Need some guidance....(long)

[OakLeaf]

As long as you're still considering the "Big Three," you left one out...

I've got just under 10K miles on my Cannondale Synapse Feminine. Its geometry is pretty laid back, suited for day riding. I don't do super long rides, but it's plenty comfortable over 100 miles. The #3 comes built with Ultegra; the #1 is hi-mod carbon with Dura-Ace for less than you probably paid for your Cervélo.

But yeah, what others said: I'm happy with my Synapse, but in hindsight I know I was so anxious to buy a bike that I didn't take the time that I should have, to search out what was really right for me, and I think I could probably have done better.

[tulip]

I would recommend a custom steel-frame Luna http://www.lunacycles.com/. I had a Trek 5.9 Pilot (all carbon with Dura Ace) for five years that just didn't fit and I researched a lot of bikes before I decided to go with a custom Luna. The craftsmanship and fit is superb, the steel ride is so much smoother than carbon and Margo is great to work with.

+1!
Sell your two nice bikes and put the proceeds towards a Luna. Riding my Luna is like riding on a cloud. It's steel with carbon fork and seatstays. Dreamy, and beautiful, too.

[ginny]

I agree with those pointing you towards a custom bike. I ride a steel road bike, and I just love it - I race occasionally, and zip right past people on carbon bikes. Just because you ride steel doesn't mean you're slow

Working with a custom builder, you can get exactly what you want, and you know it will fit you well... I would if I had the dinero

[nscrbug]

WOW...lots of great advice...thank you all so much!!! I've listed my bike on Craigslist, to see if it generates any interest. I would definitely have to sell it, before even thinking about buying a new bike, so I'm praying that somebody will make me an offer.

Just to answer some of the individual posts - the poster that commented on a recumbent bike...there is no way I could ride a recumbent. In my high-traffic area, I simply wouldn't feel safe being lower to the ground. Also, I've ridden recumbent stationary bikes at the gym, and they KILL my lower back.

To those that suggested Trek & Specialized...I have no ill feelings about either of these 2 brands...infact, I've been drooling over a Project One Madone for some time now. So I have certainly not ruled out Trek or Specialized. Infact, I rode my Trek 2100 just the other day, and it felt fabulous (in terms of ride) compared to my much higher-priced Cervelo. I'm actually glad that I never sold it, because it will be the bike I ride until I buy a new one...if I find a buyer for my Cervelo.

And to those that recommended steel...thank you! That was an option I had forgotten about. I went on the Jamis website and took a closer look at the Eclipse...WOW! That bike has everything that I'm looking for...smooth ride, Ultegra 6700 grouppo...I was really impressed. Now if I could only find a dealer that has one...which will be easier said than done. For some reason, even if a dealer claims to sell Jamis, they often only stock certain lower-end models. I plan on calling each Jamis dealer in my area (there were about 6 and none of them are really close to me) to see if any of them have one or can get one for me to test ride.

As far as custom-built goes...I admit I've never looked into it, but it sounds like a very expensive process to me. My husband (who is out of work at the moment) is not thrilled about me buying yet another bike, so I'm treading somewhat lightly on this topic with him. Hence, the reason I need to sell my Cervelo first...so I could use that money towards the new bike.

Thanks again, everyone...you've all been most helpful! Keep your fingers crossed that I can sell my Cervelo and buy my "perfect" bike.

Linda

[moderncyclista]

Maybe a Jamis dealer will order you one on "spec" so you can see if it fits, rides well - with no obligation to buy. Some will, some won't - depends on the dealer. Ask. The worst they can say is no.

[nscrbug]

If I remember what I read correctly, the 2007 or 2008 Cervelos had a harsh ride because the seat stays were so thick. It's not so with the 2009s. I've ridden for years on this horrible chip sealed road on my steel Rivendell. The Cervelo totally made that road smooth as butter.

Don't blame the material for the harsh ride, blame the geometry.

Veronica

Wow...that's very interesting and would explain a LOT. When I get home from work, I'll check my seat stays to see how thick they are...I don't often look at them, so I don't really know off the top of my head. Thanks for posting this.

[nscrbug]

Soloist is a very nice bike.

is the front wheel on your soloist radially laced spoke instead of 2x or 3x? 3x cross lacing is slightly heavier and tends to be laterally more stiffer, it tends to be bit softer in terms of the ride. It has bit more give than a radially laced wheel.

Similar thing with the rear wheel. instead of radial lacing on one side with 2x on drive side, again try 3x laced wheels.

Another thing you could try is going to a gel seat instead of light weight bare bone racing seats. The gel padded seats are bit heavier but it does absorb lots of shocks and can make a difference.

I use a padded handle bar tape. It doesn't add much bulk but sure beats the old style bar tapes from the '70s in terms of comfort. And also wear gloves with padding in the palm.

These things may be enough to make it fun for you to ride the soloist.

Gosh, I have no clue how my wheels are laced...I'm pleading total ignorance on this one.

As for the seat...I've tested out my share of saddles lately. Right now, I'm running a Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow and it's just "ok". My main issue with saddles is sitbone pain, and the SLK has not entirely eliminated that for me. Of all the saddles I've ridden recently, I have to say that my favorite one is, oddly, a "bare-bones" Specialized Phenom MTB saddle. It's pretty firm and quite minimalist, but it causes the least amount of sit bone pain.

My bike came with padded bar tape, so I'm good there. And I have tried just about every padded glove on the market...seriously. I have a growing glove collection that includes - PI, Castelli, Giro, Descente, Specialized, and Spenco Ironman gloves. I have yet to find a pair that work for more than an hour or so.

Thanks for your feedback!

[MartianDestiny]

As far as custom-built goes...I admit I've never looked into it, but it sounds like a very expensive process to me. My husband (who is out of work at the moment) is not thrilled about me buying yet another bike, so I'm treading somewhat lightly on this topic with him. Hence, the reason I need to sell my Cervelo first...so I could use that money towards the new bike.

Do not let a price perception keep you from looking into custom. A custom frame need not be any more expensive than the quality of frames you already seem to be looking at.

They start around $1000 and I'd say most will average around $1500-2000 though of course you can easily drop $8k or more on a custom carbon Serotta.

[nscrbug]

One way to smooth out the ride of a bike is to get a nice compliant wheelset. The Zipp 303's (2010 version) are an awesome choice (they are used in the Paris Roubaix race over the cobbles). If you must have a new bike, stick w/Cervelo and try the R3 line.

Yikes, those Zipp 303's cost well over half of what my entire bike cost... Nice looking wheels, for sure...but I just can't afford it. And yes, I have thought about staying with Cervelo...however, I believe the better bike for me would be the RS model. The R3 is a racing geometry (small headtube)...the RS is a plusher geometry with a taller headtube.

And Oakleaf...thank you for mentioning Cannondale...another option I missed. I just looked at their website. Wow...that Synapse 3 is gorgeous...and the 1 is just "drool city"...would love to have Dura-Ace, but don't think I could swing the cost of it.

[Ritamarie]

I have over 6000 miles on my Cannondale Synapse Fem 1 (full Dura Ace) and I am still in complete bike-love. I have similar goals as you. I like long distances. We're very hilly here and an average 60 mile ride is easily 5500 ft of climbing. I wanted a good climbing bike but also one that I could trust. Love this bike.

[marni]

I think you're missing two very good choices by skipping Trek and Specialized. Both have bikes for just what your looking for - the Ruby and the Madone. Lots of people seem to have issues with buying from a big company like Trek, but at the end of the day, they make great bikes.

I'm 44 and bought a Trek Madone 4.5 and love it. I looked at every possibility of bikes that were stocked in my size in my LBSs. I couldn't justify the price difference, but the Madone 5 series is really nice. The Ruby had an awesome ride (very smooth), but didn't fit as well. I came close to buying a Scott Contessa CR1, but it wasn't nearly as smooth as the Trek and didn't fit quite as well, though had full Ultegra. I think Scott has since come out with a less racy, more comfortable, CR1.

Also, Scott's women's bikes have the same exact geometry as its mens bikes (you can check the website). So, the Contessa CR1s have shorter reach brake levers, different seats and drop bars, etc, but no significant fit differences (except for a shorter stem). If the bike fit me, I wouldn't care, but at the same time, Scott does not seem to put the same effort into the technology of its women's bikes as the other brands.

Personally I would suggest taking a good hard look at Trek. I am 61, I started riding when I was 58. I ride s Trek pilot 5.2 full carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra components and stryker aerobars. I am a long distance rider and have no complaints with the bike even though I bought it as a close out before I knew anything about bike fit or components. Of all the vaious bikes I have looked at since then, I havene't found anywhere near the same quantity of styles, frames, models and sizes in any other maker that I have seen in Trek.

Another thought, just in passing re not doing tri sports any more and injuries- Perhaps you overtrained and over ercerted the first year and sort of bonked yourself out. Maybe it's time to just find joy in ridng for the sake or being out on the road listening to the wind in your wheels.

I wish you luck in your bike search though.

marni

[nscrbug]

I have a potential buyer for my Cervelo...we are meeting up on Monday, for him to look at and test ride the bike. I'm praying that he likes it and ends up buying. In hopes of that happening, I'm planning to hit a few LBS's this weekend to look for a new bike. On the agenda for Saturday, is to hit up 2 shops within a few miles of each other. One carries Giant, Cannondale, and Specialized...so there I will look at the Avail Advanced 1, the Synapse Fem 3, and the Ruby Expert Compact. The other store is a Trek dealer, so I will take a closer look at the Madone 5.2 WSD.

On Sunday, I plan on hitting up another shop a bit further away that carries Cannondale, Scott, and BH...so another look at the Synapse Fem 3, and also the Contessa CR1 Pro, and the BH Cristal.

Hopefully I'll have some good news to report back.

[pfunk12]

I have a Madone 5.2 WSD and I love it. Good luck!

[sundial]

Steel. Bike.
Steel is one smooth ride.

I have to agree, Modern.

I have a "plush bike" Roubaix and a Salsa Fargo and between the two bikes the Fargo is more comfie for those big mileage days. Steel rides like velvet and absorbs more road noise, resulting in reduced fatigue of the hands, wrists, and neck if the bike is fitted correctly. And you can often get steel at a better bargain.

Would you want to order a bike frame and build it up to your specs?

[nscrbug]

Ack! My bike shopping has been put "on hold" for awhile...as I came down with the chickenpox over the weekend. I am in total misery right now, so it will be some time before I can get out and test ride some bikes. I am really bummed.