville, TN
- DAJ, Nashville, TN
November 20, 2008
trek in the uk recently stopped any sales via the internet - if you want a trek bike, you have to collect it in person from an accredited trek dealer. if a dealer offers sales via the internet, the bike still has to be collected from the shop.
surely if competitive cyclist became a trek dealer, this would fly in the face if such a diktat from trek? or are the rules different in the usa (quite why you would drop colnago to take on trek is beyond me)
- brian palmer, isle of islay
November 20, 2008
Wow Nice endorsement for The Madone, I have been thinking of doing a custom bike and just realized that Trek has a custom program called project one,
I can choose color and parts (including Campy)
Now I have a tough choice between Pinarello or Trek,
It might come down to some intasinct as customer service or warranty......
- Barth Eberwitz, Boston
November 20, 2008
Trek? Yeah, and maybe CC can sell some of them there LeMond Saddlebags, y'know, the neon green ones...just like K-Mart.
- Paddy, Frankfurt
November 20, 2008
Is there a problem with the supply of Assos?
I've been waiting to scoop up a long sleeve jersey in SMALL for ever! The ship date just keeps getting pushed back.
- E-Rock, Illinois
November 19, 2008
I called you on the phone to talk about a C50 and was told that Colnago no longer held the appeal it once did and there were other companies with better product and more "desirable"..........yeah....well trek ain't it and I bought my C50 online elsewhere. I malso bought my record group online from Europe at half the cost. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
- Tim, Chicago
November 18, 2008
I am very sorry to see you have dropped Colnago. I have two and have had other Colnagos since 1976. They are one of my favorite bikes. That said, I also have a Pinarello Paris I bought from Competitive Cyclist and it is a great bike also, but different ride characteristics than Colnago.
- Richard, Scottsdale, AZ
November 18, 2008
I am a small shop owner and could write a book on struggling in a small market.This was one of the most interesting business reads I've come across.Many good points but also keep in mind the liabilities of selling direct to the "unwashed masses" and not routing the sales and assembly through an insured dealer.Not so much an issue in the high end market.People are funny about what makes them purchase and some folks just think its cool and your getting a better deal online but my point is I'd rather have 10 new cyclists sporting nice bikes and using my shop for parts and service.The carrying costs of stocking these bikes is killing me and I'd be glad to share that with CC.
- Mike, Yucca Valley,CA
November 18, 2008
cc writer:::
sorry, bourbon is not derived fr grapes (maybe barolo from boonesfarm would be a better analogy) u guys on the arkansas river are 'usually on top of it'. LMAO.
i am running steel by LeMond w/bonti raceXlites...what is the story behind the company in wisconsin??????
~ dutcher
- john, philada
November 18, 2008
I met a girl riding 105 at a bike camp last year, and she was kicking half the guys butts. Kuddos to cyclists riding cheap gruppos and bikes and still going ripping fast. But I still love teasing my friend riding a triple chainring sora...
p.s. I feel like CC would loose some of it's "panache" by selling Trek... Mainstream sucks.
- Dave, Montreal
November 18, 2008
Despite the problems of all business and the high end bike business right now, I'm with those who think we need local bike shops more than slightly cheaper or more customized high-end Trek bikes. My local shop is a franchised Trek, Specialized and Giant dealer in a small town. No one is getting rich there, even in good times. Wal-Mart and the like kill them on the mainstay of the business: cheap kids' bikes. I don't know what I'd do without someone there to wrench my three bikes frequently. I try to order parts and clothing through them, especially since Quality (the wholesale jobber most shops use) is making it easier for the average bike shop to get high end stuff like, e.g., Assos, without it being an epic saga and delay that makes you wish you'd just quietly mail ordered and just not mentioned your new swag down at the shop.
I think there's still a place for local bike shops and they need to be the franchised dealers to make the thing work and fend off their major competitors, Wal-Mart, Toy's 'R Us and similar big box retailers. You guys will do just fine too, after the general economy recovers, anyway...
- Jack, Glens Falls NY
November 18, 2008
isn't RA Cycles now selling Trek on line?
- AJ, TAMPA
November 18, 2008
I would love it for you guys to be Trek dealers. Amazing bikes, that are very underrated. My Madone 5.9 SL is unbelievable.
- Ed, Richmond, VA
November 18, 2008
One reason you didn't mention why Trek and other large dealers won't do online sales is not only fear from their current business model but they also want to support the independent bicycle dealer (IBD) which is why the bike industry exists in the first place. I shop online which is why I am reading this in the first place, but I also support my local bike shop. Local shops are the backbone of the cycling community, a place that will lend you a tube when you are stuck and need to get home, a place that where group rides meet, a place that sponsors a local team, local races, bike to work day and so many other community events. Without local shops many pros would not have had a place to start racing. While many bicycle deals have people who don't know a damm thing about bikes, many have competent people that can fit you to a very specialized piece of equipment. They will be there to adjust things when cables stretch out and go out of their way to help you by swapping out a saddle when it hurts your ass.
The local shop is very much needed and I hope there are many around to loan me a Gu when I am bonked and have no money.
- Sean, Berkekely
November 17, 2008
Even though the economy may be crashing faster than Zabriskie in a grand tour, gas prices this year allowed Trek and Specialized to have record years. I'd expect them to go public before they'd change their sales model. Felt doesn't have the same deep pockets that those other two do and now that Cannondale is within Norel's grasp...well I guess we'll have to wait and see. Giant on the other hand has really no reason to sell online, as they own the asian carbon fiber frame market. I have no idea of who's frames they're making, but I would bet the word "most" would be a good start.
- Brent, Madison, WI
November 16, 2008
Trek= McDonald's
Pegorreti= Fine Italian ristorante with outstanding chef
Yeah, either one of 'em will fill up my cake-hole but I sure know which one I (and my digestive tract) prefer.
Instead of Trek (or one of the other McBike companies) how about taking on some more "fine dining" brands? Think about what a bold statement that would be what with the economy in free-fall :-)
Seriously, it is too bad that there aren't more mainstream e-commerce outlets for some of the other small-builder artisans out there.
- PawleeWalnutz, NYC
November 16, 2008
you should caarry more easton products like their aerobars.
and more companies should make nice aluminium frames, alu is a great frame material, its still,stiff and cheap. the carbon trend is cool and all but dont forget alu.
- canada, BC
November 15, 2008
I have been reading you blog here for quite some time and will tell you that your website is the benchmark for what any retail website should be, now with our own blog and feedback, fantastic. I love every blog you wrote and loved them all except the Garmin Apology, its your blog god dammit, you never need to apologize to anyone! You spoke your mind that that was that.
- GA, FL
November 15, 2008
"The Madone is as sweet as PRO road bikes get. "
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps the way this will all play out is that Trek will cut their line(s) in two pieces, one up and the other down. CC, God forbid, and a select few other dealers (read Mellow Johnny's, et al) will handle rigs/frames over a certain price point, and the rest of the dealer network will handle rigs/frames below that.
That said, nothing anyone says about Trek will convince me that their bikes belong in the CC stable. Lance or no Lance. It's all win (Trek) lose (CC), I'm afraid.
For what it's worth, I feel similarly about Specialized. My recommendation is only do it to save your a**. Otherwise, stick with what got you here.
- Matthew, People's Republic of Boulder
November 15, 2008
your blogs are great.....There is a bit of buzz that internet purchase sales tax will gain traction and would be interesting to ponder how this might affect online or direct to consumer purchasing vs retail ???
Trek has advocated that a good way to continue to grow is to promote trail access, I couldn't agree more with this idea. When there are more trails, road or off-road in an area more people want to ride them and thus need the equipment to use these trails.....they see commuter bikes as a huge area for growth.......again I think they are correct if there is the infrastructure to safely bike commute......I haven't seen online retailers capitalize on this, but local retailers seem to be really thinkig about it........I think the use of carbon fiber frames has produced a nice spike in road bike sales, but now once you own a nice carbon frame it is hard to justify a new more expensive and slightly lighter/better frame, so it seems more expensive more hightech frames aren't going to driver sales very well in the near future.........the high end bikes are all soo good the differences from one to another are so small that I think savy comsumers may look to other reasons to choose one brand or another......
so if a particular retailer/brand made significant contributions to new trails in my area that would go a long long long way to building brand/shop loyalty from my perespective......as a high end bike consumer I have purchased from every bike shop in town, a number of different online retailers........while you guys have arguably got the best online presence, web site and great product insight and commentary, retail interaction has felt just a bit awkward, I wonder if your new location will be more retail friendly ??.........but at other shops in town the in house expereince is a bit hit or miss, being a higher end consumer the technical detail and knowledge and interest is usually lacking....and I must admit being a bit of a bike snob and feel a bit of aggravation when competing for face time with a shop employee helping a customer understand the difference between a road bike and hybrid bike.....sometimes I just feel like i need a class on how to be a better bike consumer and find a way to feel like my needs as a bike consumer are being met in the most adequate way possible...........
- Wes, Little Rock, Ar
November 15, 2008
This makes you sound desperate. Is business really that bad?
- JM, FL
November 14, 2008
1200 bucks for oan OVAL aerobar, you gotta be kidding! thats fucking ridiculous, my first road bike that was specd with dura ace and ultegra a couple years ago was 1200 bucks!
whoever makes the prices up are jokes!and whoever buys those bars , besides cadel evans it seems, are complete idiots. you crash and the handlebars hit the ground first and with carbon, even if there no no apparent cracks blah blah blah, you still gotta chuck them or ride them at your own risk, you crash and there a high likelyhood theres 1200 bucks gone, just so you could impress th e guys at the local weekly TT. dumb arses.
spend it on something that will make you faster, like a training camp in spain.
- AM, alberta
November 14, 2008
do you sell ipods? i think they make a good cycling product, the are euro. and white.
- kingsley, pemberton,canada
November 14, 2008
hallo, i am from bruges in Belgium and i read in HET VOLK that cadel had pronlems with his equipment , true? i cannot see why not a rpo cant rely on sponsors to provide, that is bad. hope you gave him some nicest product!
- wim van peit, bruges, Belgium
November 14, 2008
ca you tell us what exactly Cadel bought? i hear some people on the club ride saying it was a whole frame/fork and soem saying it was just a aerobar. anywho props on the clientèle!
- danny adams, wenatchee
November 14, 2008
excellent article on the current state or retailing. but i would like to hear your thoughts on how cc will compete against the agressive british sites (probike,wiggle,crcycles). free shipping and price ~40-50% lower.....
- jb, montreal
November 14, 2008
hahah cool that 2nd place riders like cadel use you guys! you gave him a good deal right! ahah now you can tell folks you are the shop of pros, now just wait for lance to buy some lightweights of you.
- perry wethreck, madison
November 14, 2008
cool blog guys, great site too look at bike porn
- fred doecsh, long island
November 14, 2008
hahah funny soemone else mentioned what Cadel said, i read the same thing on cyclingfans.com that he went to you guys to buy stuff...funny how they prolly cost more than his cheap aero frame from 07 tour.
- eric boulne, solvang
November 14, 2008
hey,
i saw an article online sayign that cadel evans bought directly from you guys some oval aerobars? what the heck, doesnt the team provide it? he said that they ran out of his fave extensions " so i resorted to an american oval dealer online,comp cyclist" wow
- jerry withers, Arizona
November 13, 2008
i love the fact that you've turned this "what's new" section into your personal blog. reading your entries allows us great insight into what it's like to run a successful bike shop, something that most of us readers i'm sure dream of doing some day...
- Sam, Chicago Area, IL
November 13, 2008
One difference between bikes and your Banana Republic pants: pants do not require assembly. And if they get into the hands of novice wearer who let's say, wears them backwards, the consequences are small compared to the risks of a novice rider going it alone with a new bike. The bike businesses experience with liability suits (over quick release wheels and lights) in the 90s pretty much rule out a direct to consumer approach. Online sales via a retail such as CC is a different story. I believe Specialized did test online sales at one point but were beat back by mutiny amongst the retailers.
- Greg, NYC
November 13, 2008
Just because I ride 105 or *gasp* a mix of Sora/Tiagra/105 on my Cannondale doesn't make me any less of a cyclist. There's nothing wrong with some pride in your own bike, but to look down upon us 'gruppo-unfortunate' riders with disgust is shameful.
- Matthew, Montreal (Canada)
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