| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1915.1 | | EXPRES::HUI | | Sun Apr 28 1991 09:44 | 9 |
| Hi Eric,
Why don't you try to get in touch with WSI and maybe you can also get
some info out of their regional sales rep. One of the guys I use to work
with is now a WSI sales rep in the Buffalo region. If I can get in
touch with him, maybe I can get you some suggest retail price on their
complete line.
Dave
|
| 1915.2 | Centurion Ironman Master | NIKLKY::KLASMAN | ALL-IN-1 DESKtop for PCs. dtn 381-0731 | Mon Apr 29 1991 08:45 | 7 |
| Eric,
My wife has a Centurion Ironman Master (w/ Ultegra components). Its a good bike,
though not really any better or worse than other good production bikes. What
else do you want to know?
Kevin
|
| 1915.3 | Selection Criteria | CTHQ2::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Mon Apr 29 1991 09:39 | 16 |
| Re: .1
I've already contacted WSI. I just don't want the official line but
the customers point of view. Reps will tow the party line. If he/she
is no longer with WSI then I would be interested in a phone number.
I'm especially interested in the effectiveness of their non-American
market penetration.
Re: .2
Kevin, What was your wife's decision criteria when she was shopping for
a bike and how well did the Ironman Master fit the criteria over the
other good production bicycles.
Eric
|
| 1915.4 | Vanilla Flavor | NEMAIL::DELORIEA | Fixed till spring | Mon Apr 29 1991 14:36 | 27 |
| >> I'm especially interested in the effectiveness of their non-American
>> market penetration.
Can't help you here but...
>> Kevin, What was your wife's decision criteria when she was shopping for
>> a bike and how well did the Ironman Master fit the criteria over the
>> other good production bicycles.
Eric,
I can't answer for Kevin or his wife but, I bought my Centurion LeMans for the
following reasons.
The shop I bought my bike from was very helpful and knowledgeable in getting me
a bike that was in my price range. I realized that most bikes in my range were
all about the same type of frame material and components. It seems the price of
the bike is dictated by what line of components are stuck on the bike,
regardless of the make of the frame. The shop I liked stocked Centurions so I
bought one. Sure there was a few things I liked about the Centurion. It came
with Shimano components which I feel work better than low end Suntour. The ride
of the bike was too similar to tell from other bikes in the same price range.
The bigest factor in my purchase, outside of price, was what the shop I liked
stocked.
Tom
|
| 1915.5 | My reasoning | CUJO::BERNARD | Dave from Cleveland | Mon Apr 29 1991 17:17 | 8 |
|
I bought a Diamondback Ascent EX last September in San Jose. I was
no real fan of the company. Other things being equal, I would have
bought first from Cannondale, Specialized, or Schwinn. However, other
things were not equal, and where else could I buy a decent MTB, with
Deore components, for $419 new?
Dave
|
| 1915.6 | | WUMBCK::FOX | | Mon Apr 29 1991 18:01 | 4 |
| Doesn't WSI handle other makes? I own a Nishiki MTB, and thought I
saw WSI somewhere in the lit.
John
|
| 1915.7 | another LeMans | LEVERS::GULICK | The owls are not what they seem | Mon Apr 29 1991 18:09 | 6 |
| My wife purchased a Centurion LeMans last season. The LeMans was
Centurion's proportionally-sized model with 26" wheels and a shorter
top-tube. It had decent components for the price and was certainly
more affordable than a Terry which was the major reason for purchase.
-tom
|
| 1915.8 | What's wrong with WSI? | CTHQ2::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Mon Apr 29 1991 19:25 | 5 |
| Re: .5
Why don't you care for the company? How would you change it?
Eric
|
| 1915.9 | Here's what I know/remember | NIKLKY::KLASMAN | ALL-IN-1 DESKtop for PCs. dtn 381-0731 | Tue Apr 30 1991 08:24 | 16 |
| Eric,
It basically came down to price and fit. The Ironman Master was about the
lowest price bike with Ultegra components (my favorite, and I strongly
influenced my wife on this), light frame (Tange #1) and the bike seemed to fit
her pretty well. Other factors were the 28 spoke front wheel. I don't remember
what other bikes were in the running other than an REI Trionfo, which is
probably the same bike, as Centurion/Diamondback build REI bikes.
She bought it from Belmont Wheelworks, which is our shop of choice, and their
selection of bikes was probably a factor. FWIW, she still likes her Specialized
Sirrus as well, if not better, and it cost about 1/3 less.
We know nothing about the manufacturer or WSI.
Kevin
|
| 1915.10 | | CUJO::BERNARD | Dave from Cleveland | Tue Apr 30 1991 11:37 | 11 |
|
Didn't say anything was wrong with them, just that I wasn't a fan.
Things would be simpler if the importer would change its company
name to match the bike's brand name. Shows an identification and
commitment to the product. Also, they should avoid changing the
brand names of the lines they import from time to time, so as better
to create a brand identity in the consumer's eye.
Dave
|
| 1915.11 | PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA | WMOIS::RIVETTS_D | Dave Rivetts, WMO, USCD, 241-4627 | Wed May 01 1991 08:42 | 8 |
| I noticed the other day a Diamond Back Bicycle box, and the writing
said it was made in PRC. Peoples Republic of China. I guess this is
the first year PRC made their bikes. Therefore, the quality might not
be the same as bikes made in Japan, or ROC, Republic Of China.
Dave
|
| 1915.12 | Some Explanations... | CTHQ1::FRERE | Ellas Danzan Solas | Wed May 01 1991 09:45 | 13 |
| More news:
WSI was sold to The China Bicycle Company (I'm still checking out if
this is ROC or PRC) and Schwinn (minor holdings). This may explain the
PRC label.
WSI is called that way because they started as an import company. It
was probably easier to keep that name (and their doors open). They
switched from Centurion to Diamond Back because they were paying big
$$$ in royalties for the use of the Centurion name.
I'm still hoping to hear from the European community...
Eric
|