MTBR reviews? Seems like BS to me

[wheezy]

Sorry to kind of rant, but I just bought my first set of clipless pedals. Candy SL's, and I bought them based off the recommendation of two of the best riders I know... Pitmang1 and Carl at the Path. (even though Carl uses speedplays)

So I buy the stuff and LOVE it, did about 11 miles in them at El Morro yesterday. Doing my usual evening internet scouring I search for more info the new Candy SL pedals I just bought.

MTBR is FULL of really low reviews talking about failing pedals after one ride, pedals breaking, cleats not engaging or being difficult to use, and on and on.

I start thinking WTF??? These can't be the same pedals I just bought that seem PERFECT to me. Albeit I have VERY little clipless experience, but I have owned XTR level SPD's from 7 years ago and I think these Candys are at least on par with them, if not better... I like the float.

Is MTBR really just full of d-bags that haven't really used the products or what? I starter searching other products that I have used and found similar postings of people giving zero's and 1's and BS information. I found it kind of disturbing that some d-bag that OBVIOUSLY has no experience with a product could potentially kill a sale of someone new doing research on a product. It seems these negative reviews only hurt the industry.

Am I off my rocker or what here guys? Help me understand.

[DownHillPhil]

It's called emptybeer for a reason.. nobody is happy cuz they're all out of beer!

[northshore]

Typically when I read product reviews I take it for a grain of salt. Most opinions I have read on various sites take personal issues into account which I feel poorly rates a product. Try to find something that is a bit more objective (Dirt Rag seems to do this well). Also, keep in mind the product that is reviewed on a public message board could be installed incorrectly, not adjusted correctly, or simply not the right product for the style of riding or type of bike.

[andy aka rut]

Wheezy.... that is NOT MTBR... that is the response from individuals on MTBR. I know lots of people like to diss on MTBR, but that is where my internet Mountain Biking connection began. MTBR still has great info and a phenomenal staff.

If I recall correctly Francis (said owner) runs Crank Brother pedals himself. He is a leader in the community.

There are several bad apples on the site, but there is also some great info on there as well.

I can't begin to tell you all the great friends, info, products and knowledge I have gained through MTBR.

I still say the place rocks!

Let the bashing begin!

[el_d00der1n0]

I usually go straight for the bad reviews. If they sound like they know what they're talking about, I weigh it against other bad reviews. If a lot of people are saying the same thing, it's likely true.

And at emptybeer, like Domo Kun said, they're all out of beer, so they're bitter...

There are people here that think CB's pedals are crap. I for one am quite happy with Smarty's, so last week, I bought some Candy Cs.

I think some people are just harder on their equipment than me.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by wheezy

Sorry to kind of rant, but I just bought my first set of clipless pedals. Candy SL's, and I bought them based off the recommendation of two of the best riders I know... Pitmang1 and Carl at the Path. (even though Carl uses speedplays)

So I buy the stuff and LOVE it, did about 11 miles in them at El Morro yesterday. Doing my usual evening internet scouring I search for more info the new Candy SL pedals I just bought.

MTBR is FULL of really low reviews talking about failing pedals after one ride, pedals breaking, cleats not engaging or being difficult to use, and on and on.

I start thinking WTF??? These can't be the same pedals I just bought that seem PERFECT to me. Albeit I have VERY little clipless experience, but I have owned XTR level SPD's from 7 years ago and I think these Candys are at least on par with them, if not better... I like the float.

Is MTBR really just full of d-bags that haven't really used the products or what? I starter searching other products that I have used and found similar postings of people giving zero's and 1's and BS information. I found it kind of disturbing that some d-bag that OBVIOUSLY has no experience with a product could potentially kill a sale of someone new doing research on a product. It seems these negative reviews only hurt the industry.

Am I off my rocker or what here guys? Help me understand.

Sell them and get some Time ATAC's. That will make you feel better.

I have never used candy's but the egg beaters seemed like a good pedal. I just prefer Times

[wheezy]

Interesting info... I for one can't get enough of this place and MTBR both. It just seems like an "extraneous" amount of BS is posted on that site in particular.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Emptybeer? ohhh M T BEeee R... haa haaaa thats funny

[CalEpic]

It's the internet. Everyone has an opinion and many are happy to share it whether or not they have personal experience.

While STR blows away mtbr's so cal forum in number of visitors, the sheer number of people on mtbr's total forums is astounding. There is a wealth of information there. Sometime one just needs to sort through the clutter.

I would value the opinion of respected members on certain forums there over the reviews.

There's room for us all.

[LBmtb]

That's just reviews in general. Consumers who are happy generally don't go out of their way to tell others; they simply enjoy whatever it is they bought. Consumers who are pissed off will go out of their way to tell others how angry or upset they are.

[andy aka rut]

I really enjoy STR because everyone is local and sorta has to be legit. If I start posting bs about how good I am, it will be seen on the trails. I will be called out on it.

On Passion on MTBR, I can get away with bs because everyone might be talking about trails in New York. I can lie and lie about how good I am and they will never know. That to me is the downfall. I still love the site.

The STR community is tight and it seems if I don't know you personally, I know someone that does. You simply can't get away with being a jerk here.

[mntbiker12]

Review sites in general tend to have two sorts of reviewers: 1. those that are very unhappy and are going to let everyone know about it (squeaky wheel types), and 2. those that just bought the product and want to give it 5 stars or whatever without having spent any real time with the product (fanboy types).

Either way, you're not usually getting objective, long-term reviews from knowledgeable folks because few of them return months later to write a review.

In my experience, whether on MTBR, here or any other type of board, if there's a good community of posters it's always best to throw the question out about a product to the group. You'll get quality reviews from folks that used or are using the product in question.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

I really enjoy STR because everyone is local and sorta has to be legit. If I start posting bs about how good I am, it will be seen on the trails. I will be called out on it.

On Passion on MTBR, I can get away with bs because everyone might be talking about trails in New York. I can lie and lie about how good I am and they will never know. That to me is the downfall. I still love the site.

The STR community is tight and it seems if I don't know you personally, I know someone that does. You simply can't get away with being a jerk here.

I also like both sites but for different reasons

STR = Rides and local trail info
MTBR = Products

[Fired Yo Momma]

The MTBR classifieds are better just because it reaches out to a bigger market. The MTBR forums are comedy and I enjoy reading them because of all the soap opera drama.

[Impy]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

I really enjoy STR because everyone is local and sorta has to be legit. If I start posting bs about how good I am, it will be seen on the trails. I will be called out on it.

On Passion on MTBR, I can get away with bs because everyone might be talking about trails in New York. I can lie and lie about how good I am and they will never know. That to me is the downfall. I still love the site.

The STR community is tight and it seems if I don't know you personally, I know someone that does. You simply can't get away with being a jerk here.

This is really true. I've said this before, but MTBR is also very different in different regions. For example, on the norcal board, mtbr is just like STR down here - people can't bs very much, and everyone knows someone who knows everyone else. In socal, the mtbr board never has clicked, and besides, STR fills that role in an even better way. I personally think the thanks buttons help quite a bit with that.

If you are a total jerk here, well, noone will want to ride with you, and godfather may even ban you from the site. MTBR is too big and unwieldy to control in the same way (and let me tell you, there is ALWAYS a bunch of people who bitch and moan when anything is moderated - "CENSORSHIP!!!"), and besides, people are much braver & talk much more smack behind the screen than in real life when they don't know who they are talking with.

finally, it is true on any site - people will make an effort to give a bad review, but dont' always post when they are happy with equipment.

ps: i have had a pair of crank bros pedals (bearings) fail once on me after 3 weeks - but i still run nothing else on all my bikes - they take care of their customers 100%.

[0gravity]

Originally Posted by LBmtb

That's just reviews in general. Consumers who are happy generally don't go out of their way to tell others; they simply enjoy whatever it is they bought. Consumers who are pissed off will go out of their way to tell others how angry or upset they are.

That's exactly it.

[EMrider]

I find the product reviews on MTBR extremely helpful. You have to spend some time pouring through the details to separate signal from noise. But if you are trying to make a purchase decision, having this as a resource is great.

The quality of discussion on the forums there, however, is another matter.

[andy aka rut]

Originally Posted by Impy

This is really true. I've said this before, but MTBR is also very different in different regions. For example, on the norcal board, mtbr is just like STR down here - people can't bs very much, and everyone knows someone who knows everyone else. In socal, the mtbr board never has clicked, and besides, STR fills that role in an even better way. I personally think the thanks buttons help quite a bit with that.

That is soooo true. I love lurking on the NorCal board. Those guys are a riot! It is definately a family up there.

[Impy]

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

That is soooo true. I love lurking on the NorCal board. Those guys are a roit! It is definately a family up there.