Do good value for performance bikes have to be American?

Jo Stoller said:

Many thanks

Orange: orangebikes.co.ukmain.phpOpen ↗ Dawes:
dawescycles.comdawescycles.comOpen ↗ Orbit: orbit-orbit-Open ↗
cycles.co.uk/ Edinburgh Co-op: edinburgh-edinburgh-Open ↗
bicycle.co.uk/

YMMV WRT price.

If you want a good value bike - try

edinburgh-bicycle.co.ukedinburgh-bicycle.co.ukOpen ↗

Their own brand bikes get consistently good reviews as being
exceptionally good value for money.

Also consider Dawes bikes. The Discovery range is good
value.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get
correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel
is switched off--

Simonb said:

Jo Stoller said:

Many thanks

Orange: orangebikes.co.ukmain.phpOpen ↗ Dawes:
dawescycles.comdawescycles.comOpen ↗ Orbit: orbit-orbit-Open ↗
cycles.co.uk/ Edinburgh Co-op: edinburgh-edinburgh-Open ↗
bicycle.co.uk/

The Orion City 2x9 looks good at £495:

orbit-cycles.co.ukorion3.shtmlOpen ↗

On 14 Jun 2004 13:25:30 -0700, [email hidden] (Jo Stoller)

Quoted message said:

Are they really the best value, or is there another make
(model suggestion would help too) from another country that
I should consider?

My bikes (ie last bike(crashed) and last bike but
one(stolen)) usually come from Ridgeback who can be found at
ridgebackbikes.co.ukridgebackbikes.co.ukOpen ↗.

They don't actually build frames in the UK but I don't think
many people do these days, with the exception of custom
builds. They are, however, refreshingly not Merkin.

I was happy with both Ridgebacks that I owned.

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

If you want a good value bike - try

edinburgh-bicycle.co.ukedinburgh-bicycle.co.ukOpen ↗

Their own brand bikes get consistently good reviews as
being exceptionally good value for money.

Also consider Dawes bikes. The Discovery range is
good value.

Seconded. Just got a Discovery 201. Very happy with it
compared to my old Carrera Crossfire.

I'm not sure just how British their bikes are anymore,
though.

Frink

--
Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail' See his mind
here : cmp.liv.ac.ukfrinkOpen ↗ Annoy his mind here :
pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook "No sir, I didn't like
it!" - Mr Horse

Doctor J. Frink said:

I'm not sure just how British their bikes are
anymore, though.

Confirmed by my LBS -- Fort (Czech Republic) makes the Dawes
Audax frame.

But most US frames are made in TW anyway.

In article
<[email hidden]>,=20
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The bike shops are now dominated by bikes from American
companies. In addition to the Trek, I was also offered
Cannondale and Specialized but they were even worse from
my point of view because they had big markings boasting
about the fact that they were American and/or made there.
I would like to be able to consider a non-US bike if
possible without compromising value for money.
=20
=20

cannondale do good frames, and both mine have been made in
the usa, but=20 at your price point, you wont get good good
componets on a 'dale frame.=20 Excelent basis for upgrades
though. Most frames these days are however=20 manufacured in
tiwan irrespective of the country of assembly and=20
trademark, the exception being custom frames, but again, not
at your=20 price point. Oh and components wise, you'll
probably end up with shimano=20 (the miccrosoft of the
cycling world) and I *think* these are made in=20 japan.
It's dificult to be patriotic, and almost imposible at
around=20 =A3500. --=20 .paul

If at first you don't succeed... Skydiving is probably not
the sport for you.

paul said:

price point. Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up
with shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world)

Is that comparison made on their market share, or the
quality of their products (or both)?

There's certainly nothing wrong with dominating a market if
you're producing good stuff, but not if you abuse the
position to keep down those that would.

Frink

--
Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail' See his mind
here : cmp.liv.ac.ukfrinkOpen ↗ Annoy his mind here :
pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook "No sir, I didn't like
it!" - Mr Horse

in message <[email hidden]>, Jo Stoller

(') said:

After not having a bike for many many years, I am about to
buy a new one. It is for general riding in London,
commuting and some long rides
e.g. in the Cotswolds. Almost all on road but perhaps some
off road on reasonable tracks. I am not bothered
about suspension but would like to have SPD type
pedals with an option for normal shoes.

The bike shops are now dominated by bikes from American
companies. In addition to the Trek, I was also offered
Cannondale and Specialized but they were even worse from
my point of view because they had big markings boasting
about the fact that they were American and/or made there.
I would like to be able to consider a non-US bike if
possible without compromising value for money.

There are actually plenty of good non-US manufacturers, but,
unless you're prejudiced (and I know people who are) many of
the big American brands do offer good value for money. Of
UK-built bikes in the sort of robust hybrid category you're
thinking of Dawes and Orange are names to consider (but
beware that the low-end models in each range have frames
made in Taiwan). If you're prepared to consider European as
well, Nicolai make bikes at least as good as the best of the
big American brands. And there are many others.

Quoted message said:

What do you guys think of what I have been offered? Are
they really the best value, or is there another make
(model suggestion would help too) from another country
that I should consider?

Best value for a robust but performant hybrid is probably
the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op's Revolution Courier (frame made
in Taiwan, I believe, but to EBC's design).

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗ ;; "If I were a Microsoft
Public Relations person, I would probably ;; be sobbing on a
desk right now" -- Rob Miller, editor, /.

Simon Brooke said:

(but beware that the low-end models in each range have
frames made in Taiwan)

Why 'beware' of TW frames? They were pretty good quality
last time I looked.

in message <[email hidden]>, Doctor J. Frink

(') said:

paul said:

price point. Oh and components wise, you'll probably end
up with shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world)

Is that comparison made on their market share, or the
quality of their products (or both)?

Nothing specially wrong with Shimano's products. On the
whole they're workmanlike, reliable, quite well made,
and good value for money. So wholly unlike Microsoft on
those counts.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

'You cannot put "The Internet" into the
Recycle Bin.'

"paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
*think* these are made in japan.

Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk of the
range comes from Taiwan and the mainland.
--
"Mango sorbet is clearcut proof that we have progressed
beyond the bare needs of survival and have progressed to the
transcendant."
- Marc Goodman in talk.bizarre

Mark South said:

"paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
*think* these are made in japan.

Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk of
the range comes from Taiwan and the mainland.

... the mainland of what?
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "A modest little person,
with much to be modest about."- Winston Churchill
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk

Simonb said:

Simon Brooke said:

(but beware that the low-end models in each range have
frames made in Taiwan)

Why 'beware' of TW frames? They were pretty good quality
last time I looked.

I find it very confusing to judge quality by nationality.
Taiwan makes both excellent and poor products. Many
Taiwanese firms have opened factories in china producing
good quality products too but generally mainland chinese
companies produce poor quality cycle products.Taiwan is
distinct and seperate from mainland china in not only the
fact its an island but it has a japanese designed
infrastructure, major european influence and is a democracy.
Malay-Polynesian people were the main settlers on the island
originally and add to this people of chinese, japanese and
european descent creates a unique type of people and race
completely different in culture to china.

The main concern of the taiwan industry seems to be
competition from even cheaper but lower quality mainland
chinese products.

I doubt there can be any true british products anywhere near
the bottom end of pricing without sacrificing quality as
Britain is so expensive to manufacture in. I work for a
swiss company (Baumanns) manufacturing springs and pressings
in the uk and the company also owns chinese factories.UK
labour costs are at least 4x more expensive and Baumanns pay
very well in china compared to native chinese companies.
Other costs compare even better in china's favour.

Its far cheaper to manufacture in the states and many
american firms actually manufacture in Mexico but still end
up with 'Made in USA' stickers on. I believe a 'Made in USA"
should represent 75% usa made content but in fact can be as
low as 30%.

the best Britain can achieve really is design and
development of bikes that are manufactured elsewhere with
top end models hand built in Britain to exacting
specifications. I suspect thats pretty much where we are at.

Doctor J. Frink wrote:

[shimano]

Quoted message said:

Is that comparison made on their market share, or the
quality of their products (or both)?

Market Share. Some of their very low range stuff is made of
cheese, but costs less than cheese so that's forgivable. The
high end stuff is very good. Maybe not the best, but even if
that is the case it's generally not too far off.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111
ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382
640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net
[email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

In "]news:[email hidden],
Michael MacClancy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
*think* these are made in japan.

Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk of
the range comes from Taiwan and the mainland.

... the mainland of what?

Orkney, obviously. That's the only place I know called
Mainland.

A

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
*think* these are made in japan.

Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk of
the range comes

from

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Taiwan and the mainland.

... the mainland of what?

Mainland China. It would have sounded dumb to write "from
Taiwan and China." since Taiwan is China.
--
"Do stairs, stairs, and more stairs, wherever you can
find them."
- Jim Roberts in rec.backcountry

In "]news:[email hidden],
Mark South <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
> shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
> *think* these are made in japan.

Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk of
the range comes from Taiwan and the mainland.

... the mainland of what?

Mainland China. It would have sounded dumb to write "from
Taiwan and China." since Taiwan is China.

Well, you don't have to take that line, as you're not trying
to keep up good diplomatic relations with Beijing.

A

Ambrose Nankivell said:

In "]news:[email hidden], Mark South
<[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 07:45:28 +0200, Mark South wrote:

> "paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in
> message
> "]news:[email hidden]...
>> Oh and components wise, you'll probably end up with
>> shimano (the miccrosoft of the cycling world) and I
>> *think* these are made in japan.
>
> Ony their higher end stuff is made in Japan, the bulk
> of the range comes from Taiwan and the mainland.

... the mainland of what?

Mainland China. It would have sounded dumb to write "from
Taiwan and China." since Taiwan is China.

Well, you don't have to take that line, as you're not
trying to keep up good diplomatic relations with Beijing.

... or Peking, even. ;-)

--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "He has no enemies, but
is intensely disliked by his friends." -Oscar Wilde
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk