When Lance retires should Trek negotiate a new Armstrong division for all their high-end, carbon/boron bikes? I'm tired of OCLV 120, 110, 55, Madone, SSL, etc. Give the products some marketing firepower - sell the racer wannabes an "Armstrong" bike. And a full line of accessories, TT helmets, carbon TT bars, etc.

When Lance retires should Trek negotiate a new Armstrong division for all their high-end, carbon/boron bikes? I'm tired of OCLV 120, 110, 55, Madone, SSL, etc. Give the products some marketing firepower - sell the racer wannabes an "Armstrong" bike. And a full line of accessories, TT helmets, carbon TT bars, etc.
It would probably cost too much to use his name, plus everyone who knows anything already associates Trek bikes with lance already.

there has already been an Armstrong brand. early-mid 20th century. i think they were from england. trek might have some issues with the name. kinda like the fisher mountainbike thing.

Give the products some marketing firepower - sell the racer wannabes an "Armstrong" bike. And a full line of accessories, TT helmets, carbon TT bars, etc.

I think this is a great idea. We'll be able to spot the freds and tools a lot easier.

If in charge of Trek's marketing, tying a brand investment exclusively to Armstrong would seem risky to me. Even as a six timer, maybe seven timer, one dope conviction or scandal would bring the whole house of cards down. The brand is already established and his current image endorsement does what you'd want it to do.

Marketing via celebrity endorsements are expensive, questionable for the brand and can have a tough go, although there are more good contracts than bad ones, they get expensive as the celeb gains popularity and do more for the celeb than the brand. Bad celeb/brand relationships? Micheal Jackson/Pepsi. Kobe Bryant/MacDonalds. Latrell Sprewell/Converse. OJ Simpson/Hertz. Magic Johnson/Converse/Pepsi. Madonna/Pepsi. Benjamin "d00d" Curtis/Dell.

Here's an industry article for reference:
http://advertising.about.com/cs/advertising/a/endorsements.htm

If in charge of Trek's marketing, tying a brand investment exclusively to Armstrong would seem risky to me...The brand is already established and his current image endorsement does what you'd want it to do.

But what about LeMond? He's a real 'sac de douche.'

But what about LeMond? He's a real 'sac de douche.'
Showerbag?

When Lance retires should Trek negotiate a new Armstrong division for all their high-end, carbon/boron bikes? I'm tired of OCLV 120, 110, 55, Madone, SSL, etc. Give the products some marketing firepower - sell the racer wannabes an "Armstrong" bike. And a full line of accessories, TT helmets, carbon TT bars, etc.

Trek already does this. It's called Trek Bicycles, and as others have said, they are directly tied to Armstrong already, and probably always will be. Marketing is already in place. The racer wanna-bes already buy Trek stuff overwhelmingly because Lance does. I can't tell you how many people I know who bought Atmos helmets, not because they're good helmets (they are), but because Lance uses them. Same for their bikes.

Lemond doesn't count. His product line was already established when Trek bought it.

Although the fact that Armstrong rides Trek bikes has a positive impact on their sales I doubt that "The racer wanna-bes already buy Trek stuff overwhelmingly because Lance does.". It's still gotta be a good bike with a good warranty. That comes first. If it weren't it would sell, but only to the K-Mart crowd.

He's a real 'sac de douche.'

I first heard the English version of that phrase when I was a college freshman, almost 30 years ago. My freshman roommate, who was from Syracuse, New York, used it even more frequently than I used my favorite term of endearment (@sshole). I had not heard anyone use "d_____bag" since I left college until a few weeks ago when I was riding with someone who grew up near Syracuse. He blurted it out several times. I have never been to Syracuse, but I have this mental image of a place in which everyone calls everyone else "d_____bag."

Although the fact that Armstrong rides Trek bikes has a positive impact on their sales I doubt that "The racer wanna-bes already buy Trek stuff overwhelmingly because Lance does.". It's still gotta be a good bike with a good warranty. That comes first. If it weren't it would sell, but only to the K-Mart crowd.

Let me re-state.

Based on my own experiences and what I've seen, there are a large number of wanna be racers riding around my area who all bought Trek bikes in the past few years more from the reason that Lance rides them, than anything else. This is just going by the same wanna bes riding around in Disco/Postal team kits as well as being on super high end Trek carbon bikes that see less than 1000 miles per year.

I first heard the English version of that phrase when I was a college freshman, almost 30 years ago. My freshman roommate, who was from Syracuse, New York, used it even more frequently than I used my favorite term of endearment (@sshole). I had not heard anyone use "d_____bag" since I left college until a few weeks ago when I was riding with someone who grew up near Syracuse. He blurted it out several times. I have never been to Syracuse, but I have this mental image of a place in which everyone calls everyone else "d_____bag."
Ride around with me for a while and you are bound to hear "F-in D___e" or "D___e Bag" eventually. I never realized it had geographical ties. I grew up in Northern NJ.

I once called someone a D____ Bag at the dinner table when I was ten. I got my bell rung for that one. I had no idea what it meant at the time. Still not quite sure what it means now. :confused:

This is just going by the same wanna bes riding around in Disco/Postal team kits as well as being on super high end Trek carbon bikes that see less than 1000 miles per year.

I've never understood why someone would buy a high end Trek. I can understand buying a midrange model; they're good value for the money. When you get into the major bucks you can get something much more unique and personalized than the what half the people around you are rolling on. Total lack of imagination or cowardice of being different I guess.

I've never understood why someone would buy a high end Trek. I can understand buying a midrange model; they're good value for the money. When you get into the major bucks you can get something much more unique and personalized than the what half the people around you are rolling on. Total lack of imagination or cowardice of being different I guess.

It is very hard to imagine that. I have to agree. However, it is harder to imagine why anybody would care enough to think that such a high end purchase is cowardly or lacks imagination?????

Personally, if we qualified bike purchase costs and cycling ability, most of us here would be in the supreme negative correlation category. Sure, every guy and gal here riding a 2000+ buck bike is the embodiment of training dedication and performance. NO, I DO NOT THINK SO.

Ride the bike and enjoy the ride. Who cares? And oh yes, I dont ride Treks because......they models there did not fit me at the time of the purchase. Otherwise, why not?

Let me re-state.

Based on my own experiences and what I've seen, there are a large number of wanna be racers riding around my area who all bought Trek bikes in the past few years more from the reason that Lance rides them, than anything else. This is just going by the same wanna bes riding around in Disco/Postal team kits as well as being on super high end Trek carbon bikes that see less than 1000 miles per year.


Until about 2 years ago the most economical way to get a carbon bike was thru Trek. That bike of cours was the 5200 and its derivitives. Most other manufacturers were selling hyping their aluminium bikes. As we know today carbon is much more comfortalbe and easier to get. The big 4 manufactuers all have a carbon offering. I would think that all these racer types you mentioned just wanted a comfortable race proven bike. I do think that Lance had a huge impact for Trek but to say that they just want to be like Lance is pretty crazy. I agree with you that those riders putting in less than 1000 miles there bikes are pretty much FREDs.

I once called someone a D____ Bag at the dinner table when I was ten. I got my bell rung for that one. I had no idea what it meant at the time. Still not quite sure what it means now. :confused:

Hahahaha, I did that with "pecker" in the car, no clue what it meant but had the old man swinging away at my head in the back seat while I did the Ali bob and weave.