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I would argue that google is being used incorrectly here. Google is specially being asked for a product list which meets a certain criteria. The user is asking

I would argue that google is being used incorrectly here. Google is specially being asked for a product list which meets a certain criteria. The user is asking Google to recommend the best bikes.. The user is actually looking for authoritative bicycle reviews to make a purchasing decision. Searching for “bicycle reviews” would give a far higher chance of finding what the user is after. They can then use the criteria on the review site to narrow down what they are after. There is also a limit to what searching will get you. Going to a bike shop will allow an expert in this subject matter to assess your personal requirements and advise accordingly. For a lot of things, going out and talking to someone will yield far better results than Google ever will.

whydid 5y ago
While I agree with you about the incorrect search being used, I disagree that bike review results will give anything more useful. Many "reviews" are also collections of affiliate links, disguised as a review.
nuker 5y ago
> Searching for “bicycle reviews” would give a far higher chance of finding what the user is after. Nope. Google will still give you dumb reviews pages full of “Check price on Amazon” affiliate links. What works for me is adding “site:reddit.com” or “forum” to search.
- _rs 5y ago
  Some communities have their own forums they use too, and I’ve only stumbled upon these by accident. It would be nice if there were an index somewhere that kept track of them.
- bagacrap 5y ago
  did you actually try that query? I just got lots of relatively high quality review sites/periodicals. I say "relatively" because even industry stalwarts like Bicycling Magazine, which has been around in print and/or online form for decades, are ad-driven and far from unbiased. But if you trust Consumer Reports or NY Times more, they're on the first page too.
  - nuker 5y ago
    just tried. Got surprisingly sane results :) But what I said I experienced over last year for practically anything else than bikes, all electronics stuff was item one, item two, no real opinions or substance, and invariably "check price on Amazon" buttons.
gostsamo 5y ago
Blame it on the user is always winning strategy, not? Google prides itself on its semantic search that can peak in the depths of your soul and understand your most hidden desires. I'd disagree and will say that asking for best bikes should give you a list of bikes that many people agree that they are good.
blendergeek 5y ago
I believe that I will create a new internet law: All "reviews" pages will eventually become a list of affiliate links. For more information see this article on mattress reviews [0]. [0] https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-bloggers-lawsuits-underside-of-the-mattress-wars https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-blogg...

whydid 5y ago

While I agree with you about the incorrect search being used, I disagree that bike review results will give anything more useful. Many "reviews" are also collections of affiliate links, disguised as a review.

nuker 5y ago

> Searching for “bicycle reviews” would give a far higher chance of finding what the user is after. Nope. Google will still give you dumb reviews pages full of “Check price on Amazon” affiliate links. What works for me is adding “site:reddit.com” or “forum” to search.

_rs 5y ago
Some communities have their own forums they use too, and I’ve only stumbled upon these by accident. It would be nice if there were an index somewhere that kept track of them.
bagacrap 5y ago
did you actually try that query? I just got lots of relatively high quality review sites/periodicals. I say "relatively" because even industry stalwarts like Bicycling Magazine, which has been around in print and/or online form for decades, are ad-driven and far from unbiased. But if you trust Consumer Reports or NY Times more, they're on the first page too.
- nuker 5y ago
  just tried. Got surprisingly sane results :) But what I said I experienced over last year for practically anything else than bikes, all electronics stuff was item one, item two, no real opinions or substance, and invariably "check price on Amazon" buttons.

gostsamo 5y ago

Blame it on the user is always winning strategy, not? Google prides itself on its semantic search that can peak in the depths of your soul and understand your most hidden desires. I'd disagree and will say that asking for best bikes should give you a list of bikes that many people agree that they are good.

blendergeek 5y ago

I believe that I will create a new internet law: All "reviews" pages will eventually become a list of affiliate links. For more information see this article on mattress reviews [0]. [0] https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-bloggers-lawsuits-underside-of-the-mattress-wars https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-blogg...