I got a new bike for Christmas!!

[shorewife]

Well, almost! My DH and the local bike shops helped narrow it down for me so the choices weren't quite so overwhelming....but they still are.

I'm deciding between a Specialized Amira Sport, a Trek Madone 4-series and the Cervelo R3. I would put clip-on aero bars on each (I'll have this bike for both triathlon training and racing). All would have Shimano 105 parts and I believe they are all model 2013.

I rode them all around a bit and they are all really nice!! Much better than my current bike but I couldn't really tell the difference between any of them. Any thoughts?



Edited: And the verdict is….Trek Madone!  Here she is  

[Susie]

SQUEE. New bikes are amazing.

Those are all great brands. The best one is the one that fits you best - how much time did you spend on each one? Enough to really get a feel for it? It's been almost 3 years since I bought my bike, but the Trek Madone was one of the models I looked at. (I got a Specialized Ruby instead.) The Amira is a more aggressive geometry than the Ruby. I think the Madone is more like the Ruby? So I would expect that the Amira would be more aggressive, and require greater flexibility over time, than the Madone. Can you check the tube measurements and angles to see if that is still the case, and ride them again, paying attention to that detail?

I don't know anything about the Cervelo, but you can also look at the geometry specs on that and see where it falls relative to the other two.

Please understand that in exchange for advice we will need pictures of the new baby when she comes home.

[joenali]

I have an Amira expert! I love it!!

[sadlebred]

All are nice bikes. I'd say it comes down to fit! You can't go wrong with any of them. I'd try them all out again and try to spend 10-15 minutes on each one. Make sure the shop adjusts the seatpost to the correct height for you.

WE EXPECT PRETTY BIKE PICTURES!!!

[shorewife]

Thank you - great advice. Yes all such nice bikes! I am going to go try them all out again today (now that the weather is actually decent). They were all the right size frame for me and the seat was adjusted correctly but they weren't fit to me yet so some of the things I picked out as not really liking could all be changed.

I think the Amira is supposed to be the most aggressive, so technically the least comfortable but I couldn't really tell in the short amount of time I was on it. Something to consider for long rides though.

And of course I'll send pictures!!

[Deleted]

Assuming the fit works well for you, I would absolutely suggest the Trek. And you may also want to check out the Domane, just to compare fit; Madone is more of a racing bike, but the Domane is also carbon and has a super smooth ride. I didn't try the Madone b/c of a past back injury; the Domane is a better fit for me, but I've heard great things about it.

I bought a Trek Domane last summer, did my first century with it, and it's amazing. My bodyworker used to be a professional cyclist and is very focused on alignment, and he couldn't say enough good things about Trek. Trek has been doing women-specific design longer than almost anyone else.

You'll love the 105 shifting. Super smooth. Enjoy!

[bikelady]

I have the specialized and like it, you can't go wrong!