Trek 2.1 or Giant Avail 1?

[Ana]

I was leaning towards the Giant but I was second guessing myself. I went to ride the Trek again and yep - all wrong for me, I just felt wrong. Probably because the guy kept insisting I was a 56cm and, though I don't know much about road bikes yet, I'm pretty sure that is too big for me at 5'6". ?

Soooo.. I'm test riding a Scott Contessa tomorrow, just to make sure. But I asked them to hold the Giant for me. Hopefully it'll hold up if I decide to do some races down the road.

Isn't it peculiar how we have mental blocks against things we are trying to decide? Sometimes it takes a few rounds to figure it out (even though in your mind, it may already be decided--you just have to discover it since so many factors influence a decision!)

Yeah, 56 sounds waaaay too big for you...maybe good for someone who is 5'11"..... Just curious: what size Giant did they put you on?

Yay, that sounds terrific Aren't you excited to get a new bike?

Good luck! Let us know your test ride goes (and which bike wins your heart)!

[Pan Dulce]

Isn't it peculiar how we have mental blocks against things we are trying to decide? Sometimes it takes a few rounds to figure it out (even though in your mind, it may already be decided--you just have to discover it since so many factors influence a decision!)

Yeah, 56 sounds waaaay too big for you...maybe good for someone who is 5'11"..... Just curious: what size Giant did they put you on?

Yay, that sounds terrific Aren't you excited to get a new bike?

Good luck! Let us know your test ride goes (and which bike wins your heart)!

I know! I knew this was to be a big purchase, and with two young kids, I'm not exactly rolling in the dough, so I wanted to make sure this was 'THE BIKE' and that it would hold up to whatever I may want to do in the future.

Giant put me on a small, which I believe is a 50 or 52? The guy at Trek just based it off standover height, which I don't believe to be that accurated, given the smaller geometry and sloping top tube of the frames I was trying. Right?

TxDoc and bikecanada, thanks for the reassurance on the Giant. I sure do like the teal color on the Avail 3 better, but I prefer the shifting on the Avail 1 so that's what I'm going for.

Thanks SO MUCH for all the help and reassurance. I don't know any riders in town, so it helps to hash this out with you guys and it makes me feel like I'm not alone.

[Running Mommy]

Ok to catch up and answer some questions..

Shiv- Trek and Gary Fisher are one in the same. Bontrager is also a trek product- ie; non trek shops cannot get them.

As for the sizing.... ARGGHHH to shops that base their sizing on standover height- NEVER do that!!!!!! With the new geometry that most road bikes have these days you really need to look at effective top tube, and overall reach.
To give you an idea, go on wrench science dot com and go into their fit gallery. You have to make an acct, but it's easy and free. Then do a fit on yourself- have someone help measure you. Plug in the numbers and then look at the overall reach and related numbers. Those are really helpful in finding the right sized bike for you.

Ok and TX....
Yes a lot of shops are streamlining what they carry. We were a Bianchi dealer last year, but this year they wanted a 25k commitment. We don't have the market, so we had to drop them. The larger companies also tend to have much more favorable credit terms, while the small guys are all COD or credit card up front. So for shops that are cash poor (like ours) it makes it hard to justify carrying the brand. Also it is a very tough environment for the small independent bike dealers. Margins are low on bikes, and getting lower on accessories, so it is very tough to be profitable. Most of the saavy owners are narrowing their focus and then going deep. So you will prolly see less "stuff" in your lbs. We just can't afford to have so much "fluff" laying around taking up space and $$. We are constantly evaluating our inventory mix, and are dropping "skus" (products) that are sitting too long.
So anyway, that is why you are seeing a shift in your lbs. They are kind of forced to in order to stay alive.

[Pan Dulce]

Okay I rode the Scott Contessa, and I love it, so I'm kinda back to square one!

[Ana]

It sounds like you have a lot more test riding and decision making to do Is the Scott at the shop you really like or are the Giant and the Scott at different shops?

[Running Mommy]

Scott makes a nice bike. Is it carbon? Another thing I forgot to add is that you want to check the warranty. Some companies only warranty carbon for three years.
Giant is lifetime on the frame, and I have replaced a couple of older frames for folks.
I'm not positive but I believe trek is the same way.
Scott is a smaller company so may not be able to do that. I'm not sure though?? So I would check.
They are a VERY nice bike tho! One of my friends rides a plasma and I love when he brings it in for service.
Which shop has the Scott?

[Pan Dulce]

Running Mommy, can I ask you a question, as a Giant dealer? If you don't want to answer, that's fine.

Will the Avail 1 serve me well if I want to get into racing down the road? Will it serve me well on long rides (like a century)? Is it just me, or are the handlebars narrower than the norm? It seems more upright than usual too.

I like the Scott because it seems more 'race ready' if I ever want to go that way in the future, but when I get on the Giant it's like home. I'm concerned that the handlebars are too narrow though.

[TxDoc]

Okay I rode the Scott Contessa, and I love it, so I'm kinda back to square one!

I have no clue about the contessa because I have never tried it - but I did test ride the Addict and it's light, fast, and very responsive. Definitely good for racing.
What are the specs on the Contessa?

[Pan Dulce]

http://scottusa.com/us_en/product/16...essa_speedster

I am actually trying to sell one for a friend, wrong size for me unfortunately. I was thinking of posting it in the forums.

[MartianDestiny]

http://scottusa.com/us_en/product/16...essa_speedster

I am actually trying to sell one for a friend, wrong size for me unfortunately. I was thinking of posting it in the forums.

What size is it?

[Running Mommy]

I may be a Giant dealer, but I am more interested in getting people on the right bike- regardless of the brand. (well except maybe specialized as most of you know).

The avail IS NOT Giant's race geometry. As the other poster stated the TCR is the race bike. The avail is mean't for comfort on the long haul- centuries, and for those that just are not comfortable on an aggresive bike. It's actually the bike that a lot of people getting into the sport gravitate towards.

I do not know Scott's line, but you will want to make sure that it is not their relaxed geometry bike. Most manu's have them in their line now.

If you have it in your head that racing is in your future, I would defintely look towards race geometry. You can still ride centuries on it tho.

[Pan Dulce]

I am going with the Giant - it is way more comfortable and natural to me, and the staff was the most friendliest and helpful in my quest. They are the only bike shop (out of 4 I went to) that offered to do a full fit for me, and not just doing a 'standover, adjust the stem, and send me on my way' bit. Plus they have layaway and financing, so I may just go with the Avail Alliance or the TCR Alliance. We'll see if how much my husband will complain if I go that route.

Thanks everyone for the huge amounts of help! It is appreciated.