Need some guidance....(long)

[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!