You likely know Trek as being one of the world's largest bike companies, but the American brand didn't always offer a dizzying range of road, mountain, and commuter bikes. In fact, there was a time when they offered exactly one model, a bare road touring frameset that was silver brazed and cost $275 USD. That may not seem expensive compared to today's machines, but it wasn't a small sum of money in 1976, and was actually pricey enough to place Trek in the mid to high-end range of what was available at the time, which were mostly Japanese-made products. Those early years were spent manufacturing frames in a converted carpet warehouse, affectionately known as the 'Red Barn', before being forced to move to a larger facility in 1980 due to increasing demands for their steel frames - sales doubled in 1981, and then again in 1982, according to Trek. And it was in 1983 that the first steel prototype mountain bike frame was produced, although the term 'mountain bike' should be used loosely as it was modelled after its road-going counterpart. Much has changed since those early days, with Trek playing a pioneering role in the use of carbon fiber with their OCLV (Optimum Compaction, Low Void) carbon fiber frame that debuted in 1992, to the carbon fiber Session 9.9 downhill race bikes that sit atop Trek's mountain bike range today. Trek CEO John Burke has been there pretty much since the beginning, which makes sense given that his father, Richard Burke, co-established the company that his son now heads. Just think about that for a second - how many multi-million dollar companies are run by the son of their founder in this day and age? The answer is not many, with the Trek CEO certainly not being the norm in American business. Burke didn't simply walk into the position, either, as his initial position at Trek was packaging orders before moving up the ladder to sales, and then eventually to a customer service position. As you can imagine, this gives Burke a very different perspective of the company he steers relative to how many other CEOs see their company, and it's likely one of the reasons that he places bike advocacy, from IMBA to cycling lanes, high on his list causes. | • Founded in 1975 by Richard Burke and Bevil Hogg • Manufactured 900 hand-brazed steel framesets in 1976 • First building was the 'red barn,' a carpet warehouse • First bonded aluminum frame in 1985, the Trek 2000 • First molded carbon frame in 1989, the Trek 5000 • OCLV carbon frames debuted in 1992 • Advanced Concepts Group established in 1998 • Purchases Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes in 1993 • Number of employees: 1,600 (2006) |
When I started with Trek in college my first job was picking and packing orders in the warehouse. I was a good picker and packer. After I'd get finished picking and packing for the day I'd get on the phones and try and sell stuff, and I was pretty good at selling. |
The biggest benefit from racing, because we're a really technical company, more so I think than anybody else, is the marriage of guys who push bikes to the absolute limit being able to communicate and develop products with people who really know how to push the limits on the design and engineering side. |
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My first real bike was a Gary Fisher. It didn't hold up to my learning curve, but the Paragon I got as a replacement was a vastly better frame, and is still going strong under my father (who is just now himself learning to ride). These articles are great in so many ways. Please keep up this type of coverage!
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But Palmer didn't do that, Armstrong did, Armstrong's operation involved a whole team for years, it's Trek that signed the cheques and pretended not to notice, it's their elephant in their room. You can't talk about Trek's history and not bring it up, they defined themselves for almost two decades by that man and until someone very high up in Trek comes out and says 'we screwed up, we knew something was off and we chose to ignore it, we're sorry,' it will always be a stain on their character
that these guys are selling you a frame (scratch slash session) which they know the Chainstays are going to fail,.. and set you up in warranty with the same godddammn failing chainstays..not improved.. the same faulty ones.. . and when you are out of warranty you can pay for them..300$. but they will still fail eventually..
but as we all know 50/100 grams of extra alu on them would hurt the business.. by not selling as much.
GFY trek.. after all the misery i have seen here... i will never buy a trek again..
Why won't you sell just a frame without the accessories?
IE. Scott had the 899 which they (technically) didn't sell frame only. For that you had the RC model.
Now in 2013-14 you got the SL frame version available.
Why this question? Because I want a trek frame for which I'm willing to pay for the custom paint job (project one) BUT not willing to pay for the accessories that I already have...
And he is right about their OCLV. I can only think of maybe one other big brand that sort of made a semi cabin bike back then: Raleigh?
Back in '92 it was all about Merlin and lite speed.
True story:
Before this season my father´s 26" Gary Fisher Roscoe chainstay snapped while he was sitting at home on his bike setting up rebound for the shock.
We immediately contacted the LBS where the bike was purchased and wanted to claim the lifetime warranty for the frame.
First thing that suprised us (in a bad way) was that Trek use the word frame in a meaning of front triangle only (according to frame warranty). Than we found out that my dad lost his receipt.
We offered the Czech dealer a solution of buying the chainstay for full price because we don´t have the receipt and naively thought it would be OK this way, but it wasn´t at all...
Last week my father received an email from Bretton (Trek importer) representative stating that "If you don´t have the receipt then they will not do anything out-of-ordinary to solve your problem. I am not here to fix mistakes of others." Bretton didn´t offer us any optional solution like discounted frameset, test-bike to buy etc.
We started the solution in June, now it´s October and no sign of will to help the customer who wants to pay for the help! All because dad lost the recipe.
Is this standart way how to deal with paying customer at Trek?! Hope this post will finally make someone to pay attention.
We have contacted the store, however the decision to return the bike remains with the retailer.
At this stage, we are unable to help you with your request.
Regards
Kane Piper | Trek Bicycle Corporation (Australia) |
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Bourrillon [mailto:jrbad@me.com]
Sent: Monday, 1 June 2015 9:14 AM
To: CustomerService, Australia
Subject: Re: WARRANTY TRANSFER
Hi I sent a reply to your last email..I was just wondering if there will be a positive outcome..
Kindest Regards
Richard Bourrillon
On 28 May 2015, at 12:39 pm, Richard Bourrillon jrbad@me.com> wrote:
Hi, thank you for the reply..I am very grateful to hear back from your company...
VELO BICYCLES ( BRISBANE QUEENSLAND )
122-124 KEDRON BROOK RD,WILSTON QLD
CONTACT NO..07 33523844
Kindest regards
Richard Bourrillon
0417484623
On 28 May 2015, at 12:34 pm, CustomerService, Australia CustomerService_Australia@trekbikes.com> wrote:
Thanks for the email,
Sorry to hear this has been the experience.
Are you able to let me know the store you have dealing with?
Regards
Kane Piper | Trek Bicycle Corporation (Australia) |
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Bourrillon [mailto:jrbad@me.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 27 May 2015 4:26 PM
To: CustomerService, Australia
Subject: WARRANTY TRANSFER
Hi I bought a new TREK EMONDA SL6 in July 2016....with in a short period of time I since had a serious car accident and which prevented me from riding any bike leave alone my trek..it is brand new...I have not even shifted a gear on the bike, yet I am told it is policy and because I have bought the bike it is considered used...this bike has not even left my house...All I want to do is sell it...and I know I will not get the same value but by granting maybe on compassionate grounds a transfer of warranty it would be most grateful..At the moment no one seems to want to help both your billion dollar company and the retailer I purchased the bike from..I still hold the original receipt...It seemed fine when I purchased the bike and paid in full for all including accessories the customer service was great..but now due to unforeseen circumstances stances were I need to sell this beautiful bike,no one want to really know about me or the bike..
THIS IS THE SUPPORT I GOT FROM TREK AND ITS AGENT.... VERY DISAPPOINTED..TO SAY THE LEAST THANKS TREK....AND TO ITS CEO I WILL NEVER BUY A TREK BIKE AGAIN...
Kindest regards
Richard bourrillon
0417484623
In the article, it is said that Mr. Burke loved to listen to his customers. This is not the case of his employees anymore. Unfortunately. I have a complaint pending for almost 10 months and nobody wanted to listen to my story, even if several persons contacted me.
I think I will grab the bull by the horns, as they say in France, and will send a letter to John Burke itself. Maybe he will remember the good old days when he used to pay attention to what customers were saying.
Any other suggestions? Thanks a lot!
:-)
FWIW, I'm still a huge Lance fan, would have been much more surprised if he was clean than that he turned out to be dirty, but he still did more for cycling than just about anybody, and since his fellow riders were just as dirty as him, he still won all the Tours "fair" in my book.