WHAT'S NEW
Comments - The Cancellara Crusade
October 25, 2010
As someone who's in the industry, I see two key parts to Cervelo's decision.
First - Perhaps I missed it being mentioned in prior posts but I think that Cervelo's ultimate goal is to sell direct to the consumer via their website. One step in reaching that goal, is for them to get to know their customers intimately - their name, their address, their phone, their email, what they bought, when they bought it etc - rather than more high level data such as model X represents Y% of overall sales. By funnelling all online sales through their site, Cervelo starts to develop a customer list/database (or adds to their current database) which they can leverage in the future. Down the road, they can either open their own stores in selected markets or better & cheaper yet, service their customers through a travelling road show in which they send out a demo truck to an event and fit you on the spot and deliver you a ready to ride bike ala CC. (Think back 20 years ago to when Nike placed "join our mailing list" cards in each of their shoeboxes......their direct to consumer business via the web and Nike branded stores are a large percentage of their overall business) Additionally, CC's success leads Cervelo to believe that its possible for them to be successful. The other part of the equation is the rold of currency exchange rates. Cervelo is a Canadian company, which I would assume, is paid by their dealers in USD. They have watched their profit margin on US sales evaporate through the Canadian dollars move towards parity with the US dollar. While $1 USD = $1.02 CAD now, it was $1.08 CAD a year ago. If my memory serves me correctly, it was worth approximately $1.25 CAD two years ago. With the bleak outlook for the US economy's forseeable future, Cervelo would be forced to substantially raise prices in the US order to recoup some of the profits lost through exchange or decide to change their distribution model......they've changed the model now it will be interesting to see how/if their prices change
- Big Poppa, The Springs
October 25, 2010
The only thing sadder than the domestic doping story is that you had to spend time on Velosnooze.
- Jordan , Portland
October 22, 2010
man people really over analyze the fuck out of everything you write. props to you for keeping yourself. haters gonna hate.
- pat, springfield mo
October 22, 2010
I am so glad you are happy wiht your arrogance. It is really starting to show with those whom I ride with. A good majority of people I ride with love reading this column just to see what kind of over-inflated-ego-boosting things you will write. You guys have done many many things right. Just start taking the high road a few times to help regain the image of respect. The online retail model is going to be a big influencer in the not so distant future. You were the first one's I had seen with any sort of flare or real personality. Just make sure it is good personality that you are tryingt o exude.
- J.S., Raleigh, NC
October 21, 2010
ok- you win, i am back
- Linda, Charleston
October 21, 2010
Two of them, in the same post!
First, the schmuck: "I love the idea of a Cervelo-like ride qualities minus the R3SL pricetag. one suggestion: tell Canyon to get rid of the ".com" I don't understand why it's needed and it somehow reduces the perceived quality of the frame IMO"
and second, this realist: "One other note - for all you the bitchers out there that Cervelo wont sell online. Let's call a spade a spade - are you telling me, for real, that you didn't buy a Cervelo from CC because 1. there is no tax and 2. CC always discounts the price at the end of the year. It's all about money and very little about service. Let's not act like it's something it's not.
- Tom, DC
People aren't stupid. They really can see through some of the marketing b.s. Even when the marketing markets itself as anti-marketing.
- Satan, Hell
October 21, 2010
@dan, I believe he was referring to the effect of the wins Cancellara scored on a Cervelo. Even so, I would stretch the end date of said crusade through the Beijing Olympics where he won the time trial and bridged a healthy gap to the front group in the road race only to (understandably) falter in the sprint. Since then, he's been doing his winning on Specialized bikes.
- Davide, Firenze
October 20, 2010
@Matt in Napa -- That brand exists. CC sells it: Ridley
- Chris, LRAR
October 20, 2010
I'm not suprised the Cervelo magic has faded. Cervelos are fine bikes, but there brand image is suffering some of the effects of their prior success. They have become the new, pardon the cliche, "Dentist" bike.
- Christian, Redding
October 19, 2010
"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle."
ps you're a good man working for a great company selling the most healthy invention, the bicycle.
- ernest hemingway, key west, fl
October 19, 2010
Glad your back riding, I was hit by a car last year in August, total hit and run, woke up in the hoispital room, not good, had massive injuries, and after a couple of weeks I managed to hit the trainer, this was brutal during this time of year, so I can relate with you for sure. Riding a trainer in the winter is miserable, but riding during prime riding season is pure torture - Take Care!!
- Kenny, Santa Fe, New Mexico
October 19, 2010
You are so right, Cancellara is burnt out, what has he won this year ?
- dan , Kansitucky
October 19, 2010
I purchased a Canyon and had it shipped to the US back when they still fulfilled those orders. It's sad to see them compromise on their direct sales mentality. The world doesn't need another Pinarello/Colnago/Wilier, it needs a brand that gives you all of the performance of those brands, sacrifices some of the frills, and leaves you with money left over to pay for race entry fees.
- Matt, Napa, CA
October 19, 2010
Canyon=Focus
- Joe, Portland
October 19, 2010
Frank in Chicago just said it best- look at the mess Trek and Specialized have done with the dealers. Good luck to cervelo- I am sure their business acumen will be spot on (sarcasm). I am betting they will rue the day they left cc (THE on line shop) to try and rake in the dollars.
I hope canyons pricing stays attractive with their entrance into the us market- it is on my short list of frames.
- Fat chance, NYC
October 18, 2010
Sick... those "Valley" bikes are going to be sensational. Good luck. Hope that shoulder heals up completely - there's always winter to ride outdoors.
- Anon, Toronto
October 18, 2010
@Phil W
nice to see you are able to think inside the CC box. Don't try too hard to expand your horizons, you might hurt yourself. But thanks for leaving all the great bike brands outside the CC thought black-hole for the rest of us!
- nacho libre, sans-cashville
October 18, 2010
don't hate the players, hate the game.
- nacho libre, sans-cashville
October 18, 2010
Check out Road Magazine on the iPad, not too shabby either.
- Jorge, San Jose
October 18, 2010
Would've purchased a Cervelo..but now will purchase an Canyon or Bianchi when I decide to upgrade.
- Phil W, LR,AR
October 18, 2010
Hey, hey - if you're going to lift quotes from last week - you need to lift mine. I think it was me who said it's been a few years since their brand was at a high. Nevertheless, you seem to be wanting your cake and eating it to - you write all this intangible goodness of Cervelo and now you slam them only to replace them with, what, Canyon. Are you kidding? For real. Look, Canyon is fine, but there is nothing special about them whatsoever. Of course I am sure your writers will give it the J Petterman treatment and talk about classic wins and the like, but the frames themselves are kind of janky. I mean, jeez, why not do colnago or something cool, but Canyon. Yea, their star is rising, and yea Gilbert is a good rider, but his wins before he was on Lotto were just as good so why not carry Lapierre - or do 50k breakaways not count as epic because it wasn't raining.
One other note - for all you the bitchers out there that Cervelo wont sell online. Let's call a spade a spade - are you telling me, for real, that you didn't buy a Cervelo from CC because 1. there is no tax and 2. CC always discounts the price at the end of the year. It's all about money and very little about service. Let's not act like it's something it's not.
- Tom, DC
October 18, 2010
now the previous What's New post with glowing words for the Canyon are becoming more clear. you were hinting at it all along. I love the idea of a Cervelo-like ride qualities minus the R3SL pricetag. one suggestion: tell Canyon to get rid of the ".com" I don't understand why it's needed and it somehow reduces the perceived quality of the frame IMO
- Andrew, So Cal
October 18, 2010
looking forward to Canyon being available in the States.
- Todd, Camarillo
October 18, 2010
Great move with Canyon, but PLEASE get them to start making a bike that is sized for the 5'5 and below population. Oh, and don't jack up the price, of course.
- Josh, NY
October 18, 2010
Everything ravaged, which works better with the excerpt, not savaged…
- Tom, Alexandria, VA
October 18, 2010
Quite honestly, I cannot understand all this who-hah about some brand acting wierd. Who cares what Vroomen does with his business? His business not yours. And what's with slamming Competetive Cyclist? Anybody remember Nashbar? Anybody know what Trek and Specialized do to all those beloved LBS's? I had worked in a top-level bike shop in the midwest for years and now I live in Europe (for years). I know bicycling. I also know quality and I know business and CC provides both. So, if you have a problem with service, products offered or price, well, then shut the phaq up and take your money elsewhere. You (as well as we) will be glad you did.
- Frank, Chicago
October 18, 2010
ouuuuu Canyon, good one !
- le matos, montreal
October 18, 2010
In response to the reader who said, " I have been leaning away from CC for a while now. Nail meet coffin", I would welcome any suggestions because I still have not found m(any) that come close to matching the range and quality of items and CC's commitment to customer service. Stop reading "What's New", and be thankful they exist for what they bring the community - on line - and that's with no direspect to my LBS.
- Bruce, Acton
October 18, 2010
add me as another supporter of CC + Canyon - their star is rising over on this side of the ocean. And also +1 on the "indoor riding hell" - just one week after collarbone reassembly, I am actually looking forward to being able to spend 1-4 hours on my trainer. Even that would be an improvement to re-reading cycling news on my couch.
- Rich, Mill Valley, CA
October 18, 2010
I asked the Gilbert sled manufacturer back in February, alright so I was pestering and begged the Gilbert sled manufacturer back in February when they'd have a US presence. The emails I got back from the manufacturer indicated whoever they were working with before for support stateside didn't exactly meet their expectations. One point they were really driving home was the end to end service. Oh and I don't know any Linda.
- spokejunky, Charleston
October 18, 2010
Canyons are very hot and (hopefully in the US) will be reasonably affordable. I'm looking forward to see what happens next.
- Zach, Chicago
October 18, 2010
It's nice to see you think so highly of the us pro circuit and us pro cycling. Perhaps I skipped something in this rounds sarcasm but it's big of you to make non doping domestic professional cyclists feel like a joke.
- -us domestic pro, California
October 18, 2010
I'm digging the Canyon especially if their top range bike, which includes HS/Post/Stem, retails for the $2300 or so the current exchange rate has it pegged at. Somehow my feeling is that will not be the case and perhaps it's "worth" more based on the market (ie R3, Supersix, SL3, Etc), but if it stayed at that price I would think it would fly off the shelves....Just lose the website address on the downtube and put it somewhere else. They have good enough SEO when you google canyon bikes
- Dan, Woodstock, VT
October 18, 2010
Hmmm - I think I sniff a Canyon deal in the air. The UK version is about to go live as well. Great bikes, German design, good pricing = smart move Comp Cyclist.
- Jonathan, Brighton, UK
October 17, 2010
Canyon? Good luck with that.
- John, Tampa
October 17, 2010
Being a current Cervelo R3-SL rider, I'm not happy either their future sales arrangement. I've always thought they were a forward-looking company, but if the path is to directly compete with Trek and Specialized at the LBS level, have at it.
On the other hand, look forward CC carrying another bike company who's name also begins with a C. Perhaps it is time to make room for an Ultimate CF Pro in the stable.
- Syd, Houston
October 17, 2010
Yeti had those colors prior to Astana by at least ten years...
- Steven, Los Altos
October 17, 2010
Are you referring to the Zinio iPad app? NTY. // Canyon? // I knew a local pro rumored to juice. My reaction at the time was, Why? // Being relegated to the indoor is a special sort of Hell. I'm in it now.
- Matthew, Undisclosed, OC
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