Huh?
The statement was made that many current road bikes are virtually interchangeable under the paint to a great extent (implying that it is because they are mostly job-shopped out to a relatively small number of Asian builders that make very similar frames for many brands).
You then implied that half of the road bike market in the US is filled by frames hand-made in the US (which isn't the case).
I pointed out that (even if you add in all of their Asian- and European-made sub-contracted stuff), all of those road bikes sold in the US by the three brands you mentioned accounted (combined) for 3.5% of the US market in 2003. Check the January, 2004 issue of BRAIN for more details if you have any questions.
Greg Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan
Grant wrote:
Greg,
Don't twist the topic to suit your point. I don't disagree that handmade is a small percentage of the overall market. The discussion started about how "new" Raleigh and masi are crap, and it was suggested by some that most new road bikes are interchangeable in unidentifiable beyond their decals.
Come on Greg, we both know that 97% of all the bikes in the marketplace have always been junk. That's not a new trend either!
Grant McLean Toronto.Ca
O \O/ _< \_ _< _ (_)>(_) (_)>(_)
Greg Parker wrote: And all of those manufacturers' bikes (not just the small amount of high-end
ones) added together represent about 3.5% of the market!
(Half of the road 7%).
But hey, it's trending up, and could hit 10% at some point! Vive Lance!
Grant wrote (in part):
> Just a few examples for those who "slag" the current road
> biz as "all the same", here's a few examples.
> In 2004, at least 50% of the road bikes in the USA will be
> from the big 3 brands:
>
> Cannondale: Handmade AL in Bedford Penn.
> Trek OCLV: Handmade Carbon in Wisconsin
> Litespeed: Handmade Ti in Tennessee
>
> Kinda makes you think?
>
> Grant McLean
> toronto.ca