Road Cycling - Trek 2300? K2 Mod4 ?

New forum member but long in the saddle. Have ridden Cannondale for 10 years plus. Originally was directed there because I'm a large rider 6'2" and 215 lbs and stiff is good. Would like to go entry level carbon or carbon stays and fork to cut buzz etc. Looking at Ultegra triple setup on a K2 mod 4 or a Trek 2300. A custom build is not totally out of the question but a factory built bike in the $2000 range is my current focus. The bike is primarliy a training ride. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Larry

In the $2k range:

Full carbon - check out Scattante over at Supergo - http://www.supergo.com/Profile.cfm?lprod_id=24733

Alu/carbon mix - I like this bike for the $2k range - http://www.feltusa.com/2004_bikes/f35.html

Both manufacturers have similar frames with other components for less $ also.

55/Rad

For $2k USD, you can also get an all carbon Giant TCR2... assuming the sizes fit you. I've ridden both the 2300 and the K2 Mod4 and Mod5. I liked the ride and components on the K2 bikes better although I liked the traditional (vs the K2's compact frame) design of the 2300 better from an aesthetic standpoint. The other issue with the K2 is that they're sized like Giants with wide range increments. I managed to fit the XS (48-52) size pretty well since I typically ride around a 50cm frame so that wasn't an issue for me but I can see where it would be for others.

New forum member but long in the saddle. Have ridden Cannondale for 10 years plus. Originally was directed there because I'm a large rider 6'2" and 215 lbs and stiff is good. Would like to go entry level carbon or carbon stays and fork to cut buzz etc. Looking at Ultegra triple setup on a K2 mod 4 or a Trek 2300. A custom build is not totally out of the question but a factory built bike in the $2000 range is my current focus. The bike is primarliy a training ride. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Larry

I'm a larger rider than you and currently in your same shoes Cannondale for ever and had enough chatter and buzz. I'm looking at 2300 as well as the Klein Q-pro XV. I've talked to a lot of larger riders and they like the Klein better than the Trek (very similar in equip.) I'm trying them both on Monday along with a bunch other stuff so I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Tourist. Look forward to it.
Larry

Have any of you thought about the LeMond Zurich? Steel+Carbon... looks pretty sweet.

I'm a larger rider than you and currently in your same shoes Cannondale for ever and had enough chatter and buzz.

How old is your bike?

The bikes being listed on this thread have light wheels. As big as you guys are, you will not be happy with the ride you get due to the wheels. Prepare yourself for fixing the ones you get often, OR buying a new set.

FWIW, the 2200 have a set of wheels a bit more sturdy, and it's almost all Ultegra...Bontrager Race, versus the Bontrager Race Lights. My point is that if you are big and ride a 60 or 63, they are not contemplating a 215+ rider weight.

How old is your bike?

The bikes being listed on this thread have light wheels. As big as you guys are, you will not be happy with the ride you get due to the wheels. Prepare yourself for fixing the ones you get often, OR buying a new set.

FWIW, the 2200 have a set of wheels a bit more sturdy, and it's almost all Ultegra...Bontrager Race, versus the Bontrager Race Lights. My point is that if you are big and ride a 60 or 63, they are not contemplating a 215+ rider weight.

Point taken. Most LBS will swap the wheels on these for another set if you ask. I usually go to Mavic Open Pro 36 spoke laced to an Ultegra hub. Never had any problems.

Thanks Tourist. Look forward to it.
Larry

Larry - I rode the:

Trek 2200 and 5200
The Litespeed Firenze
The Cervelo Super Prodigy
The Lemond Zurich

for about 3-5 miles each over concrete and chip and seal, back to back

The following is ONLY MY OPINION. Yours may not be the same.

The most comfortable: Lemond Zurich
Most Responsive, Fastest, and most precise handling: Litespeed.
Smoothest: Cervelo
Roughest ride: Litespeed
Best fit no tweak: Lemond
Stiffest: Litespeed
Most Stable: Cervelo

Genereal Comments:

The Lemond felt slugish compared to the rest, but very comfy and I think would be great on a long ride.

The 2200 did nothing to make itself standout. I wouldn't spend the money on it given the other options.

The Litespeed I just didn't like given all its good attributes and I really can't put my finger on what it is, but it's just not for me.

The Cervelo was a touch too small, but the ride quality was great position was not good, but it was definitely a nice smooth ride.

Lastly, the surprise of the bunch was the 5200. It wasn't the best at any of the stuff in the group, but it was so close to the tops in each category I was really impressed. And I would be hard pressed to rule it out of any purchase decision.

BTW: I'm 6'4" tall 270lbs

The Lemond felt slugish compared to the rest, but very comfy and I think would be great on a long ride.

Just for my edification, were you testing this year's steel/carbon LeMond Zurich? Just by looking at the geometry, I can tell that the bike is really meant to be more of a distance bike than a sprinter's machine. I haven't gotten a chance to test one for myself as my FBS seems to have sold out all the floor models in my size.

Just for my edification, were you testing this year's steel/carbon LeMond Zurich? Just by looking at the geometry, I can tell that the bike is really meant to be more of a distance bike than a sprinter's machine. I haven't gotten a chance to test one for myself as my FBS seems to have sold out all the floor models in my size.

Yes, it was the 2004 carbon and steel.

i just test rode a lemond buenos aires. basically the same gemoetry as the zurich. i rode a 51cm, and my regular rides are all 50cm and below. i gotta say, i wan't very impressed. granted, i didn't ride it for very long, but it felt...not sluggish, but just "not right" for me. my biggest problem was that the top tube felt long for me, but that could've just been a seat position/stem length-height issue. it didn't really feel any different than my old steel ride, and it definitely wasn't much lighter, considering that 2/3 of the main tubes are carbon...i went into it really wanting to like the bike too. i probably should've had the mechanic adjust the seat angle for me, and rode it longer, but i didn't see the point since i a) wasn't buying and b) couldn't try it with my clipless pedals. i'm sure that if i had wanted to switch the pedals so i could try it out, they would have. they're a really friendly, accommodating shop. i'm gonna go to this shop for everything from now on, even though they're 9 miles out of my way.

it didn't really feel any different than my old steel ride, and it definitely wasn't much lighter, considering that 2/3 of the main tubes are carbon

I think someone else mentioned it but basically I too believe that hybrid material designs involving CF are not necessarily going to be any lighter because the joining process may neccesitate additional weight. The real advantage I can see to adding CF to another material as opposed to going all CF is to change the ride characteristics such as vibration damping of an otherwise harsh aluminum frame or stiffening of an otherwise too compliant steel frame and of course the looks. For aluminum, in general, I think CF rear ends and some of the main tubes makes a difference but I would have to agree that it's probably less noticable when paired with steel and compared with an all steel frame. Maybe under hard sprinting or climbing the differences might show more profoundly.

I think someone else mentioned it but basically I too believe that hybrid material designs involving CF are not necessarily going to be any lighter because the joining process may neccesitate additional weight. The real advantage I can see to adding CF to another material as opposed to going all CF is to change the ride characteristics such as vibration damping of an otherwise harsh aluminum frame or stiffening of an otherwise too compliant steel frame and of course the looks. For aluminum, in general, I think CF rear ends and some of the main tubes makes a difference but I would have to agree that it's probably less noticable when paired with steel and compared with an all steel frame. Maybe under hard sprinting or climbing the differences might show more profoundly.

to be fair, i should really ride one for longer than 5 minutes. but the mechanic i was dealing with sent me up some huge hill and i was wearing street shoes and had just ridden my track bike the 9 miles to the shop. i remember sitting on it and thinking "well, i know what i like, and this is not it." i would like to do more extensive riding on one though; actually try it out with my clipless pedals to do some climbing and sprinting. i KNOW that the seat wasn't adjusted properly for me, and i'm pretty suspicious of the stem angle and length, but like i said earlier, i didn't want to be a pain and make the guy do a bunch of stuff for me since there's no concievable way that i'd be able to afford it in the forseeable future. i did ride over some bumps though, and i feel like my current bike is a bit more harsh than the lemond. i'd have to do an extensive side-by-side comparison if was actually going to pull the trigger on a purchase like that. today was just a fun "let's go play with some toys!" day. :)

today was just a fun "let's go play with some toys!" day. :)

I love those days. I spent last Saturday helping a friend shop for a roadbike. It's nice to live vicariously through other people's purchases. :) I even got to test ride some of them to confirm perceptions. The only thing is that my friend is female so I was also testing out a few WSD bikes but at least I got the chance to get more in touch with my feminine side. :D

I love those days. I spent last Saturday helping a friend shop for a roadbike. It's nice to live vicariously through other people's purchases. :) I even got to test ride some of them to confirm perceptions. The only thing is that my friend is female so I was also testing out a few WSD bikes but at least I got the chance to get more in touch with my feminine side. :D

i LOVE! helping other people shop for bikes!! 'cause you can stand there with them, and listen to the salesperson say their piece about whichever bike you're looking at and just totally know if they're full of it. when one of my friends calls me up and tells me they want to go look at bikes, i jump at the chance. it's very gratifying especially when you can convince them to go for something a little more expensive, knowing that it's what they REALLY want and it turns out that you're right. conversely, i love it when i'm able to save someone money on a purchase.

i also love it because i remember when i was buying my first bike, and no one was there to give me guidance, outside of the guy trying to sell it to me. and i see so many people in shops who just, don't know what they really want, or what to look for, and i don't want to butt in, but sometimes the salespeople need to cool off.

i'm trying to get my girlfriend back on a bike (looking to hook her up with a decent singlespeed). hopefully soon i'll be able to convince her and get her on the road again!

eek! sorry i hijacked the thread!

Rode the Cannondale R 3000, trek 2200 and 5200 then the Felt f 30. Bought the Felt. Just stiff enough without harshness, Dura ace triple and ultegra brakes,Never heard of it until 55/rad mentioned it on the forum. Also how do you pronounce Ksyrium ?

Thanks to everyone, Larry

Also how do you pronounce Ksyrium ?


The "K" is silent. It should be pronounced like "seer-ree-um".