Road Bike Racing - Trek 5200 vs Giant TCR 2 vs. Specialized Allez pro

Does anyone have any experience on comparing these bikes? I am in the process of buying a bike to race and have narrowed it down to these three. I have been told the CF is the way to go now. Thanks

Both are very good bike , both bikes are used and almost equal in their category....However I would buy myself a nice Ti or European bike.

Does anyone have any experience on comparing these bikes? I am in the process of buying a bike to race and have narrowed it down to these three. I have been told the CF is the way to go now. Thanks

I have seen how the giant is built and I am not so impressed. The carbon has some very thin spots in it because of the way they form the shapes. The trek is made some what the same but I won't have the thin areas such as the Giant. It might even have some thicker areas than designed. Now saying that, how does that affect you? If you are 180- plus you might feel some give. My friends I ride with work at a shop and they ride both the 5200 and the Giant t 2 or whatever the model is and they tend to like the Trek. I still think it is the best bike for the money but I ride Trek

BEAS

I have seen how the giant is built and I am not so impressed. The carbon has some very thin spots in it because of the way they form the shapes. The trek is made some what the same but I won't have the thin areas such as the Giant. It might even have some thicker areas than designed. Now saying that, how does that affect you? If you are 180- plus you might feel some give. My friends I ride with work at a shop and they ride both the 5200 and the Giant t 2 or whatever the model is and they tend to like the Trek. I still think it is the best bike for the money but I ride Trek

BEAS

Question...you do realize that frames are not all the same thickness throughout the walls of the various tubes, correct? And depending on the amount of fibers and the direction that they are laid as the frame is built will determine the thickness or thinness of a particular area. And the overall weight.
Have you visited the factory in China? I am impressed.
Last...on these thin walls, I guess we will know what Ullrich's excuse will be in July.

The reason I say this is that I have a number of riders who have and continue to race this frame without failure....including crashes.

Compact has a different feel...it's not for everyone, but it's not good to insinuate that Giant makes a less than quality product. Since they are a global company that sells more bikes than anyone else.

Frankly, I have an aluminum frame that has less give and is stiffer than the carbon 120. It's just how you build it.

BTW..it is interesting that Giant offers to their shops a cutout frame of their TCR carbons so that you can see the inside.
I have always wondered why Trek does not offer the same thing.

Does anyone have any experience on comparing these bikes? I am in the process of buying a bike to race and have narrowed it down to these three. I have been told the CF is the way to go now. Thanks

I have not ridden the Specialized.

I have ridden the other two. Both are quality products that produce a different feel. The one that feels best to you is the one to select. They are all about equal.

Given a choice, I'd get a Look carbon frame (the racing bike is the KG 481SL). Having ridden all three, the Look has more feel in my opinion. But here's the nub...the Look frame retails for about $2,500...more than the entire bike for the other two. Very high quality materials. We built one up with Campy Chorus, the new carbon Campy, it's about $5,500ish. Man it goes, though.

I have a TCR 0 and it is by far the best frame I have ever ridden. I only weigh 140 and figure if Jan can ride it with no problems I am going to be fine.

[QUOTE=roadwarrior]Question...you do realize that frames are not all the same thickness throughout the walls of the various tubes, correct? And depending on the amount of fibers and the direction that they are laid as the frame is built will determine the thickness or thinness of a particular area. And the overall weight.
Have you visited the factory in China? I am impressed.
Last...on these thin walls, I guess we will know what Ullrich's excuse will be in July.

The reason I say this is that I have a number of riders who have and continue to race this frame without failure....including crashes.

Compact has a different feel...it's not for everyone, but it's not good to insinuate that Giant makes a less than quality product. Since they are a global company that sells more bikes than anyone else.

Frankly, I have an aluminum frame that has less give and is stiffer than the carbon 120. It's just how you build it.

BTW..it is interesting that Giant offers to their shops a cutout frame of their TCR carbons so that you can see the inside.
I have always wondered why Trek does not offer the same thing.[/QUOTE

I am no expert but Trek does offer the same thing. The store that I buy from has a Trek cut away.

My understanding of what Lance and Jan and Tyler and all other pros ride is what their sponsor provides. I am sure some guys would rather ride other bikes than what they are on but who pays the bills decicides that. I bet if Jan changed teams his bike would change. What about glasses or helmets or probably even chamois cream for that matter it is all aboust sponsorship. But what is cool about Trek they build what Lance wants if you don't belioeve that do some research. It is his bike.

I would go with the Specialized Allez pro if i had the choice, i prefer the Allez aluminum to the 5200 carbon and the TCR comes in both metals. all are about the same price ( the Allez is 20$ more than the 5200 ) so it just comes down to the specifacations. check those out here.

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/road/5200.jsp

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6816&JServSessionIdroot=da9sud1ijx.j27007

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8834&range=151&model=10809