Fall from grace

[bigdawg]

how did gt & cannondale manage it in the 90's..?? I appreciate a lot were from mexico (i think) but still 'handmade in the USA' sold a lot of bikes...

 

[brocklanders023]

Railway stations aside top thread.

Cycling as a brand has fallen from grace simply because it is a corporate affair now rather than enthusiast backed.

Not really, I'm sure when Raleigh were churning out more bicycles than anyone else in the world (and the sun never set on the Empire etc etc) they weren't in it 100% for the love.

To comment on some of the brands mentioned

GT - definite contender. Not sure what happened towards the end exactly (know we have some on here pretty close to GT so perhaps they can comment) but being bought out be Pacific late 90s really started the spiral. I suspect GT over stretched themselves in the 90s thinking the mtb bubble would never burst.

Raleigh - the days of Raleigh specialist dealers and everyone owning one or more in their time are long gone. They're even in Halfords Like most British industry though the seeds for their demise were sown over decades not months. From what I've read probably the biggest issue for the brand (which is also to be applauded I guess) was their continuation of UK manufacturing. How can they compete at the volume end paying UK labour rates? At least the brand is back out there now though.

Kona - who cares? My view on this brand has stayed constant despite them being in Halfords.

Bontrager - about the only brand I think has done well from Trek. KB did well to jump ship when he did, surely as history will tell the days of the steel hardtail as the default ride for the masses was ending.

Klein - whilst the halo remains around the pre-Trek offering everything after was tarnished a little. As for now? Do they even make anything with a klein logo? And what does Gary Klein do?

Suntour - their top end stuff was ok but shimano killed them on the low and mid range stuff (i.e. the volume stuff, the stuff that pays the bills). Their demise as a major player was inevitable.

And finally onto Halfords. Know a lot of people I worked with during my breif soujourn in 'the trade' now worked for Halfords, some pretty knowledgable people. Although I doubt any of them will be able to use their knowledge of aende l-shaped cranks selling carrera krakens. Unfortunately the big retailers (be it the superstore or website) killing the small local retailer is played out in many many secotrs. Do you support your LBS? Or do you use one of the online retailers?

What I was thinking John, written far better then I would have done.

IMO any brand that's been snapped up by a large company has lost it's way. Does anyone have an example of where this isn't the case?

As for other parts, I'd throw Manitou in to the mix. BITD one of the 'big 3'. Would any of you buy a pair of their forks now?

 

[legrandefromage]

Unfortunately, the only cyclists I see round here are commuters and Boardmans with the accessories section of Halfords thrown at them.

 

[IDB1]

Do you support your LBS? Or do you use one of the online retailers?

I tried my LBS and they were . .
1. not too helpful/knowledgable
2. (when I'd waited to speak to the chap I knew) not very aware/interested in MTB's or old (read: retro) things..

So I use online mostly.
Every time I go into Halfords (for something) I come out empty handed :?

 

[FluffyChicken]

..
As for other parts, I'd throw Manitou in to the mix. BITD one of the 'big 3'. Would any of you buy a pair of their forks now?

Interesting this one, as they had already become 'Answer' by the time they became properly known

RockShox on the other hand as far as I can see where saved by another BiTD company that have not half done bad for themsleves, SRAM.

.

 

[kaiser]

I've read 2 recent reviews of Manitou Minutes (26"+29") and both were favourable. I think there was a bad spell a few years back but Rock Shox were the same too.

 

[andrewl]

Has anyone mentioned Pace yet?? - read through the thread and didn't seem them mentioned.

They made some great frames and forks once upon a time, but what do they make now??

 

[bigdawg]

some quite badly designed frames if you read the comments on singletrack...

 

[bigdawg]

but then werent the old RC series prone to cracking around the seatposts??

 

[john]

Do you support your LBS? Or do you use one of the online retailers?

I tried my LBS and they were . .
1. not too helpful/knowledgable
2. (when I'd waited to speak to the chap I knew) not very aware/interested in MTB's or old (read: retro) things..

So I use online mostly.
Every time I go into Halfords (for something) I come out empty handed :?

That comment wasn't aimed at yourself or anyone in particular. It's also way off topic. My point was more that often the same people who bemoan the demise of their LBS rarely use it, favouring instead the cheaper online retailers....