mstateglfr 

You dont say! When did bike brands start contracting out to manufacturers in Asia? I thought Schwinn's Chicago and Mississippi plants were still running strong, Trek was still building everything in Waterloo, and Cannondale's PA plant was still cranking out US made Aluminum frames!
Well at least RaleighUSA is still building bikes in Kent WA. Right?...right? Dont tell me they outsourced too!


As for not being able to ride internet opinions, well yeah no shock there. Has it seemed like anyone has wanted to?...not sure your point. The OP asked for suggestions and they are being provided. The next logical step is that research will be done, and then perhaps shops will be visited. Going to a bike shop unprepared is often a waste of everyone's time.

fietsbob

Go to your favorite bike shop, they are mostly same at similar price points.. because like Shimano has the same parts cost to all the factories.

Both Merida and Giant became huge by being OEM contract manufacturers first..

Most US bike companies now are close to the big container ports on the wast coast *, with multiple distribution regional warehouses the cartons in containers are trucked to..

Long Beach, Oakland Cal, and Tacoma WA.. & Vancouver BC..

read the end label on the box the bikes are shipped in.. at your local shop.

not all readers have every brand sold where they live so brand touting is just " I Got an XYZ & i like it " hardly a market wide survey ..





....

scotch

I'll have to second the Jamis Renegade Exploit. It's a ridiculously sweet bike for just over $2k.

fietsbob

I think Bikes Direct (with recycled brand names) is the one that people who don't want to go to their local bike shop use..

other brand will be only available if you have their brands in a shop near you..

I have no idea about what your local shop sells but they probably came from Taiwan, on a ship.

surak

New so can't post links, saw Performance has the 2017 Jari 1.3 spec'ed with Shimano RS505s, but only in 49, 56, and 58 sizes. How do people know the weight on these bikes though? Performance usually don't list them and other sites seem to usually just have the same ad copy.

I'm personally interested in a lower tier (sub $1k) bike with similar specs (105, hyd brakes, wide tire clearance, rack mounts) like the Tread 1.1 2016 (it's under $1k with the current 20% off sale + Team Performance points), but since the closest Performance that has that in stock is 3 hours away, I have no idea if the lower price is due to it being heavier than desired.

Zurichman2

I think today was the last day of the sale but I just pull the trigger on a 2017 Raleigh Roker Comp

$1799 Corporate price
$1739 Black Friday price
$1652.99 save5 price Not only did the save5 drop the bike price another $87 it also saved me over $100 in sales tax. I could turned the deal down.

Zman

Zurichman2

I bought the 2016 Raleigh Tamland one for $799 +$49 tax. It doesn't have hydro brakes though. In 56 cm the bike weighs 25.13 lbs. It is a nice bike for the money. Not sure what the Corporate price is on it this year.

Zman

surak

The Tamland's gone up to over $1k even with the corp pricing. $799 is a great price, maybe they'll discount the 2017s next year.

Sullalto

RLT 9 2 star has tiagra hydraulic for 2k.

tangerineowl

If I was UK based and chasing a mid-range tire-width gravel bike, I'd be all over this:-

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/...-bikes/Tempest

2 days to go at that price.

Zurichman2

Not sure if they still have the Black Friday deal but with the save5 code I got my Raleigh Roker for around $1562 as the save5 not only gave a discount it saved the sales tax. I haven't had a chance to ride mine yet as it is way too cold here but I am super impressed with the bike. Weighs 22 lbs. 1 oz. with 2 water bottle cages/pedals Garmin and a mini pump. Sweet bike for sure.



Zman