i have a f500, cadd8 and a new systemsix. went by two lbs this past weekend and both are not carrying any high end cannondales moving forward. one is only carrying low end mtbs, and the other will only special order. both lbs feel the brand is in trouble, and the product is not going to be what it once was. they both mentioned they will not carry what kmart might have very soon. both shops are overloaded with trek, specialized and orbea. i question my purchase two months ago on the new system six. i know its a great machine, but its seems like c-dales stigma will not be great in the very near future. guess im sad that my main bike shop who has been a hugh cdale supporter in the past is dropping them and moving onto other manufactures they think have more to offer.

i have a f500, cadd8 and a new systemsix. went by two lbs this past weekend and both are not carrying any high end cannondales moving forward. one is only carrying low end mtbs, and the other will only special order. both lbs feel the brand is in trouble, and the product is not going to be what it once was. they both mentioned they will not carry what kmart might have very soon. both shops are overloaded with trek, specialized and orbea. i question my purchase two months ago on the new system six. i know its a great machine, but its seems like c-dales stigma will not be great in the very near future. guess im sad that my main bike shop who has been a hugh cdale supporter in the past is dropping them and moving onto other manufactures they think have more to offer.

:rolleyes:

Dude, revisit this board in 2 years and in 10 years and you will see Cannondale still has all of its panache and is pushing the envelope with innovative design. Visit my local bike shop -- which is a nationwide top 100 retailer -- and the high-end Cannondale road bikes are their biggest seller easily ahead of Specialized, Pinarello, Scott and Giant, which they also carry. By the way, this same LBS dropped Trek a year ago. That doesn't mean Trek is in trouble.

If you're done with your SystemSix, put it on eBay -- you're not going to have any trouble selling it.

:rolleyes:

Dude, revisit this board in 2 years and in 10 years and you will see Cannondale still has all of its panache and is pushing the envelope with innovative design. Visit my local bike shop -- which is a nationwide top 100 retailer -- and the high-end Cannondale road bikes are their biggest seller easily ahead of Specialized, Pinarello, Scott and Giant, which they also carry. By the way, this same LBS dropped Trek a year ago. That doesn't mean Trek is in trouble.

If you're done with your SystemSix, put it on eBay -- you're not going to have any trouble selling it.

didnt say done, said ?.

got to get info from others. keeping talkin, making me feel better!

I think cannondale will still be just they way they are in 2, 5, and 10 years. Your 2 local bike shops are ill informed or near sighted. Why did no one make a big deal when Trek was bought by an equity firm or when 40% of Spec was sold to its manufacturer?

Cannondale has been bought and sold so many times I've lost count. The last buyout was (by pegasus) was they best thing that ever happend to them. The new owners now own a brand in all three retail channels: high end, mid, and low end. Dorel has said they will be leaving Cannondale the way they are and hope to streghten the brand with IBDs.

I'm not worried.

in fact, in the very near furture Cannondale will have something new. Innovation won't stop because the title changed hands, so to speak.

Starnut

That bike shop is being foolish. Even if Cdale does happen to go downhill because of the recent sale, it will happen slowly over time. Look at Klein. They were once the mack daddy of aluminum, and once Trek bought them, they still made great bikes for quite a while, if fact they still make a good product, it's just that they lost their cuttting edge OVER TIME. Though much of their demise can be attributed to the accention of carbon, and Klein's failure to go with it, unlike Cannondale, who despite the fact that their bread and butter was aluminum for 20+ years, found a way to gradually back out of Al and into what's hot, and what sells, carbon. If you want to buy Cannondale's better bikes, and your LBS doesn't beleive in them, go to someone who does. There are plenty of Cdale dealers who are strong beleivers in the product. You shouldn't have to special order just becuase a dealer doesn't have faith in the product. If that dealer loses a bunch of sales because he doesn't want to stock the higher end stuff, maybe they will rethink their priorities. I know that their are some small mom and pop Cdale dealers who can't be expected to have a huge selection in the higher end stuff, but to have the attitude that"we just don't like their product, but we'll order it for you if you happen to disagree with us" is bull. Shop elsewhere.

this lbs has a very $$$ stock. last year they had tones of supers, systems, six13's. along with many hi-end trek, specialized, seven, and orbea. thats why i wonder!

People looked at my cannondale in the 1980's and asked me what it was made of. Most bikes back then were steel. Now, the brand is not too popular around here. That just insures that I have a unique bike. Everybody has a Trek, Orbea, Giant...so what. I like c-dales.

great business opportunity! just open a store nearby to that LBS and just sell Cannondales!

best quote of the week "so what. I like c-dales." that rules. and sums up my perspective.

just ride your bike, have fun and go fast.

I have an LBS in my area that ripped C'dale too because they were a former dealer. They harped on how C'dale got into motorcycles and screwed up the company, yada, yada , yada. This is old news and showed me the shop was poorly informed.

Oh well, their loss. I drove an hour and 15 minutes to buy the bike I wanted - a 2008 System 6-4.

Even if I thought C'dale was going to go down the tubes because of its sale to Doral, it wouldn't stop me from buying one of their great bikes today. In fact, maybe you should stock up and buy a bunch! I am considering buying a tandem while they still make one of the best on the market. They may continue to sell great tandems, but I canot be sure so I may pick one up...which is a good thing.

I think cannondale will still be just they way they are in 2, 5, and 10 years. Your 2 local bike shops are ill informed or near sighted. Why did no one make a big deal when Trek was bought by an equity firm or when 40% of Spec was sold to its manufacturer?.
Starnut

Trek was bought by Equity? That explains a lot.

i have a f500, cadd8 and a new systemsix. went by two lbs this past weekend and both are not carrying any high end cannondales moving forward. one is only carrying low end mtbs, and the other will only special order. both lbs feel the brand is in trouble, and the product is not going to be what it once was. they both mentioned they will not carry what kmart might have very soon. both shops are overloaded with trek, specialized and orbea. i question my purchase two months ago on the new system six. i know its a great machine, but its seems like c-dales stigma will not be great in the very near future. guess im sad that my main bike shop who has been a hugh cdale supporter in the past is dropping them and moving onto other manufactures they think have more to offer.

I wonder if your LBS stocks Spec? Sounds less about the sale to Dorel and more to do with Sinyard preaching his "Anti-Cannondale stance" to his dealer network...


Your store = gullible

yes they do. and many more specialized bikes hanging form the walls than in the past.

Well depends if those IBD's have a Performance in town. Seeing the heavy load of Dorel bikes (including GT, which they made the same premium IBD claims about on purchase, and who is being grouped with Cannondale) in Performance an IBD would be stupid to carry C-Dale under those circumstances. Further, should Dorel allow Performance to mail order Cannondales, then no IBD will touch them.

So many IBD's are shying away while all this works itself out, especially in light of the GT thing. I am sure savvy sales reps from Trek, Giant and Specialized won't hesitate to visit the better IBD's to try and gain floor space. Be stupid not too right? All part of a capitalistic society.

Well depends if those IBD's have a Performance in town. Seeing the heavy load of Dorel bikes (including GT, which they made the same premium IBD claims about on purchase, and who is being grouped with Cannondale) in Performance an IBD would be stupid to carry C-Dale under those circumstances. Further, should Dorel allow Performance to mail order Cannondales, then no IBD will touch them.

So many IBD's are shying away while all this works itself out, especially in light of the GT thing. I am sure savvy sales reps from Trek, Giant and Specialized won't hesitate to visit the better IBD's to try and gain floor space. Be stupid not too right? All part of a capitalistic society.

Performance put out a press release stating that they will not be carrying Cannondale Bikes but would continue to do clothing and accessories. I think cannondale will contiune to grow and innovate.

Performance put out a press release stating that they will not be carrying Cannondale Bikes but would continue to do clothing and accessories. I think cannondale will contiune to grow and innovate.

link?

my LBS won't be displaying Cannondales on the floor and will only special order them... I suspect my Super Six will be the last Cannondale they sell (at least to me :))

link?




http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/1026.html

Go to another LBS and order one you will appreciated the System Six more than Six13 or Caad 9.