Looking for a new bike

Originally Posted by bogeyinbound

I have not purchased a new bike since 1985, so I am basically a newbie. Looking for something that is very light in weight, great acceleration, climbs well, and comfortable to ride. Not looking for the Ferrari, but the high end Mercedes. Shimano Ultegra components would be ok too.

I have checked out the Trek Pilot. I like the comfort of the sloping top tube. Any input on the Pilot or bikes from Specialized and Orbea?

Help!

Originally Posted by dcvelo

My wife bought a Pilot 5.2 a few months ago and really likes it (full Ultegra). The sloping top tube doesn't have much to do with comfort or lack thereof (my Klein Aura has a sloping top tube and the reputation of being a bike that doesn't offer much in the way of comfort). The Pilot's longer headtube gives a more upright riding position than the standard road bike geometry; if that's something you're looking for then it may be a good choice. Most of the major brands offer something similar (Felt Z-series, Specialized Sequoia, and so on...). So figuring out whether a bike with a more relaxed geometry like the Pilot is for you would be part of the decision.

Your best bet is to test ride a few different models to get a feel for what you like and don't like. The quality across different brands tends to be pretty equivalent at any given price point.