mstateglfr 

https://bikerumor.com/first-look-bri...ade-in-canada/

Clearance for up to 38mm tires. Looks like a really nice all-rounder. I like the all the geometry- pretty traditional numbers and nothing wild(at least at the large end) and paired with a traditional chainstay design.
Threaded T47BB, traditional chainstay design, and traditional seatpost are all really nice to see.


A hefty $3950 USD for the frame and fork. That soft pink is great though.

Iride01 

I saw that this morning too. Looks nice enough. Although I'd expect only selling framesets to be an issue for many. Though I've built bikes entirely from just a frameset, I'd rather just buy the entire bike already built.

Many just building from a frame wouldn't want to pay that much..... Or so I'd think. Certainly they probably know more about the market than I do.

datlas 

Clearly a boutique brand. Looks nice, but if I were paying that much I would want custom geometry.

jaxgtr

one benefit of building in house is not having to deal with the Port of Los Angeles and being able to deliver in less than a yr

chaadster

They’re selling complete bikes, according to their website.

I think the pricing is a bit steep given they seem to have no bona fides as bike makers, but maybe if you have the machines (mechanical and electronic) it’s not that hard; I read the one founder built CF boats, so probably there’s some crossover there.

I’d like to have heard from them something about how they make the frames, or perhaps their exhaustive testing process, or maybe a word on engineering challenges, goals and achievements, stuff like that which indicate to me these cats were deep into it. I’d feel better about the spend that way, but then, I know there are boatloads of folks who can drop USD $8k - $10k more easily and frequently than I can, so I’m not really their target market.

It does look like a sweet machine by the numbers, though, at least for my needs. I don’t need a gravel bike that’s basically a drop-bar MTB, so something like the Survey_r, a little steeper and sharper, is quite appealing. In fact, it’s only .3° slacker at the HT and ST than my much loved Kinesis Racelight 4S, and only 3mm longer in the stays, yet addresses the main shortcoming of that bike for gravel riding by providing clearance for 8mm more rubber. I’d assume it’s stiffer, too; I’d like a little more snap in the Racelight 4S as well.

It’ll be cool to see what Bridge actually deliver and to hear feedback. It strikes me that they’re after the 3T Exploro buyers with a more boutique option, and I think the “fast gravel” niche could use a little more attention, so I’m glad to see it.

eduskator

+1. Less hassle and cheaper that way. But I think they're selling complete bikes as well. But for 5000$ CND, I'll pass. Out of my budget & needs for sure.

prj71

Good luck with that.

I can get a complete carbon bike for less than that.

mstateglfr 

Well yeah, but they clearly arent positioning themselves as a cost leader. I dont think you are their intended market. To be clear, neither am I.

I started the thread because I think its neat that another brand is building in North America and because I like the frame design's look and spec choices.

prj71

At those prices they won't be around long.

sdmc530

EXACTLY!! For pete sakes, for that kind of cash for a frame, they will be a quick flash in the pan. I think makers that come out with a business plan of having a high end whatever and throw a double the price of a big name prebuilt bikes are a bunch of morons.

If they would come out with some reasonably priced units, then become highly established then go with these limited edition high end options is a much more sound businesses practice. I would honestly be impressed if they sold the first 100 frames they are selling right off. I would be shocked if they were selling any products after 2022. I just don't get it.

It doesn't matter if they have an engineer from all the big names they have don't mean squat to the average consumer. According to their website the carbon is a propriety composite? Well that is a huge game changer in the current carbon market

If a major magazine or website wouldn't have been paid to take up the story nobody would even know they exist......

indyfabz

Never underestimate what some people will shell out for something. I give you the $1,300 beer cooler (non-slip feet sold separately):

YETI Tundra 350 Hard Cooler

chaadster

It’s worth noting here that a custom geo, N. American made, carbon fiber frameset, the Parlee Z1, costs nearly USD$8k, or 2x the price of the off-the-peg Bridge, and Parlee has been in business +20 years.

indyfabz

And then there is Calfee. Their least expensive non-custom road frame/fork combo is $4,000. Most expensive is $6,850. $750 more for custom geometry. Calfee has been around for a while.

Single Bike Pricing – Calfee Design

PeteHski

Looks neat enough, but the only usp I see here is for the anti-asian production crowd. So be interesting to see if those guys are actually prepared to pay a hefty premium for NA manufacturing.

ThermionicScott 

Allied hasn't folded yet, so maybe...

Bald Paul

I often wonder why there aren't more North American builders. For that matter, I'm sort of surprised that with the engineering technology and production capabilities we have, why aren't there US designed and built components?

Oh yeah, I forgot. You can buy a bike made in China for a lot less, because they pay their workers next to nothing.

chaadster

My god…but there are tons of “American” builders. (I put quotes on that because I’m not sure you’re aware that you changed the topic)

There have got to be well over 100 frame builders in USA alone, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the number were twice that. 4 builders in every state? I gotta think that’s a very reasonable average.

Getting back on topic and talking No. American builders, and I’d bet CA and MX can contribute 10s more.

I’d say that’s a lot.

veganbikes

I think it is neat, granted I don't really go for crabons one of the founders has a proper beard and the other made crabon race boats and the bikes have good tire clearance and a threaded B.B. and are made in N.A. I don't see a whole lot of issue here. People love to moan and gripe about price but that is the same with anything. Things cost money and things made in countries with better labor laws tend to cost a bit more money and certainly stuff made in smaller batches also tends to cost more money. If you are buying a crabon bike you probably aren't some broke person out of high school, you probably have a small bit of money and if you are looking at a smaller builder and made in North 'Murica you probably have a bit more money.

I don't think these folks are trying to appeal to the dollar menu crowd they do seem to have a nice handbuilt product that is well spec'd and that is not a bad thing for those that want it.

Bald Paul

I did?

chaadster

Oh my fault; re-reading I see you did not. I read it thinking you dropped the “north,” but I was mistaken. Apologies.

prj71

Because bikes would cost more then and the vast majority of the public (myself included) isn't going to want to pay higher prices. Thus we get bikes from the major manufactures with frames made in Tawain and China.


What they pay their workers is not my problem. I look out for me and my only concern is keeping more dollars in my pocket so I can retire early.

I'm betting about 90% of your own personal property is made in China. Including the phone or computer you are using to participate on this forum. We live in a global economy.

sdmc530

not to jack this thread but this is the core of our issues in America. We have sold our country to china and like countries to save a buck. Look where it got us now.

I am guilty of this just as most are unfortunately. I do wish it wasn't true though.

PeteHski

I would imagine the Chinese workers in the reputable factories like Giant are not complaining at all.

The history of most developed countries tends to show employment generally moving away from manufacturing and into more service based industries. At some future point the Chinese economy may well go the same way with everything being manufactured in Africa, LOL.

big john

Clearly, the market is there. Specialized has a $6K frameset Aethos, Trek has framesets well over the price of this Bridge. Many custom frames are more than $4K.

I'm sure it's a small market in terms of total sales and these people are unknown, but the frame is beautiful and there are enough people who can spend that much, easily, if they see it and they like it.

Plenty of bikes well north of $10K out there. Rolls Royce had their biggest year ever in 2021, too.

chaadster

The fact is that Taiwan invested in bicycle manufacturing at a time when the USA did not, and consequently have the advantage to set the market tone today.

It is what is, and if Americans don’t like it, they can act to change it. In some ways, we are doing that, but in other ways, bicycle manufacturing is not important enough to us to be worth fighting for.