Team Astana riding Specialized in 2010?

It looks like Trek will no longer be supporting Team Astana (but will more likely than not be sponsoring Team Radio Shack). Specialized just picked up another Pro-Tour Team! Yay for Specialized! :beer:

 

Trek and lance are like peas and carrots. And I don't think I've seen trek sponser more than one pro team in the tour.

 

It's stated somewhere (dont remember) that Lance is a "Lifetime Ambassador for Trek" so he more of less doesn't have a choice... not that he would pick anything else even if he did.

Also it seems like Trek will following where ever Johan goes as well...

 

I don't know how to feel about Specialized anymore. I love a lot of their product - the BG shoes I use for road and mtb can't be touched by anything else. But I see their bikes becoming more "private label" in terms of components instead of brands and feel they are becoming more of a marketing machine. I hope they don't lose their ability to innovate. It's got to cost them a lot of dinero to sponsor AC and 3 Protour teams. That's all passed on to me, the consumer so the value equation needs to be balanced by the big S having the best and most innovative tech or I am just paying all that money to be a poseur. Ok, I am a poseur anyways...

 

Dang. Just ordered the new SL3 S-Works Team Geometry frame and am waiting for it. Now I'll be bumped behind Contador and the rest of the Astana gang. Then again he'll probably be getting the SL4... which isn't even out yet....

Oh yeah.. and doesn't Lance actually own a part of Trek?

Well in any case, while I love the Big S its always Lance all the way! Doesn't matter what Contador is riding, it will be Lance at the top of the podium in Paris next summer.

 

Lance Armstrong does not own part of Trek.

 

i had to check the date on your post...really, you're just now realizing this??

They've been doing the private label thing forever, and have you ever stopped to count how many "S" logos are on one of their bikes - talk about overkill.

 

LOL myself and Zack were taking about that after the Vegas ride, we were shocked sitting there looking at the bike how many times it said specialized ,and that was only one side.:lol::lol:

 

Nice! Probably only started realizing it lately as I've stuck to other brands for bikes the past 25 years and mainly gone to S for shoes and accessories. At any rate, there's nothing inherently wrong with private label when it works to the consumer's favor in the value equation. I think of Trader Joe's as an example of that. It just seems to me with Spesh the prices are at a premium.

 

there's not a single S on my S-works frame... :beer:

 

Yet!

I believe Specialized is one of the most innovative companies out there. I've demo'ed a lot of road bikes and I'd put Specialized at the very top. I also like the Trek bikes but not as much. If and when I get a new bike it'll probably be a Spesh S-Works Roubaix (gawd, I love that bike). Or a Pinerello Prince if I can find the deal I need.

 

Sometimes, I forget what kind of bike I have. That's when I look at the seat tube, down tube, chain stays, seat stays, saddle, stem, tires, fork, handlebars, head tube, seat post, and seat post clamp and remember I have a Specialized.

 

A LOT of companies pile on logos on every possible surface, it's not just Specialized

 

Here's a follow up from Bike Rumor...

 

Well yeah, black spray paint can do that for you.

 

It's not spray painted, it's factory black ano with all the "stickers" removed!

 

Isn't that an "S" on the "Specialized" on your chainstay? :lol: