Road Cycling - First Bike

Hey all,
Very new to all of this but eager to get started. I am interested ina Trek 2200. Fits my price range...is this a good bike, (dealer says yes however he is a salesman).
Friend has a Felt 50...anyone know anything about it.
thanks for the help

Hey all,
Very new to all of this but eager to get started. I am interested ina Trek 2200. Fits my price range...is this a good bike, (dealer says yes however he is a salesman).
Friend has a Felt 50...anyone know anything about it.
thanks for the help
What do you plan to do with the bike? Hard core racing, recreational riding, touring? I have the '01 2200 and have had bsolutely no complaints. It was all 105, which have worked perfectly. I use it for recreation/exercise and organized rides. About 2,000 miles a year. Like it so much that for no real good reason other than I want to, I've invested in a complete upgrade to ultegra/dura ace mix rather than replace the bike. The new 2200 already has most of this and carbon fiber rear to boot. If the 2200 fits you and your budget, buy it with confidence.

Buy the Felt. Everyone and his brother has a Trek.

Buy the Felt. Everyone and his brother has a Trek.

Buy a Lemond, posers own Felts

Buy a Lemond, posers own Felts

But... A lemond -is- a trek.

Technically, I think anyone worried about brand names is probably a poseur.

But... A lemond -is- a trek.

Technically, I think anyone worried about brand names is probably a poseur.


BING !!

Buy the Felt. Everyone and his brother has a Trek.

My brother doesn't have a Trek. (But I do) :lol:

I made the same jump 3 weeks ago...looked in the same range and rode everything at three different LBS in town...chose the Litespeed Firenze...yes it is "entry level" - but full Ti and all Ultegra (mine is, although others have claimed different)

absolutely love it...now up to 10 miles at a crack...and looking forward to my first Century...

The Trek 2200 was my first real road bike 3 years ago. It rocked! However I have now replaced it with a Trek 5200 due to a desire to ride a bit faster with a bit of Carbon under me.

Figure out exactly what you want it for and wether you will really ride it enough to justify the expense.

i have a felt f45 and it's a great bike. fast, light, fun, comfy. looks great. super value. cost about 80% of similarly equipped big brands (trek, cannondale, etc). i definately recommend them. i just got it and now i'm riding faster and climbing better than ever before.

on the other hand, pick a price range and check out every bike you can. i was convinced i'd end up with a lemond or specialized when i started looking, but was so surprised at the Felt's value and how it felt (no pun intended) underneath me that it was my final choice. enjoy looking at all the options, then decide for yourself what you want. so many awesome bikes, so little money...

i have a felt f45 and it's a great bike. fast, light, fun, comfy. looks great. super value. cost about 80% of similarly equipped big brands (trek, cannondale, etc). i definately recommend them. i just got it and now i'm riding faster and climbing better than ever before.

on the other hand, pick a price range and check out every bike you can. i was convinced i'd end up with a lemond or specialized when i started looking, but was so surprised at the Felt's value and how it felt (no pun intended) underneath me that it was my final choice. enjoy looking at all the options, then decide for yourself what you want. so many awesome bikes, so little money...

Echo what lostmyshape says...but buy a LeMond! No really, check them all out, pick what feels right to you. lostmyshape has a Felt and is a great bike and he likes it. I have a LeMond and I love it...So, find the bike you like and then when someone else asks for an opinion you can tell them you love your (insert brand name here) bike...

Have fun, trying out all those bikes is invigoratin!!!!

I just bought a Felt F85 yesterday from my LBS and I must say for the price it is a damn fine entry level bike. It's lite, fast, and very smooth. The only downside is a lack of carbon. A carbon fork would be very nice, however considering I got the bike for $540 w/tax a carbon fork and maybe even a gear upgrade is not too out of the question.

I've seen and test-ridden a Felt at the local shop. The value was great. I almost bought an F90 for my daughter in the smallest 47cm size (it was even spec'd with 650c wheels, yea!) but it ended up having a top tube that was too long. Nevertheless, I think Felt deserves a good hard look.

Besides that, I personally like riding something that's a bit unusual--everyone and their dog rides some flavor of Trek or LeMond. There's nothing wrong with either brand, but they are common.

Besides that, I personally like riding something that's a bit unusual--everyone and their dog rides some flavor of Trek or LeMond. There's nothing wrong with either brand, but they are common.

If that were the case he'd be on Letterman... :)

Hey all,
Very new to all of this but eager to get started. I am interested ina Trek 2200. Fits my price range...is this a good bike, (dealer says yes however he is a salesman).
Friend has a Felt 50...anyone know anything about it.
thanks for the help


If you want a bike recommendation that will make you a happy rider, you need to offer more information than your newbie status. What kind of riding do you plan on doing? Will it be solely recreational, or will there be racing involved? All road, or do you want some off-road capability? What height and weight are you? How old are you? Will you ever consider commuting on this bike? No one should make a bike recommendation to you w/o some basic info. If you act on someone's ill-considered suggestion, you may end up with a bike that doesn't meet YOUR needs.

Felt is a great buy! For the most part their "entry level" models are cheaper and just as good as trek and other brands like that. The F90 and lasts years F85 are awesome. Jim Felt designs a great bike not too mention great graphics...I have heard a lot of people knocking Felt bikes, but I don't see why really...

If you want a bike recommendation that will make you a happy rider, you need to offer more information than your newbie status.

A point well taken but a little harsh...isn't it?

Felt is a great buy! For the most part their "entry level" models are cheaper and just as good as trek and other brands like that. The F90 and lasts years F85 are awesome. Jim Felt designs a great bike not too mention great graphics...I have heard a lot of people knocking Felt bikes, but I don't see why really...

I admire the Felt as well but availability or availability of correct size is a problem at some locations...It is a good bang for the buck though....

Buy a Trek. Or a Fuji. Or a Cannondale, Giant, Bianchi, Lemond, Rivendell, Seven, Felt, KHS, Klein, Sachs, Lightspeed,...

Really, as has already been mentioned above, first figure out what you want to use the bike for. Maybe you really need two bikes ;) . Next, determine how much you are willing to spend to meet that need. Find out what bike stores are in your area to do some comparison shopping/test riding/advice seeking/relationship building. Assuming that you have the time prior to your need to buy, test ride everything you can find in your area, in your size, in your price range, that meets your requirements. Then, make a decision. Let's face it, although lots of good advice can be found in the forums, most people are going to be biased toward their own needs and decisions.

Buy a Trek. Or a Fuji. Or a Cannondale, Giant, Bianchi, Lemond, Rivendell, Seven, Felt, KHS, Klein, Sachs, Lightspeed,...

Really, as has already been mentioned above, first figure out what you want to use the bike for. Maybe you really need two bikes ;) . Next, determine how much you are willing to spend to meet that need. Find out what bike stores are in your area to do some comparison shopping/test riding/advice seeking/relationship building. Assuming that you have the time prior to your need to buy, test ride everything you can find in your area, in your size, in your price range, that meets your requirements. Then, make a decision. Let's face it, although lots of good advice can be found in the forums, most people are going to be biased toward their own needs and decisions.

Well put!