This year model vs last year model?

[jyyanks]

Honestly, if those are the two bikes that they are comparable. The bike I linked to has Apex gears as opposed to Tiagra which are comparable, if not better, than the 105's on the blue bike. the 11-32 cassetts makes it comparable to a "triple". In simple terms, if the bikes you are choosing from are the ones I listed than the blue one is no better than the pink one.

People thought the pink one has Lower end components (tiagra) but with Apex, the components are the same. Therefore, I would go with the color that you like.

[Jo-n-NY]

I completely agree with jyyanks. When others were mentioning Tiagra I began to get confused with the links of the bikes and the posts.

Sram Apex & Shimano 105's are pretty much technically equal. The way you shift each is a bit different which for me is not an issue.

[kajero]

YOU PEOPLE ARE THE GREATEST! I finally KNOW I can pick the pink and black one and feel good about it!!! THANKS, THANKS, THANKS,

[smittykitty]

You know we'll need a picture as soon as she comes home. Oh, and she will need a name, but that may take a little time!

Congrats on the new bike!

[kajero]

I bought my new bike. Can't pick her up until Saurday. I feel like I bought the store out. I bought the shoes, the pedals. the water bottle cage and who knows what else. I also talked the guy I bought it from into installing the computer thing on the bike for no charge.

For now her name is "House Payment" I'll rename her in few months.

[jyyanks]

Congratulations! You will love her and she will be worth every penny and then some!

[kajero]

Well,

I didn't buy either bike. I fell in love with 2012 model of the "blue" bike and bought that. It's a really pretty whie and blue bike. My SO can't understand why I would pay so much for color. Uhm . . . I am not so sure I know why I did. I spent way more than I intended and am still trying to justify it. I don't know if I ride enough to have something that fancy.

My co-worker named the bike, "WEP" for "Worth Every Penney" and my biking friend added "On" to the end so now the name is WEPON! Altough I don't think I will use it that way.

I wish the nice riding season in Minnesota wasn't so short. Hopefully this year I will get to enjoy all of it. Last year I broke my hand in August and that pretty much ended the season for me.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice. Funny though . . . I didn' buy either bike discussed.

[smittykitty]

Well first of all, blue is my favorite color! Helped me buy more bike than I intended. You made a great choice. I'm sure you paid more because you got better upgrades. Better upgrades mean a more pleasurable ride. Lots of little things that add up to quite a jump up in the quality of your ride. When you are more comfortable and your bike handles and rides better, you will enjoy riding a lot more.

And who knows, you may have just saved yourself a bunch of money! My husband and I are on our 3rd set of bikes. If we would have just started out with better bikes in the beginning, we would have been dollars ahead.

See, its not what you spent, its what you saved!

I just used my REI dividend today to upgrade my bike computer to add cadence. A couple of years ago, I couldn't have imagined caring about my cadence. We've upgraded from toe cages on our pedals (skip that one) to mountain bike shoes and pedals to road bike shoes and pedals (could never have imagined being one of "those" people. Oh, and the cheapo bike shorts to much better ones.

You were smart, you avoided a couple of bike upgrades. Now get busy figuring out what accessories you and your bike need. Enjoy.

[pll]

Pictures of "Wep", please...

[Marquise]

I wish the nice riding season in Minnesota wasn't so short. Hopefully this year I will get to enjoy all of it. Last year I broke my hand in August and that pretty much ended the season for me.

As a Wisconsin rider I feel compelled to note that while the nice riding season may be short, with the right gear you can ride a lot longer. Hope you enjoy many happy miles on the new bike.

[rivergal]

The Ruby Apex 2012 looks like the white with blue that you bought. Very lovely bike.

I'm a bit lae, but I'll add my story on color and features. My entry bike was a Felt ZW100 that looks-wise, was purty - white with light gray and lavender accents. Mmmmm-mmmm. But, aluminum frame and a Sora/Tiagra mix. So I was looking to upgrade, despite the bike lust.

Over the years I never liked the fat down tube on Cannondales, and always liked white over graphite gray for color. That said, I picked up a carbon Synapse frame that had been spray painted black after being stolen from the original owner on eBay last year. Yep, Cannondale and after taking off the paint, graphite gray with Egyptian Blue. Scrimpted and haunted the LBS's, online stores, and eBay and built her out last fall.

When I got on her for the first ride, it was true love. I love her color now, and completely love the ride. Cinders fits me like my Felt never did.

Hope you have a great time with your WEPON, and be sure to share pics!