Out of curiosity, why all the disdain for Trek?

Triathlon Forum
1

Is it that as elitist triathletes (not an insult, but how much time/day do we spend on here for example) we must feel above the comercialism of mass production? Do those of you who are anti-Trekkies also not drink Starbuck’s coffee? Is it merely the thought of paying for the name Trek that you don’t like?

  • *I can’t speak as intelligently about Tri-bikes as you guys, but other than the new Cervelo R2.5, I cant think of a bike that compares to trek’s high end stuff. I do not include Bontrager components (wheels mainly) when I am talking about Treks. Anyway, whaddoyou guys and gals think?
2

I’d love to know the answer to that, too. I have a Trek 5500 and I love it, though I do have bike lust for various more exotic brands - currently Aegis and Kestrel are probably at the top of my list. My husband, who has a Klein, has informed me that he’s getting himself an Equinox for Xmas.

4

Because Trek is the Wal-Mart of the bicycle world. Mass-produced bikes… no “soul” in their work. Squeeze out or absorb the competition.

At least, that’s what I gather.

I have a low-mid range Trek 2000 as my only bicycle. I love it.

5

I have a Trek Hilo 2000 and I love it. Best bike I have bought - although I have no experience with Cervelo. The workmanship that went into the frame looks great.

6

Yeah, I guess that is what some folks would have you believe - no soul - and after being on here for a while, I started to buy into it. But then on one of the Lance Chronicles, when they took the cameras into the factory, you see just how much goes into their R&D and into their bikes. Again, I think that Cervelo is the only one that is comparable in that aspect. Someone like Tom could shed more light, and obviously I can’t know what goes into the smaller shops (Kestrel, Guru, et al) but all of those dollars that they generate being the Wal Mart of bikes goes into world class design and into materials that are aerospace grade - well, that’s fine by me.

I ride a postal TT bike that is a shallow 77 degrees and I love it. Love it. I’d sleep with it if my sheets wouldn’t get it dirty.

8

My road bike is a 1991 Trek 2100, carbon tubes, aluminum lugs. I’ll bet this bike has in upwards of 35000 miles on it. I continue to ride it with the roadies twice a week in group rides. I keep thinking I’d like to get a new road bike, but, this thing fits me great, is fun to ride, and won’t break. If it does break, the frame has a lifetime guarantee (we’ll see about that), thus I get a new carbon frame from Trek.

They may be the evil empire of the bike business, but, in my case they built a quality bike. If I had to purchase one outright, I don’t know if I would, but my bike is a testament (at least to me) that they know what they are doing.

Rocketboy

9

I don’t like Trek. One reason is because here in Wisconsin, and probably everywhere else, half the bikes are Treks. It just seems like the dime-a-dozen bike. I also do not like the way they name the bikes: 5500, 800, 2200, 1200 - what the he// does all that mean. I can’t keep them straight (I actually have no desire and have never tried). I also do not go to Starbucks, but I do shop at Target (but not Walmart). I also do not like the shops that sell Trek - generally the mass-market sell lots of volume kind of places that fit you by having you stand over the bike.

10

People want to be different? The trek TT is on my wishlist.

11

Having just gone through a detailed comparison of Cannodale (800 & 2000), Cervelo (Dual & P2K), Fuji Aloha, Trek Equinox (7,9,& 11) I just don’t see how Trek expects to compete in the entry and middle range of Tri/TT bikes. I didn’t feel that the groups offered with each of the Trek models compared favorably at the respective price points in comparison with the other manufacturers.
Jay

12

I’ve ridden many brands of bikes and purchased my Treks last year (5200 and a MTB). Frankly I used to think that Treks were massed produced etc etc. But now that I own one I have converted. I think they are great bikes.

13

I have the same sort of trouble - 325, 325i, 325ci, 330, 525, 730… on and on. I simplified things by getting a Volvo. It’s an XC70. Or is it a V70XC? OR a 70XCV? or a CVX70??? Well, it’s a silver station wagon, anyway.

14

When you are big and you are number 1 and you have a high profile, you are an easy target. Look at Nike, same thing. Everyone loves to take pot-shots at Nike, but if you are a runner doing this, my feeling is you are being a bit of a hypocrit, because Nike invented the modern running shoe 30 years ago and were the first company to make running shoes and other running gear specifically for runners.

As for Trek, they make great bikes to.

15

I don’t harbor animosity toward Trek and all their brands. I believe their “Dexter” system is the strongest tool for dealers to maintain effective control and maintain profitability. It is very forward thinking. Every bike company needs a similar system.

That said, Trek has its share of concerns as does any market leader. Additionally, some animosity exists in the industry toward Trek from dealers who are not Trek dealers and wish they were, and from Trek dealers who have managed their relationship with Trek poorly.

Trek is a large company in the grand scheme of things within the bike industry. For a very small independant retailer, Trek can become the real “owner” overnight if you don’t aggresively manage your credit limits and accounts payable.

It’s like the saying about the bank: When you owe the bank $100,000 the bank owns you. When you owe the bank $1,000,000 you own the bank. Very few retailers can leverage against Trek. But Trek is in a position- deservedly so- to leverage against many retailers.

That isn’t Trek’s fault. It is the retailer’s fault for not managing their business proactively.

In the post-Lance era Trek will feel some contraction in their high end market share. Realistically, that is a very small part of the Trek pie, and one easily recouped in other categories. Trek’s association with Lance and USPS put the Trek Madone, 5500, 5200 and the other OCLV bikes ont he map with Colnago, Pinarello, Litespeed, etc. That’s good. They belong there. Those are fine bikes.

As for their tri bikes, well, I think Trek understands the triathlon market is largely transient and has been wise to not put all their eggs in one basket with triathlon. The market isn’t that big, has grown to about its maximum proportions and has only one way to go. So they aren’t dumping a lot of resources into that market segment. Also, few Trek dealers really understand how to service the triathlon market, which is enormously labor intensive.

Most “animosity” toward Trek comes from the same place most animosity toward anything comes: a lack of understanding or ignorance.

Trek is what they are: A good quality, large sized bike vendor. And they do a fine job at being Trek.

17

“If it does break, the frame has a lifetime guarantee (we’ll see about that), thus I get a new carbon frame from Trek.”

Rocketboy - I’d suggest you take a 2nd look at your warranty. For ex: A buddy broke his rear derailluer hanger (why they don’t make it customer-replaceable is beyond me!!!). Sent it back to Trek. They fixed it for free, but charged $150 to re-paint it. My guess is that they will fix something way before sending something new these days. The same buddy busted a y-foil MTB, but rather than send a new one…they offered him a whore deal on the 9.8 frame…so still had to shell out a few hundred bones.

My only problem with Trek is their obvious APATHY to the tri market. They could literally own the market if they want. Also, I’m totally baffled why they don’t have more of a presence at IM moo, Super Week, Horribly Hilly…or any other race in their backyard.

Their promotion stinks

19

My wife owned a trek for a few years - a 2200 WSD, and multiple training partners have a trek, namely the Madone and the Hilo. All of them are beautiful frames as far as I am concerned. The Madone especially is a work of art and engineering. The problem I have with Trek has less to do with Trek than those who sell them. For whatever reason, there are several shops in the area who sell Trek that don’t know what they are doing and have really no business selling a high end road bike. And it seems that they have more Trek bikes on the floor than any other, so they try to push these out the door. I wouldn’t think twice about owning a Trek if it suited my needs, but that’s hard to figure out under these circumstances.

20

Many larger companies come off as “faceless”. Who do I call if I have a problem or a question about my frame? I have a Klein (Trek) and I love it, but as far as I’m concerned, customer service is nonexistant. Contrast that with my Yaqui where I can email or call the builder/company owner directly.

Trek has also had a pretty sad record in the tri bike department. Maybe the quality is there, but the geometry is a bit odd to say the least.

One thing that I really like about Trek, and this came as a huge surprise to me, is their factory stores. This goes a long way towards addressing that faceless problem that I mentioned earlier. While I’m not a huge fan of the stock of the Trek stores, their prices and service are awesome. Much, much, much better than B&L and Nytro here in San Diego. (This could also help with my Klein service issues, but those occurred before I had access to the Trek stores.) Service and turn around on my old Rolf wheels took no time wheras before with a Trek “dealer” it over 8 months to get a “no, we can’t do it” answer.

The bottom line for me is why would I buy a Trek when I can get Ves to make me exactly what I want for a good price? (How many scandium/aluminum road bikes do you see out in the market??)

21

Prior to the Madone, the fit and finish of Trek’s bikes left something to be desired in my opinion. A Colnago or Pinarello just looks so much sweeter. And Litespeed’s fit and finish is superb as well.

Other than cosmetic issues, they are very reliable bikes and the carbon bikes are light and comfy.

-Robert

22

Well that new Enterprise show is kind of lame and Voyager was pretty weak too. The last couple of movies have done very poorly at the box office as well. Perhaps all the disdain is because deep down people just really, really miss Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock and all their witty banter.

23

I think trek makes a good bike but for the money you can get just as good or a little better on components for less money. When I was in the market for a tri bike I compared a Felt, Cervelo, and Trek. The Felt was the least amount of money but a good bike with solid components. The Cervelo was a little more and had some more umph in the aero dept, as well as, a solid rep. in the market and good fit and feel for me. The Trek TT bikes have some of the aero qualities but the components for the price were not there. The Cervelo won out for me and I’m happy with my ride.

When I’m in the market for a new roadie I’ll consider Trek as part of the short list. Mostly because they’re an American made bike from nearly in my back yard. But its going to come down to bang for the buck. Best fit, components, and price. I’m not too big on colors and what not that some people have issues with. For me it’s function over fashion.

24

When you are big and you are number 1 and you have a high profile, you are an easy target. Look at Nike, same thing. Everyone loves to take pot-shots at Nike, but if you are a runner doing this, my feeling is you are being a bit of a hypocrit, because Nike invented the modern running shoe 30 years ago and were the first company to make running shoes and other running gear specifically for runners.

As for Trek, they make great bikes to.

Just like being an American or the Guy in High School who gets all the ladies? A friend of mine once asked an Irishman why the rest of the world didnt like americans. The Irishman asked my friend if he remembered the guy in high school who got all the accolades and ladies. My friend said yes, The Irishman then asked if he like that guy or was jealous, My friend said he hated that guy and was envious, the Irishman then said that guy is America. True Story, some bar in Chicago.

And as I read all the posts I remebered something. Before I bought my Kestrel Talon I did a lot of research and narrowed down my bike choices to Trek, Cannondale and Kestrel. The problem with the Trek was that you paid more for less, the cannondale hat ultegra at $1500 and the Trek had 105 at $1500. Then it came to frame material, I wanted carbon, I liked the 5200, but I decided on the Talon because I could get it for $400 less with the same components. Regardless, they are good bikes and the Trek TT is still on my wishlist right next to the P3 SL with CARBON stays.

Ive noticed alot of Orbeas lately, those are sweet!