Specialized Sequoia or Sequoia Elite?? Help??

Hello, I'm new to TE and am just getting more involved in biking. I currently have a Schwinn Highlands Mountain bike that I have been riding for 20 years!!...yes 20 YEARS!! I am looking to purchase a new bike and start doing more paved trail riding, charity rides, club rides. I will probably be doing 25 - 30 mile rides, some 50/60 and someday do the 300 mile WAM. I did test ride the Trek and Specialized and found the Specialized to be so much more comfortable. My LBS has a 2008 Specialized Sequoia and Sequoia Elite (46) priced at $650 and $950. I understand the Elite has the carbon seatstay, 9 speeds rather than 8 and probably better components.

My problem is I'm not really educated on all this. The more I research the more I get confused. I actually don't know what I'm comparing but I am learning.

My questions are: Is it worth the $300 dollors to go for the Elite? Is this a good road bike? Is this a good bike for the rides I want to do?

Money is an issue but I don't want to underpay and regret it but I don't want to overspend either. I want the best bike that "MY" money can buy. I love that $650 price but I want to make sure it's what I need because this will probably be the last one I buy for a very long time. Any advice would be appreciated!! Oh, and then there is the shoes, helmet, gloves, clothes.....I'm drowning in all the info out there and panicking over making this decision.

Hi,

I'd definitely say that you should get the elite for the better components - it'll make it so you won't want to upgrade the bike as soon.

The tiagra components will be better than the sora, the extra gear in the back may help with hills or finding a comfortable gearing.

I think maybe you should try negotiating with them on price a bit - they have a $300 discount off MSRP on a 2008 model in a small size. SOmething that is hard for them to sell. And, it's 2 bike years later. They should be able to come down a bit more in price.

Thanks

I tried to get them down on the price but they won't budge, they don't have it in the store, they have to order it. Do you think it's not smart to order a 2008 bike? It was really comfortable for me and it fits in my budget. I'm just worried about buying a 2008 here in 2010. What do you think.

Oh, you'll be fine on a 2008. Those components haven't changed much in 2 years. I didn't realize they had to order it - if it was in store, they'd have more flexibility.

I think you're still better off with the more expensive bike just because you may end up wanting to upgrade fairly quickly if you got the cheaper one. But I think that somewhat depends on personality type to some extent - definitely the alot of the people on here that first buy a hybrid or a flat bar road bike within about 4-6 months start saying, I should have just went ahead and bought a road bike initially... So you're skipping that quick upgrade point, but lots of people with sora components then decide they want to upgrade those. Tiagra's higher level so you're probably going to be fine on it for years to come (I won't say there aren't people that don't decide the same about tiagra components and every other level of components they ride).

Do you have any jamis dealers around you? Maybe check into the jamis aurora and try it if you can. It's got the tiagara level components at probably a similar price - it has a steel frame so it may be more comfortable than the specialized aluminum for longer rides.

I am a huge Specialized fan. I am wondering why they have to order an 08 bike and won't budge on the price. Am I correct? Chances are you are fine on the bike, but don't they have anything else in stock? I'd look around a little more.