Brand Affinity and New Bike!

[mythste]

Wow, Thanks for all the replies, I certainly have a lot to think about!

So, I think its clear that its going to be worth keeping my SS. I do love her and I like the idea of still being able to go on summer/city jaunts etc without having to gear up. Speaking of, is it going to be entirely sacrilegious to get a road bike without clipless pedals? Just the idea of them scares the bejesus out of me.

Really appreciate the list of British brands, though I have to say, I'm really not particularly bothered about where the company is based, for me its about not putting another Spesh on the road and finding something that really inspires me to get out as a part of design.

List so far,

Charge Plug 3 - Has my heart, but not as high performance as some of the others on this list
Charge Plug 4 - Pushing the budget a bit but from the research the upgraded gearing system (mech?) might be worth the difference?
Genesis Equillibrium 10 - Again, top end of budget, but beautiful bike, can I justify spending that much when there is Carbon to be had?
Giant Defy 2 - I know, this pretty much goes against everything I've said above, but probably the "safest" bet on this list...
Felt Z85 - Looks almost a bit too good to be true, tell me why it is?

 

[vickster]

No need to wear clipless pedals, but you may find them more efficient over long distances when you don't have to stop and start

Felt = not British... Just not a popular makde, not many LBS sell them, decent enough but frames not as good as the global big boys by all account

I have carbon and steel...725 steel more comfortable IMO and just as quick without guards and rack

Carbon is to quote @smokeysmoo 'just another frame material'

 

[fossala]

Don't get a Specialized if you like the British brands...all my bikes are from UK companies, it's a good place to be

But genesis (madison) and eastway are Taiwan bikes as are specialized. They both exploit cheap labor to make larger margins for the capitalist share holders. If you really valued having a British bike you would buy one made in Britain. /rant

EDIT: I am lucky and have 5 bikes and they where all made in Britain by British companies.
Moulton APB, Moulton TSR, Brompton, Dawes Ranger and an Orbit tandem.

 

[vickster]

The companies are UK registered and headquartered (St Leonards on Sea, Newbury, Sutton)....the bikes were put together in the UK, the marketing team are in the UK, their design teams, their sales teams, their tea lady, their admin, so are their customer service teams, their offices

Do Whyte/Pearson/Genesis have share holders? I think they are all private companies, no? I'm a capitalist, I am happy for people to make money...I'd rather, when it comes to bikes, where I have the option, that they are UK based

I can't justify a fully bespoke UK bike or I would...even then the bikes would use components manufactured overseas presumably...so I have to settle for the next best option.

 

[Drago]

Felt = not British... Just not a popular makde, not many LBS sell them, decent enough but frames not as good as the global big boys by all account
'

Indeed, Felt are a US firm and American manufacturered frames, so while not British is a change from the usual diet of Taiwanese and Malaysian made frames that the bulk of manufacturers tote our way.

And having ridden Ribble, CAAD, Defy, Culebro, Allez and F series all in the same week of August the F was by some margin the best frame (although I feel the Defyand CAAD ran it close), at least for a person of my orangutang like dimensions. The power transfer, ride, steering and comfort were the 4 areas I was examining, and it beat all comers in each category. Weight was something didn't evaluate as its difficult to genuinely compare when all bikes wore different bling, and a pretty pointless exercise with a 255lb rider.

 

[mythste]

But genesis (madison) and eastway are Taiwan bikes as are specialized. They both exploit cheap labor to make larger margins for the capitalist share holders. If you really valued having a British bike you would buy one made in Britain. /rant

EDIT: I am lucky and have 5 bikes and they where all made in Britain by British companies.
Moulton APB, Moulton TSR, Brompton, Dawes Ranger and an Orbit tandem.

I re-iterate, I'm not particularly bothered where the bike is was made, I just like good value and style!

 

[vickster]

Value - cheap? Then the smaller UK brands may be less applicable, less buying power = same cost, cheaper components (although that doesn't seem to hold true for Specialized and Trek )

Have to pay for style (although again IMO that doesn't seem to hold true for Specialized )

 

[mythste]

Oh goodness no, I certainly don't like cheap. and thats definitely not what I mean by value.

Looking at componentry it's actually looking like the more expensive Giant Defy 1 or 0 are offering the best value in terms of componentry etc.

 

[Cycleops]

If you like steel how about a Kona Honky Tonkin, stupid name but nice bike. They also do the Kapu but it's sixteen hundred quid, which is why I'm saving!
http://www.konaworld.com/honky_tonk.cfm

 

[SteCenturion]

Merlin Cycles might have some good deals on, they have 2 house Brands I think, such as the Merlin Malt, based in Chorley, Lancs, England.

 

[Phixion]

I love Genesis bikes but that metallic green is just... urgh.

 

[vickster]

Oh no, it's lush in the metal (would be a lovely match for my car but I already have a Genesis! )

 

[mythste]

Update! Managed to check out a few locals today and pretty much sold on the giant defy 1. I really do think that given the cost it's great value and it really felt like home in terms of how my hands fit on the hoods and just how it stretched me out the right amount. Chuffed!
So now I just need to wait a week or two before the c2w window actually opens! The anticipation...