anteyeradio said:
I am going to buy a bike from this shop and I was trying to decide between a 2008 felt f85 or a 2008 specialized allez elite, and he mentioned that he would sell me one of his bikes, of these three which would be the best deal, this will be my first road bike. I have rode other road bikes on long rides and such so I have a little experince riding road bikes.I race mtb for this shop so I get a pretty good discount on stuff there.
First, there are at least two different philosophies with regard to the frame/fork ... and, while I have what some might argue is a nicer carbon fiber frame than the
Trek 5200 (the 5200 was the top-of-the-line Trek & was the frame that was used to win at least one Tour de France), I actually fall into the camp that thinks that the frame MATERIAL is almost irrelevant, that the weight is almost irrelevant to the average rider, and that the geometry AND fork make most of the difference ...
The
Project ONE option is a few hundred dollar premium which is manifested by the "custom" paint + the user's choice of components -- it indicates a semi-custom assembly -- all of which may seem plain or dull compared to the flashier paint scheme & decals of an off-the-rack bike, but don't be deceived -- the owner wanted the high-end frame, but probably didn't want to be appear to be a Lance butt-boy -- before the days of bling, it would have been like buying a Bentley instead of a Rolls ... you want the car, but you don't want the too recognizeable RR grill.
If you were to buy a TREK 5200
FRAME with a Project ONE option, then or now, I presume you would have to pony up more than $2000 before tacking on the cost of the components & wheels.
When you look at what may seem to be a plain-jane, red 5200, you're looking at a bike that probably set the owner back about $3000+ ... even if the FELT or SPECIALIZED bike you are considering have newer components, they will always be lesser bikes in the grand scheme of things ... and besides, a few hundred dollars eventually (if ever) updating the components would be better spent on Campagnolo components if/when you decide that you have out-grown the Ultegra components.
Of course, others may have a different opinion ...
FWIW. If you greatly prefer trigger shifting to grip shifting, then Shimano's shifters may be more to your liking, and vice-versa ... but, if you know & appreciate/prefer the advantages of grip shifting (multiple cogs per shift), then you may like Campagnolo shifters better, and vice-versa.
Personally, I greatly prefer Campagnolo shifters ... some people actually like Shimano shifters (I actually "love" Shimano's other components).
Don't let ANY scratches on the shifters influence you (they scratch VERY EASILY).
Regardless, I am sure that all of the bikes you are looking at have Shimano shifters ...
FYI. Ultegra is the XT-equivalent in Shimano's ROAD groups.
While the other bikes are certainly "good" ... for $1000, if you want a ROAD bike, the particular Trek 5200 is a deal you probably won't be able to match for quality & value.
