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OK People, talk me down....
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 2006-02-10 5:45 PM |
Extreme Veteran  370   Mesa AZ |  Subject: OK People, talk me down....My husband has promised me a new bike for my 40th birthday in April, but we have talked about getting it sooner so I'm not switching bikes mid-season. I had been talking to one of the LBS about the Felt F80. $999
However today I made a strategic mistake. I went to another LBS who had the gaterskins I wanted in stock and made the mistake of walking around. There, in the store, in the right size, they had the Trek 2200 WSD - $1600
I'm totally fine with pink and, in fact, like it better than yellow. I test rode this and it fit like a glove. So my problem is this: Is it worth $600 more than I was planning to spend? The differences I can spot so far FELT TREK
I'm not sure what else to look for..... So tell me why the Trek is that much better or why it doesn't matter....
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| 2006-02-10 5:50 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Veteran 255 Victoria, BC | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... No trial ride for the Felt?? What kind of bike shop is this? I would never buy a bike I couldn't test ride. But maybe that's just me. |
| 2006-02-10 5:50 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Champion 7704   Williamston, Michigan | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... hhhmmm....Most people are going to tell you to go with what fits best....maybe look at some tri bikes too...just to muddy the waters  |
| 2006-02-10 6:00 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Extreme Veteran 707 pnw | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Trek has much better components and is actually built to fit a woman. No test ride? What is up with that? Not test ride, no buy around here. BTW the Felt saddle sucks. |
| 2006-02-10 6:02 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Elite 2863 | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... What Fits Best, buy. If WSD fits you better then money is no object. My wife loves her WSD Specialized. |
| 2006-02-10 6:03 PM in reply to: #343404 |
Veteran 274 Westminster, Colorado | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Treks rule. I love treks. All I ride are treks, they fit me really well. Ultegra components are better, you won't have as many problems with them and adjusting them will be easier as they are higher quality. 105's are ok, but ultegra is better. I would go with something that fit like a glove. I rode a bike for years that was too long in the top tube for me and when I got on my new trek 2200 frame I felt so comfortable it was unbelievable. I was immediately faster, and didn't get as much neck cricks as I did with the old bike. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth. I don't know anything about Felts, so I am a little biased. |
| 2006-02-10 6:03 PM in reply to: #343403 |
Extreme Veteran 370 Mesa AZ | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... element - 2006-02-10 4:50 PM No trial ride for the Felt?? What kind of bike shop is this? I would never buy a bike I couldn't test ride. But maybe that's just me. They don't have the right size on the Felt. They would have to order it in. Then I could change my mind if the fit was off. The LBS did a very detailed set of measurements that basically told him there was no particular company that he carried that would be better than any other due to geometry... In a fit of geekdom, however, I made a spreadsheet with the geometry for the Felt (in both the 50 and 52) and the Trek (in the 51 that I rode) - the differences are small, but there....
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| 2006-02-10 6:05 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Veteran 255 Victoria, BC | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Also, regarding the women's specific design... People have differing opinions on this issue. One school of thought says, sure, men and women have different bodies, but a good bike shop can fit a woman on a man's geometry, no problem, by swapping out parts until it feels right. Another school of thought says, no way, a shorter stem does not a shorter top tub make (for example), and women are more comfortable and can ride longer on bikes with geometries suited to their bodies. My mountain bike is a Trek WSD, but my road bike is a regular old Cannondale that was fit for me by a great shop. I rode many bikes when selecting a road bike, and just liked the way the Cannondale responded. It wasn't, however, immediately the best fit -- a Trek WSD (again) was. At the time, though, the WSD selection from all bike makers was rather slim, and there wasn't a women's model in my specific (not low or high end) price range. So I decided to go with the regular frame, which puts me in a more aggressive riding position than the WSD did, but is the exact bike I wanted and fits well once some adjustments were made. With my mountain bike, because I wasn't spending over $1000, I knew that the shop wasn't going to spend a lot of time fitting me and swapping out components, so I went for a WSD that fit well straight out of the box. I'm still perfecting the fit of my road bike, but my bike shop is amazing and does countless adjustments for me. They are very sympathetic to the particular fit needs of a woman in a man's bike world and are happy to help. Why am I telling you all this? To let you know that you can get a well-fitted bike, whether it's specifically made for men or for women. You will probably end up in a more aggressive riding position on a standard-geometry bike, but if that's what you like, then go for it. If you want a more comfortable, slightly less aggressive position and a bike that fits right out of the box, WSD may be what you're looking for. And hey, that pink sure is pretty!!!! |
| 2006-02-10 6:10 PM in reply to: #343402 |
| Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... If the Trek fits you well, I say go for it. I just picked up a Trek 1500 WSD and I absolutely LOVE it. If I had the cash, I would have gone for the 2200 for sure. I echo what everyone else is saying.. even if it has the same dimensions, you have to test ride the Felt before you consider buying it. When I bought my bike, it was between the Trek 1500 WSD and the Cannondale R700 Feminine. Very similar bikes, very DIFFERENT rides. The Cannondale was stiff and I felt absolutely every bump on the road. Didn't like how the shifters felt either. These were things I wouldn't have known unless they had let me test ride it. What is the reason for them not letting you test ride it? If it's because they don't have one put together yet, consider this: My LBS didn't have the Cannondale assembled.. so I told 'em I'd put down a $200 deposit, that I'd end up buying one or the other.. and they agreed to assemble it just so I could test ride it. |
| 2006-02-10 6:12 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Extreme Veteran 370 Mesa AZ | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... That's the thing though - the felt lists for 999 and I know they do a 10% new bike discount. Would I be better off going UP in a men's bike and getting it fitted or going with something that comes fitting right out of the box. I mean, if I'm going to spend 1600 instead of 1000 that's a whole different range in everyone's bike lines..... |
| 2006-02-10 6:14 PM in reply to: #343412 |
Extreme Veteran 370 Mesa AZ | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Vaiza - 2006-02-10 5:10 PM If the Trek fits you well, I say go for it. I just picked up a Trek 1500 WSD and I absolutely LOVE it. If I had the cash, I would have gone for the 2200 for sure. I echo what everyone else is saying.. even if it has the same dimensions, you have to test ride the Felt before you consider buying it. When I bought my bike, it was between the Trek 1500 WSD and the Cannondale R700 Feminine. Very similar bikes, very DIFFERENT rides. The Cannondale was stiff and I felt absolutely every bump on the road. Didn't like how the shifters felt either. These were things I wouldn't have known unless they had let me test ride it. What is the reason for them not letting you test ride it? If it's because they don't have one put together yet, consider this: My LBS didn't have the Cannondale assembled.. so I told 'em I'd put down a $200 deposit, that I'd end up buying one or the other.. and they agreed to assemble it just so I could test ride it. It's not that they don't have it assembled. It's a small shop, focused on triathletes, that doesn't have on in stock in that size at ALL. They would have to order it. And they don't carry any of the other brands I've looked at, so if that didn't work I wouldn't be able to just buy a different bike from them. |
| 2006-02-10 6:33 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Extreme Veteran 707 pnw | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... My suggestion is go ride a few more bikes. Worse mistake we made last year was buying from a small shop. (we ended up buying 3 bikes in 8 months, a tri bike, a woman's multisport and frame up build, lwt road bike) I still go to a small shop (one I found with even more searching) but also one that meets more of our needs. Next bike i buy I'll have a few miles on it and be fitted to before I buy. There are lots of bike shops in our area and I have only been to a handful. But if I were to buy again I'd check out even more of the locals. |
| 2006-02-10 6:35 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Veteran 255 Victoria, BC | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... I'm curious to why you're so interested in the Felt if you haven't ridden one in your size that feels good to you? Are there no other bikes in that price range that you've been able to ride? |
| 2006-02-10 6:44 PM in reply to: #343428 |
Extreme Veteran 370 Mesa AZ | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... element - 2006-02-10 5:35 PM I'm curious to why you're so interested in the Felt if you haven't ridden one in your size that feels good to you? Are there no other bikes in that price range that you've been able to ride? I trust the owner of that bike shop and he recommended it. He's the only shop in town that specializes in triathlons and that is the only line of road bikes he carries. When I asked him why, he said that they walk a nice line between a good performing road bike and a true tribike. He's been very good about doing what he could for the piece of crap I have now and telling me when it wasn't worth the effort. And it was in the right price range, and seemed a good value for the money. You're right though - I should probably go ride a number of bikes before making any kind of decision. I've never actually ridden a tri bike and frankly I'm a little scared of them, but I should probably try one of those as well...... |
| 2006-02-10 6:57 PM in reply to: #343426 |
Elite 3650 Laurium, MI | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... IMOH the trek is a better bike. You are looking at race level components Vs, entry level race components. That's not just the drive train and shift levers either. The Stem, headset and other components on the Trek are better. The Trek also has Carbon seat stays and a higher grade (read lighter) alloy in the frame. Components could be upgraded later and for just under $600 you could get the Felt to match the Trek component wise. However, I think the differences in the frame materals justify the additional cost. especially if it "fits like a glove" like you say. From experience I can also tell you that when deciding between bikes soley based on price, NEVER buy the cheaper one because you know you will buy a better one later, or you plan on upgrading it. You will always ride it wishing you had the "better" bike. If you just spend the money now and get the bike you can't get enough of, you will ride it that much more. |
| 2006-02-10 7:07 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Veteran 255 Victoria, BC | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Gotcha... Well, here's my two cents: Pick a price range, and be firm about it. A $2000 bike is different from a $1000 bike (as you have noted), and you want to compare apples to apples. A $2000 Trek will always be nicer than a $1000 Felt or Specialized or whatever. So pick a category of bikes by deciding how much you're really willing to spend, then only look at and ride bikes in that category. When I was shopping, my bike shop had a gorgeous, carbon, Trek WSD in my size, but I just admired it from afar as it was out of my price range. They would have let me ride it in a second, but one ride on that baby and I would have never been satisfied with my Cannondale, which is still a great bike. Once you have identified bikes within that range, go ride some. As many as you can. Really good bike shops will make adjustments for you WHILE you're test riding, and before you've put any money down. My shop swapped stems for me 3 or 4 times while I was test riding, but another shop wouldn't. Obviously, that shop didn't get my business. Think of your test rides as a blindfolded taste test. You're not trying to decide which one is Coke and which one is Pepsi, but which one tastes the best to you...know what I mean? If you can't find a local shop that has the bike you want to ride in your size, see if a shop in a neighboring or nearby city has one in stock. You can always get your local shop to order it, but you definitely wanna ride the bike before you commit. Many of us are rather "nerdy" (myself included) and get all caught up in the researching and the reading of reviews and the talking to "experts" about bikes. But the truth is, your butt has to sit on it. So, make your butt happy and go with what FEELS right, not what comes out right on your spreadsheet. And have fuuuuun cause you're getting a new bike for your birthday! Hooray! I'm not dissing spreadsheets by the way...I too am of the spreadsheet loving persuasion.  |
| 2006-02-10 7:09 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Expert 957 | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... If the cost for the 2200 is an issue, what about the Trek 1500 WSD which goes for about $1150-$1200? It comes in a 51 as well. As far as whether or not to get a WSD bike or not, it is obviously going to depend a lot on how well a particular frame fits you and the job the store in fitting you. However, if you have the "typical" women's body, your legs will be longer compared with your torso, especially when compared to a typical man your height. This may lead you to feel too stretched out with regards to the top tube and handlebars. The WSD are designed with that shorter torso, arms, and smaller hands of a woman in mind. As far as fit, even if the top tope, stem, seat etc. is identical in two bikes made by different manufacturers (or even the same one), one might still not feel as good of a fit as the other one. When I bought my bike the end of last year, I had narrowed my choices to the Trek 1500 WSD and the Cannondale R700 WSD (essentially the same bike components). I personally like the way that the Cannondale rode better, but even after the bike fitter put the same seat on the Cannondale and getting the exact same seat height, distance from the seat to the handlebars etc. on my second trip to the LBS to test ride the bikes, the Trek still just felt like a slightly better fit, so I bought that one. Ultimately, just go with what feels best, at least if a couple hundred dollars or so isn't that big of a deal. |
| 2006-02-10 7:14 PM in reply to: #343435 |
Extreme Veteran 707 pnw | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... He's been very good about doing what he could for the piece of crap I have now and telling me when it wasn't worth the effort. And it was in the right price range, and seemed a good value for the money...I've never actually ridden a tri bike and frankly I'm a little scared of them, but I should probably try one of those as well...... That says a lot about the shop...sounds like a good place to buy. But nothing wrong with shopping around. Bikes are on sale here now and at best prices in the last 6 months. Last year's bikes are a great buy. Don't be afraid of a tri specific bike. Great for most training and perfect for races. The tri bike was the first bike I had bought in years and had never rode one at that point. I liked it so much it encouraged my wife to get a new bike. Over the next 6 months I found a need for a new road bike to have even more options. The last bike took the most time to buy as I became better educated on what was available and what I saw as my needs. I also found the increased price of that bike much easier to justify. Forgot to add....my wife tried half a dozen bikes. Ended up with a Specialized multisport....even though she had decided on the Trek womens. The last stop was the LBS and the Specialised just felt the best to her after all the test rides and she hadn't even dreamed of doing a Tri at that point. By end of the summer she'd done a dual...now she is registered for two tris Edited by Nob 2006-02-10 7:22 PM |
| 2006-02-10 7:34 PM in reply to: #343402 |
| Pro 3903 Andover | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... I agree with riding more bikes!!! (If it comes down to cost, I'll bet the shop that has the bike you want will give you a good price--especially if, when the time comes, you tell them that is the deciding factor.) I, for one, don't buy the "woman specific design." When I worked at the LBS we never sold them as "women specific" as, with any high-end bike, adjustments needed to be made for the rider, male or female. So, I'd ride some bikes and go with the one that feels best. I know that doesn't help much but it's my .02. Good luck and have fun! BTW: If you narrow it down to two bikes that both fit well and you like them, go with the better components! It's more cost effective to get them on the bike new than to upgrade later. Edited by CptnJackSparrow 2006-02-10 7:35 PM |
| 2006-02-10 7:53 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Extreme Veteran 370 Mesa AZ | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to go with the "ride a few more bikes" thing. There are several LBSs around here (due to the university) and I'm starting to think I need to ride a specialized and a cannondale before making a decision. Of course, I might do it tomorrow before they sell the trek, just in case |
| 2006-02-10 9:04 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Master 1932 Savannah, | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Ummm.......pink. |
| 2006-02-10 9:04 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Master 1932 Savannah, | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Mmmmmmm......pink! |
| 2006-02-10 9:19 PM in reply to: #343402 |
Pro 3883 Woodstock,GA | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... To completely blow your mind.......if you are thinking of getting a road bike and "converting it" to a tri bike then you have to look at the Cervelo Soloist. Its a road bike with a reversable seat post to give it a more aggresive "tri" feel to it. You can use it as a road bike for crits, or centuries and flip the seat post around for a steeper seat angle for tris. Just a thought! Good luck on whatever you decide. |
| 2006-02-10 10:40 PM in reply to: #343435 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... misanthropic777 - 2006-02-10 7:44 PM I trust the owner of that bike shop and he recommended it. He's the only shop in town that specializes in triathlons and that is the only line of road bikes he carries. When I asked him why, he said that they walk a nice line between a good performing road bike and a true tribike. He's been very good about doing what he could for the piece of crap I have now and telling me when it wasn't worth the effort. And it was in the right price range, and seemed a good value for the money. You're right though - I should probably go ride a number of bikes before making any kind of decision. I've never actually ridden a tri bike and frankly I'm a little scared of them, but I should probably try one of those as well...... Personally, I'm a little skeptical of this. I understand that you've had a good experience with him and trust him. But, a Felt isn't going to be the best bike for everyone, even if it is a nice line between a good performing bike and a tru tri bike. Personally, I didn't like Felt bikes and I went with a Trek because it felt a lot better and I like the way it rides better than the Felts. It sounds like you should test more bikes. I would never buy a bike without being able to try it first. You just never know if it's going to work for you or not. |
| 2006-02-11 1:07 AM in reply to: #343402 |
Extreme Veteran 644 Anaheim | Subject: RE: OK People, talk me down.... Guess what! we have both in our house! my wife rides the trek. Trek is slightly lighter, better wheels(imo). It has a carbon seatpost and carbon seatstays (gives you a smoother ride but not as smooth as they say). The stock seat SUCKS!! throw it as far as you can and get a new one. The felt is stiffer which may not matter unless you are heavy for your size and need to corner at highspeed or make very long climbs. and made in USA. The components are not that much different. Go with the fit! comfort=speed and endurance. |
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