Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New Ride

Went to my LBS today to ask about sizing for mine and my wife's future road bikes. She is currently on a more slant tube bike and is only 4'11' so we were concerned about stand over when the time comes.

We were asking questions and checking out the Specialized Dolces and also checking out the sizing of the Secteur Comp Apex for myself, when I asked about the Felt bikes which my LBS also has. I had noticed when researching online that the Felts seemed to have a much lower standover in the same frame size then the Specialized bikes, and I wanted to see the difference in person. (The top tubes are indeed lower, btw).

After continuing to talk about bikes for a bit, our LBS guy offered a really good deal on the Felt Z4, since they wanted to start clearing out their 2012 Felt stock. He was willing to sell it for $2000 (MSRP is $3199, the LBS normal price is $3099). So I did a test ride of the Z4 and also a Comp Apex Secteur so I didn't end up with buyers remorse since I've been looking at the Secteur for the last month.

So what started as just an information gathering mission for FUTURE road bike purchases ended up with us taking a new road bike home for me. I just couldn't pass up a carbon frame with Ultegra components (but 105 brakes) for that price.

I did a quick test ride when we got home before it got dark and rainy and was very pleased with how it handled a hill on our route. Pics to follow.

Here's the photo:

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Nice looking bike! I"m sure you'll be happy with it and it sounds like you got a killer deal. What did your wife end up with?

It's interesting that you don't have those dumb reflectors on the wheels but that has to be the biggest dork disk I've ever seen on a bike.

I was going to be nice and not say anything about the dork disk.

Nice score. Very.

The spoke protector disc is a good thing to keep on the bike.

The stem - don't forget to flip it and slam it.

Oh wait - this isn't the 41.

;)

The stem - don't forget to flip it and slam it.

Oh wait - this isn't the 41.

;)

Lol, maybe after I get a bit more flexible again. :) I think I'll keep the dork disc on this set of wheels for now.

Nice looking bike! I"m sure you'll be happy with it and it sounds like you got a killer deal. What did your wife end up with?

It's interesting that you don't have those dumb reflectors on the wheels but that has to be the biggest dork disk I've ever seen on a bike.

We didn't get hers yet, the 48 cm Specialized were too tall and the 44 cm were too cramped horizontally. Today she went to one of the LBS's other locations (they didnt have any Felt smalls at the location we were at on Sunday) to check the fitting of the Felt ZWs and found that the Felt ZM Smalls give her more standover clearance then the 48 Specialized with more horizontal room then the 44. Plus she really likes the look of the ZW4. We're going to try to get a similar deal on that model, or wait until they officially start clearing out the 2012s.

Here's the photo:

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That bike is begging for some bright green tape!

Nice score on a great bike. I hope you enjoy every mile. Good luck with your wife's deal. I suspect that the LBS will take good care of you.

Great score, enjoy the new bike!!! Felt has always been a great bang for the buck, but yours is to a whole new level.:thumb:

Look into some 650c bikes. I know Terry makes one with a 650c front wheel and a 700c back (that has to be fun ... carrying two tubes!). It might make the rest of the geometry easier to manage for her.

Good looking bike! It should serve you well for many, many miles!

33% off...wow. Thats the best lbs closeout i have ever heard.

Good job and nice bike.

Look into some 650c bikes. I know Terry makes one with a 650c front wheel and a 700c back (that has to be fun ... carrying two tubes!). It might make the rest of the geometry easier to manage for her.

Felt's smallest ZW has 650 wheels. I looked at getting a Felt in the ZW series in the petite size, the top tube on their petite is close to the same as the Specialized Ruby, which I also looked at. Only the Felt and the Madone (which I bought) had the 650 wheels. Terry has a broad range of sizes, some with two 650 wheels, and some with 700 on the rear and 24 on the front. I could never track one down to try and did not like the idea of carrying two tubes.

I am also 4'11" but it sounds like I have a shorter reach than Phil's spouse. My arms are very short and I am older and was not very limber when I bought my bike. The Felt size small sounds like it is stretched out enough for Phil's wife but still gives sufficient stand over height. I can clear the top tube on the small Felt but the reach was too far for me.

Nice bike Phil! Let us know your wife's thoughts if she gets the ZW4. I like hearing about other shorties and our efforts to find bikes that fit.

great deal..all the best..enjoy

Lol, maybe after I get a bit more flexible again. :) I think I'll keep the dork disc on this set of wheels for now.

Mine's half the size. I left it on. I got rid of the reflectors, but I'm not going to pull the cassette just to remove that disk so I comply with those half-assed rules. :D :lol:

Felt's smallest ZW has 650 wheels. I looked at getting a Felt in the ZW series in the petite size, the top tube on their petite is close to the same as the Specialized Ruby, which I also looked at. Only the Felt and the Madone (which I bought) had the 650 wheels. Terry has a broad range of sizes, some with two 650 wheels, and some with 700 on the rear and 24 on the front. I could never track one down to try and did not like the idea of carrying two tubes.

I am also 4'11" but it sounds like I have a shorter reach than Phil's spouse. My arms are very short and I am older and was not very limber when I bought my bike. The Felt size small sounds like it is stretched out enough for Phil's wife but still gives sufficient stand over height. I can clear the top tube on the small Felt but the reach was too far for me.

Nice bike Phil! Let us know your wife's thoughts if she gets the ZW4. I like hearing about other shorties and our efforts to find bikes that fit.

Thanks for the comments goldfinch. There was a Felt demo day in town this weekend, so we stopped by to take a look and score some swag. :)

It seems like the 2012 ZW4 small would be an excellent fit for her, but we also found out that the 2013 ZW felt petite will now come in a 700 size, as they are getting rid of the 650 for the new year. Additionally, it looks ike for next year they are moving the model numbers around - the ZW6 is gone, and the 2013 ZW3 has the same groupset as the 2012 ZW4. The new Z/ZW series also has all internal cable routing and BB30 for the bottom braket. We've decided if we can't score a good deal on a 2012 ZW4 later in the year, we'll definitely be getting a 2013 ZW3.

mprelaw: I figure when I replace the wheels, I'll lose the disc then, I really dont feel like removing the cassette either! :roflmao2:

Thanks for the comments goldfinch. There was a Felt demo day in town this weekend, so we stopped by to take a look and score some swag. :)

It seems like the 2012 ZW4 small would be an excellent fit for her, but we also found out that the 2013 ZW felt petite will now come in a 700 size, as they are getting rid of the 650 for the new year. Additionally, it looks ike for next year they are moving the model numbers around - the ZW6 is gone, and the 2013 ZW3 has the same groupset as the 2012 ZW4. The new Z/ZW series also has all internal cable routing and BB30 for the bottom braket. We've decided if we can't score a good deal on a 2012 ZW4 later in the year, we'll definitely be getting a 2013 ZW3.

mprelaw: I figure when I replace the wheels, I'll lose the disc then, I really dont feel like removing the cassette either! :roflmao2:

Interesting. For 2012 Trek ditched the 650 wheel Madones and Lexas. It is getting harder and harder to find bikes that fit those under five feet tall, especially if you are long legged and short torso'd. If I end up getting any new bikes odds are it will have to be custom. However, I have thought about getting the Salsa Vaya as a cross bike. They have an odd system of sizing but the smallest just may barely work for me. It has 26 inch wheels, which is what I have on my hybrid.

FYI:

You probably dont have to remove the cassette to remove the dork disc. I dremeled mine into two-halves and it fell off the wheel.

Interesting. For 2012 Trek ditched the 650 wheel Madones and Lexas. It is getting harder and harder to find bikes that fit those under five feet tall, especially if you are long legged and short torso'd. If I end up getting any new bikes odds are it will have to be custom. However, I have thought about getting the Salsa Vaya as a cross bike. They have an odd system of sizing but the smallest just may barely work for me. It has 26 inch wheels, which is what I have on my hybrid.

The rep was saying that they are trying to maintain the standover and reach with the switch. He had the 2013 product book with all the specs in it, but we didn't take the time to do a side by side comparision.

FYI:

You probably dont have to remove the cassette to remove the dork disc. I dremeled mine into two-halves and it fell off the wheel.

I was thinking of that, too, but it's still not worth the effort to me. They'll come a time when the cassette comes off, and that's when the disk will go. It's not much bigger than my 25t granny gear to start with.