Demo days are dead?
- Thread starter poita
- Start date
pink poodle
気が狂っている男
Test the best...Specialized do, rode past one recently. Then walked past with a flat a few minutes later. Vague ideas that other brands do too, just can't think of any that have been here recently.
Joel_32
Likes Dirt
Giant and Trek used to run demo days/fleets each summer, but dont think either of them have done anything advertised for over a year now. As noted above, Specialized appear to be the main ones still running quite a number of demo days at present. Info's now posted on the facebook page.
MarioM
Likes Dirt
A GOOD shop will have demo bikes available , they will setup the bike for you and send you on your way .
The Reverend
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Trek have run them at the YY in VIC. I've also seen Specialized and Scott / Avanti in recent years.
I certainly don't see too many other brands and it has to be of mixed value:
You get dreamers and wannabes mixed in with serious customers.
I'll never forget hearing some guy at a Specialized day reply when asked which type of bike he'd like to try..."the most expensive one". I could feel the life draining out of the Rep handling it.
I certainly don't see too many other brands and it has to be of mixed value:
You get dreamers and wannabes mixed in with serious customers.
I'll never forget hearing some guy at a Specialized day reply when asked which type of bike he'd like to try..."the most expensive one". I could feel the life draining out of the Rep handling it.
jbg
Likes Dirt
Out of the loop.
Mondraker, Trek, Scott, Giant......Most big bike shops will have a couple of demo models to test.
Specialized have been running destination trail all over Australia with the next one in Feb at Lysterfield. The vids from the Cairns stop looked full on.
Best bet is to find a lbs that has the bike you're after and talk to them about a test ride.
Mondraker, Trek, Scott, Giant......Most big bike shops will have a couple of demo models to test.
Specialized have been running destination trail all over Australia with the next one in Feb at Lysterfield. The vids from the Cairns stop looked full on.
Best bet is to find a lbs that has the bike you're after and talk to them about a test ride.
Thanks for the replies.
Can't seem to find any info on trek or giant running any, and Scott/avanti look like they're only running road.
Specialized seem to be maintaining the rage, don't have 4 grand to spend on their cheapest bike though
Mondraker look like they're doing hunter valley demo days. I don't live in the hunter unfortunately!
And a good bike shop would be awesome, all I've got locally is carpark test rides so far. And I really like being able to ride different bikes back to back, not sure any lbs would gladly let me take their entire test fleet out at once!
Can't seem to find any info on trek or giant running any, and Scott/avanti look like they're only running road.
Specialized seem to be maintaining the rage, don't have 4 grand to spend on their cheapest bike though
Mondraker look like they're doing hunter valley demo days. I don't live in the hunter unfortunately!
And a good bike shop would be awesome, all I've got locally is carpark test rides so far. And I really like being able to ride different bikes back to back, not sure any lbs would gladly let me take their entire test fleet out at once!
Joel_32
Likes Dirt
Trek & Giant haven't run any 'official' days since late 2014 I believe. I understand Trek may have a current demo fleet that they make available for various LBS's to use as required, which may be the same with other companies as well so perhaps try contacting a few local shops to see what they can arrange?
mik_git
Likes Bikes and Dirt
locally we have a Giant and Specialised guys running demo days (and I' think the Scott guys do, but not 100%), usually once, maybe twice a year (thats locally in Tas, i'm sure they do alternate days in Hobart as well). So companies still do, I went to a Look one last year that was great, a bit different as you could take the bikes for a day or so compared to just ride around the area, but that wasn't local.
Nambra
Definitely should have gone to specsavers
Giant:Thanks for the replies.
Can't seem to find any info on trek or giant running any, and Scott/avanti look like they're only running road.
Specialized seem to be maintaining the rage, don't have 4 grand to spend on their cheapest bike though
Mondraker look like they're doing hunter valley demo days. I don't live in the hunter unfortunately!
And a good bike shop would be awesome, all I've got locally is carpark test rides so far. And I really like being able to ride different bikes back to back, not sure any lbs would gladly let me take their entire test fleet out at once!
http://www.giantdemodays.com.au/
Lapierre:
http://www.lapierrebikes.com.au/lapierre-demo-days-come-test-ride-latest-lapierre-bikes
Doesn't look like there is anything formally scheduled for 2016 yet, but if you hit them up they might be able to help?
Specialized still run a pretty comprehensive demo program which moves around every year, but it seems to be MTB focused now that you can get road demos in almost every store.
Full list of dates are on website - http://www.specialized.com/au/en-au/news/latest-news/17194
Full list of dates are on website - http://www.specialized.com/au/en-au/news/latest-news/17194
antonfourie
Likes Dirt
Mondraker has one at least once a month and is available on request too!
Stredda
Runs naked through virgin scrub
I went to the last Specialized demo day down here in Tassie last year held at Hollybank. Thought it would just be a couple of bikes from the local bike shop but it was a huge transporter with about three sizes in every model MTB and road and mostly carbon models too. They had free shuttles to the top of the Juggernaut trail, apples, bananas and soft drinks and set each bike up for you before you headed out. Was very impressed.
The next one is a two day event at BlueDerby in March which just happens to be my birthday so camping/riding weekend is locked in. Nice if they have free shuttles to the top of the Atlas trail.
The next one is a two day event at BlueDerby in March which just happens to be my birthday so camping/riding weekend is locked in. Nice if they have free shuttles to the top of the Atlas trail.
Demo days at Ourimbah
Been spoilt up here recently. specialized ran their test the best at Ourimbah with a shitload of bikes. All top end spec and set up perfectly.
Lusty also ran a day with a load of different Santa Cruz bikes. Great to be able to take these around the Ourimnah tracks and get a real feel of them.
Been spoilt up here recently. specialized ran their test the best at Ourimbah with a shitload of bikes. All top end spec and set up perfectly.
Lusty also ran a day with a load of different Santa Cruz bikes. Great to be able to take these around the Ourimnah tracks and get a real feel of them.
Isildur
The Real Pedant
The big brands have organised demo days, while some of the boutiques have a fleet of bikes available with notice from your LBS.
I demoed a Trek Top Fuel via a local bike shop and also a Pivot Mach 429SL via another. I have decent relationships with both stores though, so they had no problem getting the demos in for me. Perhaps it might be different if you just walked in from the street though.
I demoed a Trek Top Fuel via a local bike shop and also a Pivot Mach 429SL via another. I have decent relationships with both stores though, so they had no problem getting the demos in for me. Perhaps it might be different if you just walked in from the street though.
Thanks for all the replies. It probably doesn't help that I remember a few years ago travelling alot and looking for a new bike, I ended up riding demo bikes in 3 different states/trails. Obviously didn't get the sale though, just realised they were much better in certain locations than others.....!
Looks like the more boutique demo days either happen at events (which I infrequently get to due to work), or only close to the importer. i.e. Mondraker in NSW, Lapierre in QLD. It would certainly cost a bit to haul a fleet of bikes around the country, and would suck if your standalone day attracted no-one. It's a pity Giant and Trek (and Scott/Avanti) don't run their big fleets anymore. Would probably have sold me a bike if I could actually ride a trail on it.
As for the LBS demos, I don't have enough cash to hang out at the bike shop all the time, and I do pretty much all my own repairs. I have enquired multiple times about bikes, demos were carpark-only affairs if they actually had the bike in stock in the first place. I guess in a capital city with high turnover a demo might be more forthcoming. Any recommendations for Melbourne stores that let you go for a decent ride?
Looks like the more boutique demo days either happen at events (which I infrequently get to due to work), or only close to the importer. i.e. Mondraker in NSW, Lapierre in QLD. It would certainly cost a bit to haul a fleet of bikes around the country, and would suck if your standalone day attracted no-one. It's a pity Giant and Trek (and Scott/Avanti) don't run their big fleets anymore. Would probably have sold me a bike if I could actually ride a trail on it.
As for the LBS demos, I don't have enough cash to hang out at the bike shop all the time, and I do pretty much all my own repairs. I have enquired multiple times about bikes, demos were carpark-only affairs if they actually had the bike in stock in the first place. I guess in a capital city with high turnover a demo might be more forthcoming. Any recommendations for Melbourne stores that let you go for a decent ride?