Buy now or try to get a 2011 when the 2012's are released?

I have a three or four year old Specialized Dolce and want to upgrade to a carbon bike. I am heading to Seattle tomorrow since the local shops do not have any women's carbon bikes. I will be looking at bikes in the 2K range, a 2010 Trek Madone 4.5 on sale for $1699 (triple), Specialized Ruby, a 2010 Orbea Onix dama on sale for $1869, 2011 Orbea $2099 and whatever women's bikes are comparable.

In will decide once I ride. What I am wondering is if I should resist the temptation to buy tomorrow. The local shop said that the 2012's will be out soon. This makes me think I should wait a couple of months because the 2011's will be discounted. Anyone know when the 2012's will be coming and should I wait so I can get a discount on a 2011?

I suppose it depends on what size your need. If you wait, you might have difficulty getting the bike in your size. I have difficulties being able to cash in on sales simply because I need a pretty small bike few LBS carry. So they have to order what I want anyway - which means I don't get the cool clearance sales. Good luck!! Have fun buying!!!

I'm with Savra. New bikes come out in the fall. Waiting for clearance sales (as far I have seen, average discount is maybe 15%) is like playing the roulette: hard to find the bike you want in the size you want.

There are variations in store pricing, though, so shop around. Some shops have the bikes at manufacturer's suggested retail price, others have them below MSRP.

Thanks, I may decide to buy today and the urge will be strong since I will be looking at several beautiful bikes in person and riding them and all I have done so far is look at pictures of them online.

I don't like my current bike, I have always had difficulty shifting especially into the big gear on the crank, but the owner of the local shop tells me that is because the bike probably has cheaper, non shimano components. My experience with this bike Causes me to want to rule out Specialized, but I will look at it and try to be open minded. My sister loves her trek and it has been problem free for her. The bike that really makes me whistle and drool when I look at pictures is the Orbea Onix Dama, sex on wheels! Both the new Dama and the one on sale look like beautiful bikes and comparable to everything else, all have a carbon frame and Shimano 105 components except the Specialized which has SRAM. They older trek (triple) is the best price if it fits, it is on sale for $1699.

Not sure what size my current bike is or if it is the best size for me, it was bought locally and they do not carry many women's bikes because the market for them around here is small.

I told the local guy that if I went with Trek or Specialized that I would be back, but I may renege on that promise. I would like to buy locally and he took time to talk with me, but all these other shops will be also taking time with me and I will be riding their bikes and also feel obliged to purchase from them. Either way it kind of sucks for one of the shops no matter what.

Try them all, at least ride each for 20 min so you can assess how the bike feels in its fit (too stretched? too cramped?), how it responds to you (how much work is it to accelerate? how does the steering feel? etc), how it shifts, etc. Some bikes look very nice but feel like an Oldsmobile... it takes you forever to accelerate! Also, if you can, try different sizes. I would not worry about whether they have WSD bikes or not. It's an issue of fit and WSD is not the right one for many.

If you've got the money and can find the bike that fits, my thought would be to buy now, especially if you're in the middle of the size range.

I ended up getting the 2010 Onix Dama. At the first cycling shop I looked at bikes for about ten minutes and when no one came to help, we just left. This happened last time we went to that shop. As soon as we walked in the second shop which was much smaller, we were helped within a minute. The only bike I rode was the Orbea with a compact double and it is way different than my current bike, the reach is way more forward, but I think once I get used to it, I will like it better. I could have road the Trek, but the Orbea was the best looking bike in the shop. I was a little worried about a compact double since my current bike is a triple, but I took it for a ride when I got home and did my big hill and so far so good. I did have a little tailwind, but I think I will like it beter than the triple, less shifting.

At some point I will post pics, but after a day of traveling and than riding I am just going to hang out on the couch with a nice couple of glasses of wine.

Congratulations! I trust that "love at first ride" feel. Can't wait to see the pics. Tail winds to you!

I have taken the bike out 2 times now. 10 mile, 15miles, and 5 miles today, I hope to go again later, but my butt bones are soar. I sit way different in this bike than my last bike, more reach and forward so I am putting pressure on areas of the saddle that I am not used to. My saddle is also way different than the last, it is a Selle Italia and has no cushion like my other saddle so my bones feel bruised and instead of staying off the bike I thought I would try taking it on some shorter rides and see if my body gets used to it. I may need to switch out the saddle which the bike shop said they would do. He said this saddle takes some getting used to because it is a sitting bone saddle and to give it a month and let him know if I want a different saddle. I am also used to being a little more upright on my Specialized and the Orbea is much more forward than I am used to, but I think I will like it once I am actually able to relax on the bike since I am constantly trying to keep weight off my soar and bruised sitting bones. If not, he said he would put on a shorter stem. I will give it another week, maybe a month and see.

Here are some pics, the bike is a beauty.

Very pretty! Hopefully it's just a matter of getting used to the saddle (if I recall correctly, the Dolce uses one that's relatively squishy), but you may be sitting on the saddle frame, so you might want to consider a somewhat wider one.

Very nice bike. I hope it's just a saddle issue and not a bike size issue. When you say there is more reach, it sounds like you may be stretched out a little too far. A shorter stem may help. Did you get fitted on the bike before you left the store?

Congrats on the pretty new bike!!! I have heard that if it is only your sit bones that hurt and not your female bits then your saddle has a good chance of working out. At least, that is what they say about the Brooks saddles. With the Brooks it's just a matter of breaking in the saddle - or your sit bones, which ever comes first. :)