Time For A Real Road Bike......

Ok I have been riding very steady since the end of Feb. this year and loving it. I have been using a Cannondale hybrid.

Well...... last weekend Trek had demo bikes at the triathlon I was going to do (at the exp the day before the race) and I talked at length with the lady doing the demo of the WSD bikes. She asked me if I would like to try one and she did a few adjustments and I gave it a try on the trainer. It felt really good..... she asked me if I wanted to ride it in the race!!!!! In the back of my mind I was thinking .... never change anything race day ....but my heart was saying what the heck its a great bike! I finally decided to give it a try. I never even got to give it a road test because it was pouring cats and dogs. My maiden voyage was during the 12 mile bike portion of my FIRST triathlon. This bike (a trek 2.1 wsd bike) fit me like a glove and just felt natural. My wrists didn't hurt anymore when I road and for that matter the seat was better and my hind end didn't hurt either!!!

Problem is... I cannot afford a 1500.00 bike at the moment so now I need to find something a little cheaper. Anyone have any suggestions on a comparable bike? I would like to find a used one but I am not in a huge rush.

Oh and one more thing... I signed up to do a 65 mile bike ride in oct. I guess sometime before then is my deadline for a road bike.

Tina

If you really loved the Trek there are two models under the 2.1 - one that msrps for about $1000 and one for $870 - and generally the msrp is the highest price any shop will charge - so shop around and you will likely find a better deal (and of course you can always look for sales on last years models)

Find a shop that will let you do a layaway?

Look for a used one on ebay or craigslist? (If you know your size & realize you're probably going to have to make adjustments to stem/handlebars/saddle & pay for that.)

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Originally Posted by Zen

Find a shop that will let you do a layaway?

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THATS A VERY GOOD IDEA!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Trek-1200-Alum-5...3A1%7C294%3A50

What about this frame? How much different is a 54cm to 56cm bike?

(I have a very good friend who builds bikes but I cannot get in touch with him at the moment. He already said he would build one for me.)

Don't change sizes from the one you rode in the race. You will regret it. Trust me!

Karen

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

Don't change sizes from the one you rode in the race. You will regret it. Trust me!

Karen

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SO 54 IT IS!

Try looking at the local Trek shops over the summer, the new models start trickling out at the end of the summer and sometimes you can get a little better deal. Both Bicycle Sport Shop and Mellow Johnny's are pretty good but I think there is University Cyclery or Freewheeling bikes that are also Trek. There are TONS of shops in Austin and It can pay off the just start poking around. Maybe you even find a 2007 or 2008 that has been marked down (I have seen some at several shops) and fits as well?

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Try looking at the local Trek shops over the summer, the new models start trickling out at the end of the summer and sometimes you can get a little better deal. Both Bicycle Sport Shop and Mellow Johnny's are pretty good but I think there is University Cyclery or Freewheeling bikes that are also Trek. There are TONS of shops in Austin and It can pay off the just start poking around. Maybe you even find a 2007 or 2008 that has been marked down (I have seen some at several shops) and fits as well?

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I am going to have to start looking and see.....but I tend to get impatient...LOL

Tina

I would try now, I really think BSS and some of the other shops have some old stock. Who cares if it isn't the latest year, if the components and fit make you happy?

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I would try now, I really think BSS and some of the other shops have some old stock. Who cares if it isn't the latest year, if the components and fit make you happy?

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I would take a several year old bike if it fit right.

tina

Save :) Layaway :)

It is worth it to delay gratification ...

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Originally Posted by Geonz

Save :) Layaway :)

It is worth it to delay gratification ...

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I am thinking of my wrists! I didn't realise how much they hurt on my current setup until after I road the other bike.

Tina

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Originally Posted by txred9876

I am thinking of my wrists! I didn't realise how much they hurt on my current setup.

Tina

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There's a lot of threads on here for what you can adjust about your bike so that your wrists don't hurt.

Txred
you have half the battle won. You rode a really popular bike brand in an average size and it fit you like a glove. As others pointed out, there are lots of possibilities out there; the two less expensive models, last year's models, used. Looking is fun, but buying the wrong thing because you're impatient is worse because they are a lot easier to buy than they are to sell.
Good luck!

Ring up bikeworld in san antonio. They are a trek dealer, and often do end of the year closeouts (i.e. maybe you can still pick up a deeply discounted 2008). Just tell them what you are looking for, and see if they'll make it worthwhile for you to make the drive.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Ring up bikeworld in san antonio. They are a trek dealer, and often do end of the year closeouts (i.e. maybe you can still pick up a deeply discounted 2008). Just tell them what you are looking for, and see if they'll make it worthwhile for you to make the drive.

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I will do that and since I am on the south side of Austin (15-18 miles to san marcos) it won't be much of a drive.

Tina

Hi,
you can always save $$$ by buying a used bike. Bicycles lose value pretty quickly, and you have the advantage of knowing what model and what size you need - so really you could scan ebay and craigslist often until you find what you are looking for. That could save you a lot, and sometimes buying used you get better components because a lot of people swap the stock components for much better ones after buying a bike :)
Good luck!

I bought a new 2008 Trek 2.1 WSD last summer at a fourth of July sale for just over $1,000. I don't know how much prices have gone up since then or what your budget is, but maybe there will be a sale coming up.

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Originally Posted by Grits

I bought a new 2008 Trek 2.1 WSD last summer at a fourth of July sale for just over $1,000. I don't know how much prices have gone up since then or what your budget is, but maybe there will be a sale coming up.

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They are running around 1400. and my budget is CHEAP! I need to save some more for the bike fund.

Tina

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Ring up bikeworld in san antonio. They are a trek dealer, and often do end of the year closeouts (i.e. maybe you can still pick up a deeply discounted 2008). Just tell them what you are looking for, and see if they'll make it worthwhile for you to make the drive.

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And they are fabulously helpful! I found my blue Sidis that were a previous year model and had them shipped (quickly), making me a happy camper. :D

There are also some bike Trek dealers in Houston and if you have a fuel efficient car then road trip for a deal might be alright. BSS is the biggest Trek dealer in our area so likely a good starting point but don't discount the littler shops because when I am in one I often find they have a couple of old stock. You might get lucky.

Would the lower model work so you can have a good bike that fits? I know better components are nicer but I rode 4,000 miles on Sora when I started and was very happy because my bike fit and was fun!

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

And they are fabulously helpful! I found my blue Sidis that were a previous year model and had them shipped (quickly), making me a happy camper. :D

There are also some bike Trek dealers in Houston and if you have a fuel efficient car then road trip for a deal might be alright. BSS is the biggest Trek dealer in our area so likely a good starting point but don't discount the littler shops because when I am in one I often find they have a couple of old stock. You might get lucky.

Would the lower model work so you can have a good bike that fits? I know better components are nicer but I rode 4,000 miles on Sora when I started and was very happy because my bike fit and was fun!

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if the frame is basically the same shape and it fits good I really do not care about all the components that much because its easier for me to get a bike I can ride now and upgrade a few hundred here and there on better components. Being comfortable is my main goal! I didn't realise how uncomfortable my current one is until I road one that fit! I have been in to have it fitted, I have messed with the seat height and such myself before last weekend. I am wondering if the width of the handle bars might not be part of my issue. with the road bike handle bars my hands were closer in plus in a different possition.

I am still so new its hard to determine all the what if's ect.... I did have a long talk with a guy at a different LBS last night after visiting BSS to see the treks. The trek's are all basically the same price... around 900 for the 1.2 and 1400 for the 2.1.

The other shop had some 08 fuji bikes but none in my size. I got on a wsd 54cm fuji and it was to big.

Another option is to rent a bike from BSS (or several) to try and figure out which one I want to buy so I buy the correct one. Its only 22.00 for 4 hours.

Tina

My husband did the rental thing with his mountain bike and was very happy going that route. It really gives you a feel for the bike and I think if you buy a bike they give you 1/2 your rental back. You may also want to check out the Felts as well, a lot of bang for the buck. Jack and Adam's carry them.