went bike testing today!

[joenali]

Actually only rode one bike and it wasn't the one I wanted per se. The size was right, the dude did a quick fit and off I went. I didn't go too far because I didn't know the area and there was tons of traffic, I got a little scared on a bike that I did not own!

i rode the Felt ZW5. I am looking at the ZW4, the components are one step up above the 5, but still was carbon (wow! what a difference from aluminum!!) and had a compact.

I really liked it but I'm not settling quite yet, I want to try out the specialized Comp Amira. However, I hear it's difficult to find one in my size.

I have some thinking to do before I make a decision. I LOVED the was the ZW5 rode. Smooth, quick, fast, light! However, my friend was saying that a compact doesn't do well on flats, you don't go as fast. I guess there are pros and cons to whatever you decide to get. Since there are so, so, so many hills around here and every single tri I've entered comes with some hilly courses, I think I'm sticking with the compact! It also seems that with every higher end ($3,000 range) road bikes come with a compact.

I'm hoping in the next week or two to be riding a shiny new bike! If all goes well!

[sadlebred]

FWIW, Specialized is releasing a lot of their 2013 bikes in July according to my LBS. (I'm waiting on a beautiful Fate 29ner mtb). You might be able to find the Amira Comp then.

What is your price range?

[joenali]

About $3,000 give or take. What is your take on compacts?? Good for some things bad for others??

[sadlebred]

Compacts are good for lots of hills. If you were a road racer, I'd say don't do it, but for everything else, go for it! (You tend to spin out in crits with compact gearing, but it's a non-factor for you.) I don't need one here in Atlanta, but when I go to the mountains sometimes I'll take my cyclocross bike b/c it has lower gearing. I'll just toss road tires on it. I run "standard gearing" of 52/38 and a 12-27 on the rear.

If you go compact, you might want to buy a second cassette if you do any major rides that are flatter. Let's say you have a 12-27 for near your house, but a century is dead flat. I'd probably get an 11-23 for harder gearing, so that you don't spin out and run out of gears trying to pedal 150 rpm....

[joenali]

Jun 3, 2012 22:25:07 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Compacts are good for lots of hills. If you were a road racer, I'd say don't do it, but for everything else, go for it! (You tend to spin out in crits with compact gearing, but it's a non-factor for you.) I don't need one here in Atlanta, but when I go to the mountains sometimes I'll take my cyclocross bike b/c it has lower gearing. I'll just toss road tires on it. I run "standard gearing" of 52/38 and a 12-27 on the rear.

If you go compact, you might want to buy a second cassette if you do any major rides that are flatter. Let's say you have a 12-27 for near your house, but a century is dead flat. I'd probably get an 11-23 for harder gearing, so that you don't spin out and run out of gears trying to pedal 150 rpm....

Could I use what is in my current bike? It's a standard.