[cheepnis]

Ninertude. Give me break, what's with this rumor?

 

[seanbc]

please no!

God I hope not, I am sorrry but Klein, just like Merlin, lost all of their luster when they got bought out by those corporate monsters. They need to just pack it with those awfull dropouts and disappear! Klein was only cool cause Tinker rode one!!

 

[Dave.]

Klein was only cool cause Tinker rode one!!

Wasn't that Cannondale?

And what's wrong with Klein? They've made some significantly nice bikes over the years.

 

[ekoostick]

God I hope not, I am sorrry but Klein, just like Merlin, lost all of their luster when they got bought out by those corporate monsters. They need to just pack it with those awfull dropouts and disappear! Klein was only cool cause Tinker rode one!!

Who hasn't sold out these days. At least Fisher still leads his company. Even with big brother looking over his shoulder he still makes a nice selection of 29'ers. Just as Klein would do a very race worthy hardtail. Since when did bicycles start being called "treks"?

 

[dstepper]

Who hasn't sold out these days.

Many have not sold out. I own bikes by companies that have not "sold out" Turner and Niner. I can think of a few others, Blacksheep, Vulture, Ventana, Surly, Jeff Jones...ect...

 

[Bigwheel]

Wasn't that Cannondale?

.

Tinker raced for Klein before Cannondale and I forget what brand he came over from BMX on, but I remember it had, gasp , riser bars.

Having never owned a Klein the introduction of a 29"er by them would probably not get me to buy one either. However at this point in order to get the bits that everyone thinks they must have, the more the merrier. The other big companies are going to have to succumb eventually which will lead to more and even tastier bits.

Is Cloxxkies "Rubber Steamroller" finally getting up to steam?

 

[shiggy]

... and I forget what brand he came over from BMX on, but I remember it had, gasp , riser bars.

General Bicycles. He always ran a 1.5" rear tire because that was the biggest that would fit. He flatted in a lot of races in the mid-'80s and lost more than a few races because of it.

 

[Bigwheel]

General Bicycles. He always ran a 1.5" rear tire because that was the biggest that would fit. He flatted in a lot of races in the mid-'80s and lost more than a few races because of it.

You da man.

 

[cava]

Who hasn't sold out these days.

Many have not sold out. ... Surly...

Surly is a cool company and all, but you know they are owned by Quality Bicycle Products, right? QBP is one of the biggest bicycle parts distributors around. So depending on your defintion they may have sold out. Or maybe not, since they never were not owned by QBP, as far as I know. Not that it matters.

 

[no_skillz]

Surly is a cool company and all, but you know they are owned by Quality Bicycle Products, right? QBP is one of the biggest bicycle parts distributors around. So depending on your defintion they may have sold out. Or maybe not, since they never were not owned by QBP, as far as I know. Not that it matters.

rumor is that surly is not happy with their relationship with QBP and they will soon be apart.

 

[OrBikbldr]

You know, I have also heard that Klein is not long for this world. Maybe by throwing in a 29er bone Klein's way, Trek is trying to spice up the line and breath new life into it. Klien has seemed rather stale to me for the past few years. Have you seen their line up for 2006? What line up...it is only three types of bikes I think (one mountain and two road).

I have never owned a Klein either, but I would hate to see them fade away, even if they are just a part of a big corporate family. hell I might even buy one if they were lighter than a fisher.

 

[Bigwheel]

At least Fisher still leads his company.

While Gary Fisher leads a comfortable and exciting life, he doesn't lead Fisher Bicycles, Trek does.

The big reason that more companies haven't sold out is because nobody is offering I am afraid and independent builders like Jeff Jones, Blacksheep et al. are probably going to stay independent. Established companies like Turner, Ventana, Intense et al. are buying in, along with Niner that is the first company formed to solely distribute bigwheels.

 

[donkey]

rumor is that surly is not happy with their relationship with QBP and they will soon be apart.

I would be really, really shocked if this were the case.

B

 

[mikesee]

However at this point in order to get the bits that everyone thinks they must have, the more the merrier.

True.

Sad.

Well put.

MC

 

[~martini~]

rumor is that surly is not happy with their relationship with QBP and they will soon be apart.

hahahahahahahahahahahah....gasp.....lololololololololololololololo.......oh...stopp.....ahahahahaha...

oh man, my tummy hurts from laughing so...

giggle ...

snicker...

pawhawhawhaw!

 

[Cary]

God I hope not, I am sorrry but Klein, just like Merlin, lost all of their luster when they got bought out by those corporate monsters. They need to just pack it with those awfull dropouts and disappear! Klein was only cool cause Tinker rode one!!

I've said it before, but it bears repeating, Klein would have been gone years ago without Trek. When Gary Klein sold his company, it was ready to fold. He wouldn't have made it another six months and basically what Trek did was keep the company alive for 6-8 years longer than it would have had they not bought it. Also don't forget, Gary Klein walked away from his company when he sold it, he could have stayed involved.

 

[the_eleven]

The Palominos (maverick based) were nice riding bikes.

They looked odd, but worked well.

 

[OrBikbldr]

I've said it before, but it bears repeating, Klein would have been gone years ago without Trek. When Gary Klein sold his company, it was ready to fold. He wouldn't have made it another six months and basically what Trek did was keep the company alive for 6-8 years longer than it would have had they not bought it. Also don't forget, Gary Klein walked away from his company when he sold it, he could have stayed involved.

I know a few roadies around here that would thank Trek then. One guy never rides his Klein road bike when it rains, he rides a beater in those circumstances. I think he is afraid he will slip and scratch the paint. By the way, have I mentioned I live in Portland, Oregon? He won't be riding it again until June.

By the way, where did the rumour start that Klein was looking into 29ers? I read my heard my info about Klein folding shop from some guy riding one on the trail, about 6 months ago. I didn't put much stock into it until I saw the 2006 line.

 

[jm03]

I'd buy a klein 29er. Awesome cable system, great paint, warranty, decent prices. Sign me up.

 

[Cloxxki]

Well, in a way it makes sense. Trek didn't exactly JUMP on the 29" idea when Gary Fisher mentionned that option. I think it actually took some pretty big scene for him to push that through, not being the brands factual leader and all. Also pretty sure they lost money on 29" the first one or 2 years, but now they're making money for sure, which is good for everyone.
Trek not being 100% pro-29", but working on getting there, why not dump some big wheels in the all but non-existent Klein room at Trek HQ? Some consumers would see it as a "development", wow! If you buy out a company, don't you wish to make money off it? Sure it's nice o have a competitor out of the way, but where do you think all those Klein customers went, directly to Trek or even Fisher? They probably moved over to Cannondale (bling & harsh too) and he rest of the market.
A Klein 29"er...it would bring DOWN their sales, that's for sure! And funny to have a BIG Klein (Dutch and German for "small").

Hey, if they keep the bike at the Fisher's value, and just make it seem like an upgrade over the Paragon, why wouldn't it sell?

If Trek wants to make easy quick money though, I'm personally convinced all it takes it hit the 29" market top-bottom. Launch a mid-season OCLV 29" frameset, and create a slightly upgraded Paragon setup for it to sell it as a bike. Call it 298, later come up with a 299. People will line up, and all at once think 29" is a pretty neat idea for a high-end bike. OCLV give any new concept big credibily for a large group of customers.