I wish! Still shopping, no sense in rushing it around here right now as consistently good riding weather is 6-8 weeks away.Originally Posted by m0b00st .
So what took you from the more comfort based Defy to the racey TCR?
Congrats on your new bike BTW!
It's just been a matter of learning what it meant by "fit" and "geometry". I mean, obviously the basic meanings are obvious but how those really translate into real life takes some study and face time with experienced people at the LBSs. My current ride is so far out of date that the fit and geometry isn't terribly useful for picking a modern bike. Anyway, I had several LBS guys tell me that for my typical ride length (20 mi or so) and my current fitness and flexibility level (above average on both) I wouldn't have any discomfort with a properly sized and fitted race bike, and would be better equipped to dip my toe into racing. CF vs. Al simply became a question of a little more initial investment paying off big in the long run. Entry CF will give me all the racing capability I'm likely to ever want or need, not to mention more comfort on my everyday rides.
Of course all this is subject to change. I'm still on the fence with CF or Al, as there is other equipment I will need and the cost/benefit is dependent largely on the weight difference, which info if difficult to find. I also haven't ridden anything yet (thanks to the weather). Budget and other priorities (dang kids!) dictate that whatever I get had better hold me over for a long time; I won't be able to upgrade bikes every year or two. So I'm going to take my time and get it right.