Road Cycling - confused about trek 2100, someone that knows whats going on please let me know

Okay, about to but my first road bike. Been looking at a 2100 seriously and had planned on buying it this week. Id be getting a pro deal and getting it direct from trek. I went to a LBS yesterday and threw a 56 on their trainer. It was set up according to the specs I had seen on trek's site in the past; Ultegra rear and shifters, 105 front, brake and crank. They were originally specd with that bontrager crank but I heard theres a shortage. The shop getting me a pro deal called trek last week and trek said it could ship late november. So I thought cool, ill go pay for it this week.

Here lies my problem and confusion... last night at a buddys house I got him to get on Trek's site and tell me what he thinks about the 2100. He liked it but when he pulled up the specs trek had chaged their specs on the page to full 105?! Whats the deal with this, is this just a mistake. Not sure if I want it now if its full 105, will there be a price cut. Any explanations would be great.

-Chilton

Okay, about to but my first road bike. Been looking at a 2100 seriously and had planned on buying it this week. Id be getting a pro deal and getting it direct from trek. I went to a LBS yesterday and threw a 56 on their trainer. It was set up according to the specs I had seen on trek's site in the past; Ultegra rear and shifters, 105 front, brake and crank. They were originally specd with that bontrager crank but I heard theres a shortage. The shop getting me a pro deal called trek last week and trek said it could ship late november. So I thought cool, ill go pay for it this week.

Here lies my problem and confusion... last night at a buddys house I got him to get on Trek's site and tell me what he thinks about the 2100. He liked it but when he pulled up the specs trek had chaged their specs on the page to full 105?! Whats the deal with this, is this just a mistake. Not sure if I want it now if its full 105, will there be a price cut. Any explanations would be great.

-ChiltonTrek can change specs as they wish. Ultegra stuff has been in short supply.It's the shifters that matter most. Maybe you will have to 'upgrade' to the next model to get the better stuff.

I was doubtful when I first read your post -- I figured your buddy was looking at the 2004 models, but indeed the 2005 specs have evidently changed to full 105. From what I can tell, they downgraded the derailers AND shifters so that it's full 105.

I am NOT an insider, but here's my hunch. The 2100 is/was too popular. I knew when I was shopping for it that it would likely be a common bike, for the very reason that it came well equipped at its pricepoint, including a generous sprinkling of Ultegra. Now considering it's not even 2005 yet, I have seen MANY 2100 already. I have talked to a few people at shops who ask me about mine, and say that's the one they're considering. It's a very popular pricepoint, and spec'd w/Ultegra I bet Trek realized they were going to be selling these much more than they were the 2300. From a marketing perspective, that's probably a bad thing in terms of maximizing profitability of the line.

Makes me feel fortunate I got it early when I did, and that I opted to upgrade to Ultegra cranks.

Last week or the week before, I checked the Trek website for the 5000 and it said the rear derailuer was Dura Ace. I did a double take and went and checked the Wife's new 5000 and confirmed that it was, indeed, Ultegra on the back. The website now claims it should be Ultegra again.

The point? I think either they had some data input issues or they had some supply issues that have perhaps cleared up. Regardless, the website has been redesigned in the past couple of weeks. Maybe call them and ask? Or find out what it would cost to switch the part or to upgrade to the 2300?

The specifications for the 05 Trek 2100 have definitely changed. After a research on the best bang for the bug on my first bike, I decided for the 2100. Based on the 2005 Trek catalog, the components were Ultegra for shifters and rear derailleur, and Bontrager race Lite for the crank. When I went to my preferred store, the 2100 they showed me one with a 105 crank!!! Even worse, when they brought my size of bike, it had 105 on the shifters and rear derailleur!!! They offered me to contact Trek for an explanation. A day later they called me saying that Trek just changed the specs to what is now showing online (105 shifter/f & r derailleur). Not happy with this answer, I went to other stores and was able to find a 2100 in my size with the original specifications for $1499. 
Regarding the crank, I am not sure if I should change the Bontrager Race Lite - triple for Ultegra - triple. The bontrager looks fine, and someone told me that if I decide to change it, that I should wait for the new Ultegra crank to be available by end of Nov.
If you are buying a 05’ 2100, try to find a store that still has the early version with Ultegra!!!

Would the LBS just let you have the one in the store, and then sell "yours" when it comes in?
Most people coming in for a 2100 during the 105 model year would not know about the change..

Just wondering

My bike came with 105 complete except the crank set which is bontrager (special order). I really though the bike should come with ultegra because the 1500 is all 105 and one of the reasons that I went 2100 was for the ultegra stuff. Trek rep said the LBS could swap out the shifter and rear derailuer for me no charge and credit the store. I left the shop with full ultegra except the brakeset. (front derail was uped to ultegra for a small fee.

It is true that the specs had changed but when I ordered my bike the web said ultegra and that is why I ordered the way I did. Also all the bikes in the shop that we 2100 had ultegra. I do not know if there is a huge difference but there still is. It is true that you would probably have to wait until the end of the year with the 10 speed ultegra comes out to see ultegra parts back on the 2100. Of course I have been contiplating a 10 speed ultegra swap on the 2100 and moving the current stuff to a new comuter that I will be building soon...

Of you want he new ultegra 10 then you need to go to the 2300 which is quite more expensive...

Trust me Ultegra is hell to get right now....I had to pay some sleaze online a good wadd of cash for a 12t ultegra 9-speed cassette....about twice as much as it should be going for. I wanted an 11t, but just couldnt find it....

I also heard Shimano jacked up their prices recently, so this could be the other reason they went to 105.

That is probably because the new parts on on their way...