Trek ends relationship with Lemond

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

I won't buy a frame from a large company. I don't see a reason to do so at the high end. Most of the companies do their manufacturing in asia, yet they want to charge the same amount as a frame made in the U.S. by a small builder. I look at it as ripping off the customer. Why the fark would anyone buy a top end Specialized when for the same price you can buy a custom Parlee or Moots, made by people you can talk to before its built to your specification and those people make a living wage?

And I don't understand Trek's has naming strategy at all. It seems like nearly every bike they make is some variation of "Madone." Plus they now look like knockoffs of Giant frames.

Come to think of it, Trek has lost some of their desireability over the last few years. They have become so successful that their bikes are too common. I am sure they are making a killing in the low and mid-level markets, but at the high end they are no longer lustworthy. The people who previously would have bought high end Treks are now buying Cervelos and such.

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

Interesting that they are using a mentality from about 2005 to view the situation. Most of the serious fans who were pissed off about Lemond have been forced to acknowledge that he was right. My gut feeling is that Lemond has garnered a lot of respect recently as Hamilton, Landis, Heras, OP, et cetera have been revealed. He is on the up. Armstrong, as he tries to disconnect himself from pro cycling, is sinking.

This might be a good time to get away from Trek.

Originally Posted by Bro Deal

I would not be surprised if Lemond has his own set of saved e-mails from Trek...

Originally Posted by thoughtforfood

Read this shit: http://www.trekbikes.com/pdf/media/...k_PPT_FINAL.pdf
This is the presentation Trek made to its employees. What a fucking joke.

Originally Posted by thoughtforfood

Originally Posted by fscyclist

Maybe I overstate things on occasion.... I was a roadie long before the MTB scene exploded then died. I enjoy MTB'ing but am a roadie at heart. Not a fan of the MTB crossover racers, if you haven't noticed. Their technique is abysmal, they have a habit of sucking wheels, staring at their front wheel when they climb, and of course the incessant whining.

I strongly considered a Pegoretti for my last frame as he makes some sweet steel bikes, but I never liked his paint schemes. There are some good framebuilders in the US and I've always liked Waterfords, especially when they were making Paramounts back in the day. I'm a little partial to Italian frames, though, as you need some style in addition to performance.

Originally Posted by kennf

Yeah, that slide show pissed me off. Nice use of "anonymous" e-mails in a published presentation.

Originally Posted by thoughtforfood

Agree completely.

There are some amazing companies building bikes in the US and Canada, spend the same money and buy one if you are in the market.

I got my Alibi in the late '90's when I called Ibis one day to see if they had an employee purchase program for bike shop employees who worked for a shop that didn't carry their line in-house.(we had ordered) I talked to one of the guys, and he told me about this one-off Alibi they had that was painted "young asparagus" and that they would sell it to me for the employee discount. Well, it took me about 1 second to decide. He had me at "young asparagus." That bike looks better with dirt on it than any bike I have ever ridden.

I also have a Brew hardtail that rides amazingly well after all these years.

Give me custom or give me Lazyboy!

Originally Posted by huboon

The last frame is priceless. All the Trek employees are so happy that Evil Greg is gone. It truly is a great day!