Comments on: King of the mountain bike

By: L. B. Wilhite, Indianapolis, IN

L. B. Wilhite, Indianapolis, IN — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:23:13 +0000

I stumbled onto this website while seeking out more specific information on my Specialize Hardrock mountain bike. The bike is now 16 years old (I bought it new in 1993), and it's proven to be one of the best investments I've ever made. For as many miles as it has on it, the frame remains solid and it's drive train and brakes still function flawlessly. The only components requiring replacement as expected have been tires and tubes, brake pads and cablesto wear out and replace have been tubes and tires, brake pads and cables and the added-on Trek computer. Even though the bike is now obsolete from a technology standpoint, is lasting durability definitely says something about it's quality design and manufacture.

By: simon, melbourne australia

simon, melbourne australia — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:54:07 +0000

i think Mike is doing a great job for the cycling comunity with his forward thinking approach! keep up the great work..

By: Jason Leola, PA

Jason Leola, PA — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:50:07 +0000

yes, but that's true of all the american brands except cannondale until you get into the high end carbons, which are all made right here.

By: Jason, Leola, PA

Jason, Leola, PA — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:37:02 +0000

all my new bikes are specialized. I have other stuff that I got used, but when I'm spending my hard earned cash on new products it'as always specialized. why? because they come with their body geometry family of gear, which I always outfit my bikes with anyway because it's more comfortable. It saves me a couple hundred per bike to start with Specialized bikes than to have to re outfit another brand.

Dream bike?
Road… Specialized Roubaix SRAM
Mountain… Rockhopper pro disc

By: MG, Dallas, TX

MG, Dallas, TX — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:19:59 +0000

Great article. Thanks for sharing their story. I have owned a Specialized Hard Rock Sport GX since 1997 and rarely recall having any problems with it. Absolutely outstanding bike. Rode 50 miles on it one day with knobby tires, and high top basketball shoes. Always liked this company's products but this article was quite informative in presenting their story.

By: phil villa, Camarillo, Ca.

phil villa, Camarillo, Ca. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:50:56 +0000

HA! i have a mid 80's stumpjumper and a rockhopper. both STILL work wonderfully..albeit with a "few" component replacements. they both sit in my garage, next to my full suspension bikes, recalling glory days. fantastic bikes, great story.

By: Joseph A.

Joseph A. — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:46:54 +0000

Hi,

Thats great!
Im waiting for my cracked frame to get replace by Specialized as well, it'll be 1 week since I dropped it off at my LBS.

How long did you wait for your replacement from Specialized?

Thanks!
Joseph

By: Andrea, England, UK

Andrea, England, UK — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:06:10 +0000

I have two Specialized bikes, a Myka HT Elite which is brilliant and loves getting muddy (the British climate is very giving in that respect), and needless to say, so do I! I have some great off road rides and wouldn't entertain another. Does the job and does it well….overdelivers in a subtle and unobrustive way, but I notice, oh boy do I notice! My other is a Dolce Comp 07 for the days when I don't especially want to get muddy and simply want to grow wings, oh the sheer joy!

By: herman

herman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:55:13 +0000

bought my 1995 specialized crossroads cruz new here in east san jose, still have it, great bike! how about moving some of the production here to the states? we could sure use the work here in the valley, if the cost would be to high how about building a factory like in new mexico, texas, kansas – DO IT! start the new BOOM!made in california! MADE IN USA!

By: Jerry, Houston, Tx

Jerry, Houston, Tx — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:16:16 +0000

This is a fascinating story that is embedded in the now almost-forgotten bicycle craze of the 1970s.

It was inspiring until the year where you said you "really didn't know what you were doing." I think you did know but didn't know you knew. You knew what you wanted and didn't want the brand to be. It's interesting that the three executives you hired, with good track records in consumer products, seemed to be actually damaging your company.

Sometimes you have to have a vision and stick to it even if it seems you're a couple of steps behind the curve. The employee booklet was a good focusing point not unlike the "vision statements" and "mission statements" companies have today.

Ever thought of moving into cars? That's how Kia got started (in bicycles).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:36:13 +0000

I bought my first Specialized Rock Hopper five months ago and totally love it. In fact, I wish it was made here in the US. Globalization kills American jobs, period.

By: Jerry Birmingham, AL

Jerry Birmingham, AL — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:02:09 +0000

I am a weekend warrior trail rider. My first specialized lasted 10 years with little to no maintenance. It probably would have lasted longer had I taken better care of it. Last summer I bought a new Specialized and like it just as much. Great bike just like the Trek I was shopping for but 150 bucks less.

By: Adam B,, Jacksonville, Fl

Adam B,, Jacksonville, Fl — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:36:42 +0000

SPECIALIZED is the Target of bikes they have let there grass roots pass by them, get back to the european type's and let them run….They will always be a cheap china made bike… Atleast Trek,cannondale and some other brands still produce some bikes in the states,,,, But other then that I comend you on keeping the business going…

By: siri, plano, texas

siri, plano, texas — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:07:51 +0000

I recently bought a Specialized for my 10-year-old son. This is the first Specialized that I've purchased. Needless to say he loves it. Anyway, I love this story. What an inspiration. No whining. No government help. No welfare. Just good old-fashioned hard work, suffering, and refusal to give up. Look at the result! What ever happened to America's entrepreneurial spirit?

By: Winston Cooke, Lebanon, NH

Winston Cooke, Lebanon, NH — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:26:36 +0000

Specialized has become the most complete cycling company operating within the US. From the ground breaking FSR mountain bike (I know, not their design) to the fabulous S-Works road machines, they offer a complete range of bikes for all ages and riding styles. Not only that. They have the best assortment of accessories around, namely the Body Geometry series which takes into consideration the human body and designs with comfort and endurance in mind. With Specialized, it is possible to buy everything needed for almost any cycling style, from one company. Specialized indeed.

By: perry leardi whitinsville ma

perry leardi whitinsville ma — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:24:14 +0000

i have one bike a specialized for the road and I love it…
I love the story of the company story

By: mike, arlington, va

mike, arlington, va — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:05:38 +0000

I lOVE Specialized bikes! Own two…20 year old hard Rock and a four year old Expedition. I ride the Expedition to work five times a week regardless of the weather.

By: John, Morristown, NJ

John, Morristown, NJ — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:35:52 +0000

I bought a Specialized Sequoia (road bike)in 2002. In April, 2007, the aluminum frame cracked at the bottom bracket. The frame had a lifetime guarantee from Specialized and my bike shop transfered everything over to a brand new frame provided by Specialized. Effectively I got a brand new bike for $150 in labor/misc parts. The fact that they stand behind their product like this – I'm a lifetime fan now!!

By: Taylor Brown, Valdosta, GA

Taylor Brown, Valdosta, GA — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:43:03 +0000

I love Specialized's equipment, it's some of the nicest stuff I've ever ridden. Everything they make, from bikes to shoes, is well thought out and of quality craftsmanship.

However,what the article fails to mention is the fact that Mike Sinyard stole the design for his first mountain bike, the Stumpjumper, from Gary Fisher and Tom Ritchey, the original Marin County mountain bikers. All Sinyard did was import loads of cheaper parts from Italy and Japan. Kindof like Henry Ford, in a way. He didn't invent the thing, he just made thousands of them.

By: Michael, Bend, Oregon

Michael, Bend, Oregon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:49:10 +0000

These stories of start-up companies are always warm and fuzzy, but then you have to realize that in time, the companies become just as big an bloated as any other. Specialized is now so big, so profitable, and so dedicated to making fancy Eurofag crap, that the average consumer visits their dealers and leaves confused and shocked by the price tag. There is no difference between Huffy and Specialized at this point. All of the bikes are made in China– unless you order the Eurofag models which are made in Japan.