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Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing

Elbert Hubbard

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Importance of Pro Tour Athletes

All the engineering in the world still doesn't touch real world, hands on competition that is displayed day in and out by Pro Tour athletes.

Specialized came under heavy criticism first for delivering Tommke a bike that was stock that made him suffer.  He made his feelings known to the press  how bad a fit he was having on the first generation Tarmacs.  Then they made him aluminum versions till he was satisfied with one. Once one was made to his satisfaction they produced a mold just for him, which isn't cheap.  Hence the Tarmac SL2 comes out after testing by Quick Step, then eventually sold to the general public. 


Bicycle manufactures often complain about what it takes to sponsor Pro Tour teams.  But in hindsight these companies do come out with new designs because the athletes demand it.  Then when these athletes win on this bike or that bike 'we' the consumer demand to have it.  That way the food chain is a complete circle from athlete demand to engineering changes to consumer desire. 

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