Road Cycling - Fujis, and Felts, and Giants, OH MY!!!!

Okay guys,

Here's the situation. I bought my wife a Speciallized allez sport about a month ago and I haven't seen her since. We've decided that in order for us to spend more time together, I should buy myself a bike and take up riding with her. I have no background with road riding and was completely overwhelmed when I first started looking, but now I've narrowed my choices. I'm trying to stay under $700 and my choices are....

Giant OCR 3 - $550 -- Shimano sora components
Fuji finest AL - $500 -- Shimano sora components
Felt F85 - $560 -- Shimano sora and tiagra components
Felt F 75 - $779 -- Shimano tiagra and 105 components( I know I said 700 but....It's so pretty!!!)

The F 75 even has a carbon fork!!!( do I need a carbon fork??) But really guys. I need something that I can rely on for about 90 miles per week. It doesn't have to be the best thing on the road but I don't want to be left in the dust either. I thought about getting an allez sport like my wife's but then my competitive spirit took over.

I would appreciate input from anyone with any experience with these bikes, or these brands for that matter. I fear that my opinion is biased based upon the outer beauty of some of the bikes rather than on the quality of the products. Let me know what you guys think.

Phoenix

Don't know any of the particular bikes,
but the 105 components are worth the extra dollars.
From what I've read/heard etc. Felt
are really good value for money.
I'd go with the Felt.

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
Don't know any of the particular bikes,
but the 105 components are worth the extra dollars.
From what I've read/heard etc. Felt
are really good value for money.
I'd go with the Felt.

Marty Yeah,spend a few extra bucks now and save yourself the agony and expense of upgrades.It will pay off big time if you stick with it.

buy MY bike if it fits.... $600 shipped, and much better components than any of those!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19097

If you decide to get a Felt, I hope you don't have to order it. My lbs ordered my Felt in July 2002 and they are still waiting on it. I have about 100 miles on my Klein. ;)

Originally posted by Soberone
If you decide to get a Felt, I hope you don't have to order it. My lbs ordered my Felt in July 2002 and they are still waiting on it. I have about 100 miles on my Klein. ;)


That's a bummer Sober. Which model did you order? I was leaning toward the Felt, but if they are that deep in backorder, I may have to get the allez sport (looks like the next best thing). Also, does anyone actually have a Felt in hand? I've not run across anyone saying they had one.

Phoenix

Everything I have read says to avoid Sora components. Go with the Tiagra and/or 105's.

How about get the allez sport, if you like it. And get hte LBS to swap out the components for all 105 :)

does anyone actually have a Felt in hand? I've not run across anyone saying they had one.


I just picked up my my Sequoia today and it has the 105 parts on it and I am real pleased after my first ride today!!!!!. As for anyone having the felt on hand, I went to quite a few bike shops in the DFW area and saw quite a few on hand at various shops.

I bought my Fuji Roubaix-Pro at Jack Johnston Cycles on Garland Road near White Rock Lake. Go see what they have.

Somebody has the Roubaix-Pro on sale on the web for $898. I paid $1350, so go figure.

Do a web search and you'll see it right away.

I have last years felt f-65. I love it. I picked it up last may and racked up a little over a thousand miles on it over the summer. I also completed two centuries on it. Last years f-65 did'nt come with a Carbon Fiber fork, So I added a profile brc I picked up from pricepoint for 69 bucks. I think it makes a huge difference. I have seen the new f-75 and f-65 this year. They are both nice. The 75 is spec'd better than last years and rings in at 50 bucks cheaper. Out of the bikes you listed Thats the one I would buy.

I work at a shop that is a FELT dealer. I must say we did have trouble/delays getting the initial inventory of bikes. WHY? Apparently, they are such a good deal for a good bike, FELT couldn't keep the distributors stocked with enough bikes. Currently we have 3 F85, 2 F75, 1 F65, 2 S2's and a reorder of another 6 bikes on the way!

If I hadn't purchased my LeMond Zurich last year, I'd be riding a FELT. The shop owner bought an F45R for himself, rode it once and some guy wanted it, paid full price, plus bought a brand new set of Ksyriums for it!

I sold a good friend of mine another F45R. He was ridding a Specialized M4, and loved the feel of the FELT.

I agree with getting the F75 w/ the carbon fork. It's a significant difference is feel. (It'll help smooth out some of the road vibrations).

If you price FELT's, you'll realize for the cost of a component group and the cost of the wheel's, you're getting the entire bike!

IMO, the best deal of them all is the F65, full 105, w/ carbon fork for right around a grand!

L8R

Well guys its in... I ordered the F75 about 2 weeks ago and the shop called me today to say it was in. I'll pick it up this afternoon!!! Apparently the backorder situation has been eliminated!!! I'm sooo excited!! I'll get the bike around 2:00. Just in time for the Dallas West end ride on Sunday!!! This'll be my first ride (about 30 miles) and I hope I don't wipe out!!!!

:D :D :D

Phoenix

Hurrah! Congrats Phoenix :) The F75 is probably the bike i will order in a few weeks. I am really interested in your opinions on it, since there isn't really all that much first hand info available. Keep us informed :)

Got my felt right off the showroom floor.They had at least 6-8 more.Love mine,nice ride.

Well ???
Hows the FELT ???

Nice,more then i throught it would be.Smooth and fast.I dont ride for speed but i find riding at a nice pace,100-105 cadence,im doing 2-3 mph faster than on my hybrid and i can keep a better pace with a head wind.21.3 pounds vs around 27 pounds makes a difference too, i guess.I looked at alot of bikes and for the components on it,$899 was a good price.

Smooth.....
I want one.:beer:

I love FELT bikes. A buddy of mine rides one of the higher end Felts (Ultegra components) and its got a beautiful ride. I'd say definately go for that one! Tiagara/105 offers substantially better quality and performance than Sora anyways.

Sorry apaphoenix
I didn't meen to ignore you. I got my new Klein and needed a way to transport it so I kinda bought a new Ranger FX4 Level II to put it in. :D I have been busy playing with that.

I had ordered the F65 but I guess it sounds like mabe its a good thing I didn't discourage you. Congrats! The Felt I test road was an F75, I should have just bought it. Swweeeet