Advise and suggestions please.
I have been leaning towards a Trek 1500 for my new road bike. Mostly based on Cost with features. pretty much 105 group head to toe.
My LBS feels I would be better on a Klein Aura (2004)because of the fact that I am 200 5-11.5 muscualr build with HILLS as my battle cry (mostly crying). The thought is that it will give me less flex so I should be more
efficient tackling the job. I know I should be with most bikes because I do it fine with my Hybrid. The down side are the Tiagra Brake shifters.
That said, I saw a Specialized Elite, looks good.
Then fell onto a FELT. This bike has great componenets for the price. All ultegra, cranks are not for about $1300. I have not seen many of these or for that matter only one place selling it in the city. Yes that place on the Westside . Funny, after most comments I would have skipped them but found the experience...hmm VERY PLEASANT.
ONE MORE THING. Is it me or do most bike shops seem to want to FIT you after I choose the bike? I mean they are asking me the size I want. Yes I have been to bicycle Habitate, Toga and Bicycle Rennaisance. I mean I want the right fit. I am lost on this topic.
Please help.
Rob
Felt vs Trek vs Klein vs Specialized
The 2004 Klein is probably the same frame as the Trek 2100 and 2300. So, it is a different price range from the 1500. Thus, a better bike if you have the money.
I think you are correct, but the 2100 has better components.
thanks
Truthfully, in that price range you can't go all that wrong. Bianchi also has some great entries around that price level. If you find a 2004 Veloce or Vigorelli sitting around, you can get Ultegra or Veloce for the same price. (I say that because one of the Brooklyn stores was having 2003 blowout around this time last year.)
As far as a stiff frame, your wheels and tire pressure will have a bigger effect than any of those frames. People brag about a great deal on an Ultegra bike, when in fact they traded good wheels for slightly improved shifting. (And if the bike isn't well adjusted the Ultegra shifts worse than Sora.)
Don't get all caught up in the components. Look at the whole package (even color) and then go with your heart.
"Wow, lots of questions there.
First off, on the fit front, you shouldn't be hard to fit. Measure your pubic bone height, or just take the seat height from your current bike, if that's right. If you're proportioned normally, they'll be within a centimeter of 86cm (PBH) and 76cm (seat height). If that's right, you'll be well served by a 58cm bike. No real mystery there. In other words, in this case, it makes sense to fit you from the bike. You're in the middle of the distribution in terms of height and weight, so it's not like you're going to need some wacky bike or crazy adjustments. Assuming I'm right about the PBH and seat height, I would put you on a 58cm, make sure your seat/bottom bracket relationship is good, stick on a stem somewhere between 100 and 120mm and have you go ride a few hundred miles...
As far as whether the Klein or the Trek is the better bike for you, that's hard to say. But one thing that's not hard to say is that picking a bike on ""stiffness"" is absurd. You'd be better advised to base it on color. Unless you're Magnus Backstädt, you're not liable to be able to detect any difference in ""stiffness,"" and there doesn't seem to be any reason to believe the Klein is ""stiffer"" anyway. Not to mention that ""stiffness"" isn't a well-defined term anyway. Ask the salesman if he means a lack of bottom bracket rotation in response to torsion, a lack of lateral deflection in the frame, or what other property he's actually describing. (NB: Don't expect an answer.)
Usually I tell people to choose a bike by fit, but the 58cm varities of all these bikes are going to be nearly identical, so in your case, I'd pick by whatever one will get you most jazzed about riding. That is, the one with the coolest paint, components, or whatever criteria you have.
Cheers,
- Christian
"
Thanks a bunch.
The standover on some is good at 58, a lil tighter on others. Need clearance for the crown jewels.
I laugh at this because I can buy a car because its reliable. But when I have something jabbing at my bottomus, I want it to be a good fit.
thanks alot
Christian - Two questions. Who is Magnus Backstädt? And why could he detect stiffness? Thanks.
Chris O
"Magnus Backstedt is a rider for Liquigas. He won the 2004 edition of Paris Roubaix. He also holds the distinction of being the beefiest guy in the peloton at 193cm tall and 90(+)kg.
I don't really think Magnus could tell the difference either; it was more a joke that if you're 215 lbs and can put out 400+ watts for hours at a time and 2000 watts in a sprint, you might be able to tell. For the rest of us, ""stiffness"" is purely marketing baloney.
- Christian
My apologies for misspelling Mr. Backstedt's name in the above post."
I thought it was my BIG BUTT... lol...ooops
While Trek, Klein and Specialized are all very good, I have the feeling you are looking more for value, in which case you should read this.
Giant makes the best combination of high quality framesets with high quality components.
I think their racing composite bike with 105 is something ridiculous like $1400 and with Ultegra $1600.
Anyway, they get top spots in all the reviews, ride like a dream and you would be making a mistake not to check them out (did I say they were beautifully finished?)
Ron
"This Trek is all you will need to be the envy of every red-blooded man or woman alive:
The Rail
"
