Quoted message said:I'm looking to replace my thousand year old racing bike. I just visited a bike specialty shop, and
came away with questions:
1) My target price range is $200-$400 (-ish). Everything this store
carried
Quoted message said:in that range was made in China (Trek or Trex or something like that), something I'd like to avoid
for political/human reasons. Is it possible to find bikes made elsewhere, in that range, that
don't fall into the
category
Quoted message said:of junk?
At that end of the market, it's almost impossible to avoid a bike made in China. And, while I
sympathize with your views regarding conditions there, you can also make an argument that opening up
the country for commerce with the outside world had done an awful lot to improve working conditions
there as well as allow outside ideas to intrude into a formerly-closed society.
Regarding bikes from China being "junk", that's simply not a safe generalization anymore. Chinese
factories are capable of producing just about anything you ask of them. If you want to pay bottom
dollar for the cheapest thing possible, yes, they can produce some real junky trash. But if you come
into China with specific requirements and procedures, they will do as asked. In TREKs case, they
learned long ago, when they switched from one Taiwan manufacturer to another (for low-end bikes back
in the late-80s I believe) that, if you don't keep an eye on things, they'll produce the lowest
quality product possible, until you make it known to them that your standards require something
better. This particular manufacturer is now one of the larger name-labels here in the US, by the
way. Anyway, after that they learned that you have to have someone from your company at the plant,
full-time, making sure standards are appropriately defined and met.
The bottom line is that bikes in the $200-$500 range from China can represent excellent value and
quality. They can also be fairly junky. It's really up to the people who work with them to determine
the quality level and, in TREKs case, that quality is going to be very high (perhaps mostly because
TREK is, first and foremost, an American manufacturer of very high quality bicycles, and thus knows
how to gauge quality and spot problems).
Quoted message said:
2) Purpose: 90% paved road, riding to work, but will see some use in
places
Quoted message said:like the Erie Canal trail, which alternates between paved and pea gravel.
You might consider a hybrid, such as the 7200 (about $450). The narrower tires (narrower than a
mountain bike, but still considerably wider than a road bike) will give the bike a considerably
faster, lighter feel, and yet still negotiate the type of roads & trails you describe.
Quoted message said:3) Regardless of where a bike's made, is my price range realistic, in
terms
Quoted message said:of getting a decently made bike?
Your price range is fine, but don't overlook the fact that there can be a bigger difference between
one dealer and the next (selling the same bike) than between two different bikes and different
dealers. The dealer you choose is responsible for setting up the bike, fitting you properly, making
sure it's an appropriate choice for how you're going to ride, and take care of any possible warranty
issues. More than anything you want to buy from a dealer who's going to do their best to keep your
bike out of the garage and under your tail end.
Quoted message said:
5) Anyone have any first-hand experience with Trek bikes?
Nah, never heard of 'em. Oh, that's right, we sell about 2500 a year. :>😉 So I guess you can figure
I'm not terribly objective and should assume I'm 100% totally biased.
Quoted message said:
6) Other recommendations in that price range?
Not too sure about what others have in that range; difficult enough to keep track of the options I
sell myself! But, as I mentioned, the dealer is as important as the bike line. If you can find a
great dealer that sells TREK, then I think you've got it made.
Quoted message said:
Weight's not that much of a concern, since virtually everything I'm seeing is much lighter than my
old bike.
-Doug
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--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗
