Road Cycling - Trek 5200 vs Calfee Luna

I am going to make the jump from my Sirrus to a road bike and decided on going carbon.

I really like the LBS shop that builds the Calfees and I like the idea of being measured and built for me. The downside is it seems like the Luna with Ultegra is going to run close to 3k. Which is $500 more than I thought. I can afford it. It is just harder to justify mentally.

I stubbled onto another LBS (old school type) on Saturdaythat sold treks and looked at the 5200 I was looking at before and he would sell me an 03 5200 for $2k. He was a nice man who seemed to know his stuff. We tried different sizes And he said I would need a 56 with a 140 stem. He said he would take me out and give me riding tips etc. Seemed like a long time low overead shop owner with a lot of epxeriance.


This will be my first "real" road bike and I know it will be overkill.
:p It's just a matter of how much. :D

What are your thought on the Calfee vs the 5200?

Thanks

Both great bikes that most people like a lot...Look at a Kuota Ksano also... unless you have an unusual build/body that needs the custom build of the Calfee. Do your knuckles drag?????hehe

LOL no my knuckles don't drag but I do have long torso. I'm just over 6 ft and my pants inseam is 32.

I tell people I am 6' 1/2" but 6 3 sittin down. :p

Originally posted by Rats13
LOL no my knuckles don't drag but I do have long torso. I'm just over 6 ft and my pants inseam is 32.

I tell people I am 6' 1/2" but 6 3 sittin down. :p

If you're 6'1/2" a 56 sounds way small to me as Treks run small to begin with. The headtubes are also very short which means spacers galore if you can't deal with lots of drop. Does he not have a 58 in stock for you to try? Also, your pant inseam means nothing in bike fitting. Get someone to help you and take a measurement from floor to pelvic bone in your socks for a bicycle inseam. My guess is you're closer to a 34 than a 32.

BTW - at 6'1" with a 35.25 bike inseam and I'd ride a 60 cm 5200 with a 120 stem.

Yeah most people had told me before 58 cm seemed like my size from simple visual(ie what size do you ride.....hmm you look like a 58cm) . It did SEEM like he was steering my towards a size in stock. He had me stand over a few bikes, take my shoes off etc and said that 56 with a 140 stem was the right size. He said he still had plenty of 03's in stock.

Both shops assured me they would not sell me a bike that did not fit me. I dunno. How do I know who can fit me properly.

I find it very puzzling. :confused:

In my opinion, any new bike that you'd need to run a 140mm stem on does not fit.

As it sits on the showroom floor, what size stem is on it? I'd guess either a 100 or 110 at the longest. Going from a 100 to a 140 will change the way the bike handles which is not always good.

My advice - talk with a few other Trek dealers and get some other opinions as I think you're getting bad advice. I could be wrong but it just wouldn't hurt to check around.

hmmm...I'll ask around. It might have been 110 he said. Dunno guess that is why I am so confused.... :confused:

There is no way that 56 is your size. Actually, even teh 58 is too small in Trek sizing. Will this be your first road bike? Try to check inot other shops in your area.

Cheers

Yep this is my FIRST real road bike. My Sirrus is a size L.

So let me make sure I am clear being 6 ft 1/2 inch (not 6'1" but over six) with a smaller inseam (32ish for reference) a 56cm trek is too small? :eek:

I was really kinda wondering because everywhere else I had shopped was ballparking me at 58 or 60.

Thanks

Rats:
I'm the same height as you with a 32-ish inseam, too. I ride a 58cm Serotta and it fits me perfectly. 56 is way too small.

If you have really odd proportions.. then you'll want to go for the Calfee. I would recommend the 5200 if it's your first buy, but with ur inseam vs. height I would go with the Calfee. I've dealt personally with Calfee as a dealer at my old shop, and the designer/builder is AWESOME.

In your position, go with the best you can afford if you can get custom, go custom. You won't regret it....

I don't think Calfee customizes the Luna. I had to go with the Tetra to get a custom fit. A lot of money for a bike, but a lifetime warranty & a dream to ride! Good luck & safe riding.

I have a Trek 5200 and I am very happy with it. BTW, I am about 6 foot 1 inch and I have a size 62 with a 120 stem (bike came with a 130). I am not sure if a 60 would of been better, but my set up seems to fit me well.

Scott

Hey Rats...After reading all these posts I'm more confused...are you???hehe. I went through all this crap and it drove me nuts for a month...I am 6' with a 32" inseam and used many of the measuring systems available as well as a thorough measuring of my previous 3 bikes. My opinion would be that you want a bike with approx. 56.5 to 57 cm top tube with a stem of approx. 130 cm. depending on your KDQ..."Knuckle Dragging Quotient" . The best method for determining your actual KDQ is by touching your toes after warm and stretched. My personal formula as follows...

tips of fingers on ground = 56.5TT with 120-125 stem...adjust stem to TT
mid knuckle on ground= 56.5TT with 125-130 stem, adjust as needed
palms on ground= 56.5 with 130-140 stem or take up gymnastics

Please send us photos of toe touching so that we may debate your technique as to further confuse you. And yes...KDQ just sorta popped up here and started as a joke but there may be some valuable info. above....good luck finding it.