Did you know your Bianchi is a Giant?
by Tiki on Dec 10, 2008 4:54 AM EST
40 comments
I just found an interesting website that seems to know where bike frames are manufactured, and the blogger is claiming that Bianchi frames are actually made in Giant factories. And Bianchi isn't the only one. Chances are, no matter how much you paid for your bike frame, it was made by Giant or an Asian company just like Giant. Which sort of indicates to me that if you paid more for your frame than I paid for my carbon fiber Giant, then you paid a lot of extra money to have a Spanish/Italian/Canadian guy slap a sticker on it and spray paint it.
I've heard things like this in the past but never to this degree of specificity. Check out the site here:
http://allanti.com/page.cfm?PageID=328
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Oops, except for Trek
The same site says Trek still makes its own carbon frames.
by Tiki on Dec 10, 2008 4:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for that
Very interesting stuff with lots of detail and references. Kinda confirms all the rumors that you hear about different brands and goes to show the power of branding! I guess many brands differentiate themselves more on frame design rather than on country of manufacture.
Oh and here, hopefully, is the link you can click on
by slowK on Dec 10, 2008 6:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Time are still made
in France from soup to nuts. Good post. I think when you look hard at it, there are very few Italian bikes made by chain-smoking welders in some Tuscan shop anymore. I remember all those sexy frames from Tomassini, Colnago, Pinarello, Bataglin, Rossin, Benotto, Gios, Concorde, Viner, Moser et al when I first took up the sport in the 80’s.. This was back when Columbus tubing not carbon fiber was king. Now if you want sexy (steel), you have to look at handbuilt frames from IF, Pegoretti, Sachs, Vanilla. Expect big prices and long waiting lists though. My bikes are alu (USA) and steel (Italy, really). At some point carbon will be in my life, but I still don’t know what would suit me. I like Ridley, Colnago, Parlee (duh), Giant and Cannondale. I hope to see the integrated seatmast go away. Still on the fence on bb30 though.
by Mr Van P on Dec 13, 2008 7:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?
by CannonDowell on Dec 10, 2008 9:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Are there any of the big prestige brands
that have a bad reputation when it comes to quality?
I heard mumblings about Cervelo when they started to boom after they teamed up with CSC but I don’t know if that was a problem with a specific model.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on Dec 10, 2008 10:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
This list is terribly outdated.
I’m not going to go into specifics, but I’ve worked in the industry for the last 10 years now and currently I live in Taiwan making the stuff you all ride.
Anyway, a lot on this list is at least 5 years out dated.
Some of the info there is still valid, but a lot of it really is not.
Actually, a lot of Bianchi frames sold in Europe are actually made in Europe!
Frames for the US are more likely made in Taiwan, but not necessarily from Giant.
Anyway, the point is this list is outdated and I just wanted you to know that.
by Ryan_Liles on Dec 10, 2008 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
More
How about sharing some more insight, please.
1. When purchasing a bike, are there any common defects one should look for?
2. Is there a difference in quality between bikes made in Taiwan or elsewhere?
3. Do you have any suggestions for getting the best buy when buying a bike?
I would appreciate any insights you might wish to share.
by John.. on Dec 10, 2008 11:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd love it too although I just bought a bike this year.
It’d be nice to keep handy in year or two when I look to upgrade again. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 10, 2008 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had a moutain bike and needed a road bike.
I love my LBS and had some help from “a friend” who helped narrow down what would work for what I wanted. I test road Scott, Schwinn, and a Giant amongst others. After the couple weekends of riding different ones, I surprised myself by going with the Schwinn. Once I get many more miles in I want to upgrade but from coming from my heavy mountain bike, almost anything would’ve been sweet. I like my bike a lot. It wasn’t the cheapest one I checked out but a few hundred less than others. All is good. I’m having fun for sure.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 10, 2008 8:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let me guess
Your “friend” put you on a Felt, right?
by Jimbo... on Dec 10, 2008 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Felt was certainly looked at. :-)
Another “friend” said if I went with the Felt they would make sure I got the option of a certain team’s colors.
Tee hee :-P But sadly, I did not go with the Felt one. It was pretty nice and I’m considering it for the upgrade in a year or two.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 10, 2008 11:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tell your friend
that my offer to the Pinarello morons people is transferable to Felt, if they want to hook me and Gav up. I may even grow back my Earl stache for Lynn’s photo spread.
by Jimbo... on Dec 11, 2008 12:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just for the photo spread, I might just be willing to pass that along... ha ha!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 11, 2008 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
oooh
I would so test-ride a Felt. And write cool stuff all about it.
Do tell your people :-)
by gavia on Dec 11, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, so I have shared some of the fun.
But, can I just say… if you and Jimbo score a sweet new Felt in a certain team’s colors, I am going to be forced to reconsider my team loyalty as I was unable to get such a sweet offer when I was looking at bikes this past spring. I admit I got a good deal and some cool options were offered if I went with a particular bike but at no time was I ever offered up a free one. So huge kudo’s to you kids if magic happens and Santa The Stork delivers one to your door. (please note: do not hold ones breath for too long as there were a lot of laughs being had during delivery of message.)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 11, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure I speak for Gav
when I say that we both would be over the moon to be given a free Felt for keeps, but that is not the proposal. The proposal is simply to borrow it for a week or so. Just wanted to clarify that bit… And thanks for the string pulling…
by Jimbo... on Dec 11, 2008 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you only want to ride it for a week....
don’t go giving up on us being able to get steal capture borrow the bike of your dreams for you to play with while we visit in Feb. I mean really, there are a lot of ladies here that I am pretty sure are willing to hustle distract handcuff visit with riders that ride said bike. LOL!!!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 11, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
what he said.
I do not need to keep it forever. I just want to borrow it for a while.
And ride it. And write about it. I’d even pose for photos with it.
Then, I’d give it back.
by gavia on Dec 11, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We could have a race!
Which I am certain that Gav would easily win.
by Jimbo... on Dec 11, 2008 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1 more please, Ryan.
Can you provide your insight to this mfr’ing sources?
How ’bout a link with more updated info?
by itswells on Dec 10, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, some insight.
1. When purchasing a bike, are there any common defects one should look for?
Ryan – The most common defect to watch out for is a shady shop, or some ebay specail.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Stick to a brand you trust and they will do you right.
2. Is there a difference in quality between bikes made in Taiwan or elsewhere?
Ryan – If you add up all the bicycles manufacturing in Taiwan and you compare it to other countries like the US, Japan, Italy, ect . . . I’d say not really. Manufacturing systems for bicycles are pretty much on a level playing field in all these countries.
3. Do you have any suggestions for getting the best buy when buying a bike?
Ryan – My best suggestion is to go to a really good shop and get a pro fit before you pruchase a new bike. If you have a current bike, use the fit to adjust yourself on it and ride for a while in order ot get feedback from your body. Then, go get what you can afford.
Don’t try to stay ahead of technology, it won’t work and if you try you’ll be always complaining about how something doesn’t work that good.
by Ryan_Liles on Dec 10, 2008 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and My Orbea was definately made in Spain
If it was made in Taiwan i wouldn’t have had to wait 3 Freaking months……
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Dec 10, 2008 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
nah
they just sent it there for cultural training
by Sui Juris on Dec 10, 2008 11:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Which explains...
its love of earthy wines, cured meats, olives, dark-haired women in short dresses who can shake it to gypsy music, Real Madrid… or is it Barça…
It also explains what was going on when you came home late one night and found Almodovar’s “Tie Me Up” playing in the DVD player and your bike leaning against the sofa.
by Tiki on Dec 11, 2008 6:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Being a Basque bike, I think you'll find she supports Athletic Bilbao!
Or Real Sociedad.
by Albertina on Dec 11, 2008 7:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I dig Orbea
Peen-uh-rell-oh for the working class.
by phantom_51 on Dec 11, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dear Orbea
I’m a workin’ class Joe. I’m not asking for much. Some hooty tooty fancy-pants people write letters to snobby bikecompanies asking them to send them their luxury rides for free. If you just send me your ………………………
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on Dec 11, 2008 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shouldn't that have been...
“I’m a workin’ class Jens”???? Just thinking that if you sent that and they decided, hey, this hard working man so very much so deserves one of our bikes, they might just give it to some poor shmo named Joe. That would be so bad and such a pooper.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 11, 2008 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All the english I know I learned from Sarah Palin
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on Dec 11, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My Bianchi?
Who’s got my Bianchi? I didn’t even know I had one!!
-Greg
by gregm on Dec 10, 2008 11:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ventana's are all American
from their own website:
While other so called manufacturers market “Hand-Built, American” bikes actually built by large production houses in the U.S. and Taiwan, Ventanas are truly born and manufactured in the same region as the sport itself -Northern California.
by Mr Van P on Dec 13, 2008 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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