Mt. biker
And he rides a mountain bike! Probably a Titus or two now.
And he rides a mountain bike! Probably a Titus or two now.
Hmmm....
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
Based on what I was told, directly from a Titus employee at I Bike this year, I'd say the term is sunk, as in, past tense.Warp said:
I'm having a really hard time understanding how they can go from a small company, focused on domestic production, custom work, titanium, etc, to what is coming down the line for next year.
"The reality is, riders don't care where their stuff is made, and mark my words, we'll be all off shore with production in next year or so, and no one will care. We tried to stay in the US but this will be the last year for that."
Not that anyone here cares about road, but no more road bikes, no more ti El Guapo, Exogrid is "tired technology", dumping of Racer X's so cheaply that online retail pricing is cheaper than I can buy them for, etc. Ugh. I want my old company back.
Sorry Jeff, I know you're doing the best you can, I really want to keep supporting you guys, but it seems the almighty dollar, and corporate America has gotten on board your ship.......
Think you're missing my point. Grow this good, when it's organic, and for the right reasons (like, you're good at what you do). I think Cannondale is doing a similarly poor job of recognizing the power of Made in the USA. The reason they got to where they are, is based in part on that.orthorex said:
I also find the endless chasing of trends that offer us little except new ways to shape tubing, or stuff a bit more carbon onto it, tend to do little except make us want to buy it cause it's new. I'm of a mind that a timeless design gets that way for a reason, respect it's power. Kinda like when Coke figured everyone would be good with their abandonment of the original formula? New, is not always necessarily improved.
Roll up on any conversation revolving around bikes, and drop the Racer X into the mix. Folks respect it, recognize it, and will fairly universally say, that thing is an awesome bike. I'm not saying you can't tweak it, or shouldn't come out with new products, but a conservative approach is often one that yields better results long term. SUV's come and go, but I'd be willing to bet pick up trucks are here to stay, no?
It's no secret I'm rather anti corporation (WalMart sucks, etc), and seek out smaller firms to do business with, whether its the furniture in my house, or the bikes I ride, and sell. I just don't see the benefit of a company be primarily consumed with the bottom line, and constant growth. Sometimes, small to mid-sized is good. It's what sets them apart from every other cookie cutter out there, regardless of how many different style cutters the big guy might produce.
I just feel they're moving in a direction that makes them less of what I got on board with them for in the first place, and it bums me out. Sorry if that ruffle feathers, I'm actually a pretty nice guy
Also, as I think about it? Our passions involving this are rooted in the same feelings. You're a rabid supporter, defending a company you love, while I'm just passionately wishing they'd get back to being what they had been, which, in my mind, is why you and I liked both them in the first place.orthorex said:
I hear you. You can still get an RX (X) and all the nice Ti stuff which is why a bought my first Titus. Do I want a full CF frame? No, but hopefully enough people do so Titus can keep cranking out the stuff that I do want.MendonCycleSmith said:Also, as I think about it? Our passions involving this are rooted in the same feelings. You're a rabid supporter, defending a company you love, while I'm just passionately wishing they'd get back to being what they had been, which, in my mind, is why you and I liked both them in the first place.
Now, if they jump on some new rear sus. design that doesn't work for me and/or drop Ti, I'll probably go somewhere else. Hopefully they never do.
Yeah, but why change the name? Stumpjumper still works doesn't it?orthorex said:
It's marketing for no other reason that I can see, except sales pitch. They didn't rename it when it went from 80 to 100, or added bigger wheels as a 29er.
It's not any one issue (MUSA, name changes etc), it's the whole shooting match.
Well said.MendonCycleSmith said:Think you're missing my point. Grow this good, when it's organic, and for the right reasons (like, you're good at what you do). I think Cannondale is doing a similarly poor job of recognizing the power of Made in the USA. The reason they got to where they are, is based in part on that.
I also find the endless chasing of trends that offer us little except new ways to shape tubing, or stuff a bit more carbon onto it, tend to do little except make us want to buy it cause it's new. I'm of a mind that a timeless design gets that way for a reason, respect it's power. Kinda like when Coke figured everyone would be good with their abandonment of the original formula? New, is not always necessarily improved.
Roll up on any conversation revolving around bikes, and drop the Racer X into the mix. Folks respect it, recognize it, and will fairly universally say, that thing is an awesome bike. I'm not saying you can't tweak it, or shouldn't come out with new products, but a conservative approach is often one that yields better results long term. SUV's come and go, but I'd be willing to bet pick up trucks are here to stay, no?
It's no secret I'm rather anti corporation (WalMart sucks, etc), and seek out smaller firms to do business with, whether its the furniture in my house, or the bikes I ride, and sell. I just don't see the benefit of a company be primarily consumed with the bottom line, and constant growth. Sometimes, small to mid-sized is good. It's what sets them apart from every other cookie cutter out there, regardless of how many different style cutters the big guy might produce.
I just feel they're moving in a direction that makes them less of what I got on board with them for in the first place, and it bums me out. Sorry if that ruffle feathers, I'm actually a pretty nice guy
Titus is not owned by a single individual but rather by shareholders. They must grow and increase profit in a poor environment. The model is not Specialized or Trek but rather Santa Cruz.MendonCycleSmith said:Think you're missing my point. Grow this good, when it's organic, and for the right reasons (like, you're good at what you do). I think Cannondale is doing a similarly poor job of recognizing the power of Made in the USA. The reason they got to where they are, is based in part on that.
I also find the endless chasing of trends that offer us little except new ways to shape tubing, or stuff a bit more carbon onto it, tend to do little except make us want to buy it cause it's new. I'm of a mind that a timeless design gets that way for a reason, respect it's power. Kinda like when Coke figured everyone would be good with their abandonment of the original formula? New, is not always necessarily improved.
Roll up on any conversation revolving around bikes, and drop the Racer X into the mix. Folks respect it, recognize it, and will fairly universally say, that thing is an awesome bike. I'm not saying you can't tweak it, or shouldn't come out with new products, but a conservative approach is often one that yields better results long term. SUV's come and go, but I'd be willing to bet pick up trucks are here to stay, no?
It's no secret I'm rather anti corporation (WalMart sucks, etc), and seek out smaller firms to do business with, whether its the furniture in my house, or the bikes I ride, and sell. I just don't see the benefit of a company be primarily consumed with the bottom line, and constant growth. Sometimes, small to mid-sized is good. It's what sets them apart from every other cookie cutter out there, regardless of how many different style cutters the big guy might produce.
I just feel they're moving in a direction that makes them less of what I got on board with them for in the first place, and it bums me out. Sorry if that ruffle feathers, I'm actually a pretty nice guy
But you are right about being cookie cuttter. As long as Titus uses the HL, many un-informed people will always ask "why buy this instead of a specialized...". They need to differentiate themselves and find a niche in which to survive.
Currently, Titus is making their best bikes ever. The Racer-X (and yes, they should have kept the name, I bet they did not for licensing reasons) is one of the best FS race bikes. The EG, bar none, is the best "one" bike out there. The FTM is the bastard child of the two. But the MTB crowd is fickle and if people don't buy, than there won't be a Titus 5 years from now. Titus needs to sell bikes and if making them in carbon does it, so be it.
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
