'Buyers Guide'

Ok, let's put this out there... I like Trek Bikes. I do. Long ago back in 1996 or so, when I was in search of my first 'adult' bike after outgrowing my first real bike, the Mongoose Sycamore [which is still a strange name for a bike that moves], all I knew I wanted was a Trek. I do not know why, sure it probably had a lot to do with a few of my friends having them but then being sold on it by one of my later co-workers, Clay, at Europa Cycle. Side note, Clay to this day, is one of the most inspiring people I have known and just one of the great people who have come out of that shop. I ended up landing on the Trek 6500.

I've worked in two Trek shops in my day, I've visited the mothership once, had the privledge of knowing a number of current and former Trek employees and with that said for as much as I push against big brother, I have a soft spot for most of what they do. Heck, John Burke [president of Trek] has one of my favorite quotes, which has unfortunately turned into a tag line:

Cycling is 'a simple solution to complex problems'

I'll even admit that his quote is on my cover letter in my resume. Some thing about it rings very true to me, even in my daily struggle to embrace it. [Damn the crutch that is my Xbox].

This past Sunday I was able to get my hands on the 2011 Trek Buyers Guide. Which is very much a dose of bike porn that comes once a year as the new products come out around Interbike time. Our good friend and fellow NDJR contributor, Tom from Holland Cycling, hand delivered a copy to thumb through and I figured I'd share a few thoughts on it.

The Good. It's thorough. Filled the the brim with more information most are able to digest. Handing this over to the 'I know more than you' customer should do them justice. In the past, with it's size this might have been called the pitch book that was given out to each Trek shop as to serve as a resourse/tool for sales staff to know selling points and highlights to the new bikes. Hopefully this replaced the pitch book, otherwise I would hate to see how large that is.

The Bad. In avoiding the whole 'Gary Fisher Collection' decision and only saying in the end it makes sense. I'll say this in regards to the buyers guide, for being an 'Eco' friendly company. I have a hard time justifying the amount of paper, press, and resources needed for this to be a disposable handout.

The Ugly [or how does it look?]. Well, all you hipster Christians out there or Rob Bell followers will notice a very familiar format. So yes, it looks good.

Here are the bikes that get my thumbs up... [with the disclaimer, I have not actually seen, rode, or worked on... maybe I should just say I'm lusting over]...

The Belleville

The Presidio

The completely unnecessary District Carbon

Finally the Transport +, a bike that I saw the concept of back at Trek World a few years back.

Ok, besides bikes, what I'm extremely interested in checking out are their Bontrager white Eco tires that are seen on a number of the bikes but I couldn't find any information online on them. Hopefully they will be available and could serve as an excellent alternative to the Schwalbe Fat Frank tires. Might be pretty hot on the cruiser or touring rig, we'll see.