archermd

So after much confusion, shooping, forum lurking, and about a dozen trips to lbs, I did it. Ordered a Specialized TriCross Comp Tiple, size 54. The guy there, the main one most bikers at that shop seem to gravitate to (I have been there enough to see a pattern) did me a huge service. I was all set to get a 56 or bigger, since I can stand over them and other folks had said that's what I needed, but he thought with a short in-seam a 54 would be a better fit and made me try a few frames to check. He was right. He plans a full measured fitting once it arrives and is built. He expects to adjust the seat on the rails, handle-bar angle, and has offered to swap stems and tweak the bike until it fits me properly. I asked about buying a maintenance plan. He said all bike there get 1 hyear of free full service. Other shops here in expensive norther Nj have offered to sell me maintenance packages. I am liking this lbs more each day. May seem trivial to some, but they have already spent hours with me and just finally got my first dollars today. They have invested time and patietnce ingetting my dollar investment, and that works for me just fine. Now all I need to do is decide on a computer, lights, bags, etc... and start riding. Will start with regular pedals, since it will be difficult to fine an extra wide cleat shoe for my wide but short feet. I am so excited, and send my since THANKS to all on these forums who offered there kind and patient advice. More to follow once I am out there riding. Be safe y'all.

flipped4bikes

Yes, finally! Good choice (biased opinion). Now remember to ride the thing. Sounds like a primo LBS too...

dzinehaus

just outta curiosity, what made you go with the SPEC tricross?

My LBS i like, but its a bit expensive, but I am going back to it more and more just because of the service (like you said, more info provided / time invested). After speaking with both of my brothers who race / train competitively they both said the same thing also, they chose their LBS and bike because of the service provided to them and the fact they were willing to answer more questions and give less attitude and gauge for $$.

Way to go!

archermd

Am i nuts to want to visit the bike even before it is built?

LBS did a great job. It was a nice and more thorough pre-ownership eval than expected. Not just "can you stand over this frame and not hurt the important stuff" but also about length of top bar in each frame and the guy there used my line-of-sight past handlebars to the front axel to see if I was too stretched, crowed, or just right. Can't wait for the full fitting once it is built.

Eager to ride!

dzinehaus

you aren't nuts, sounds like you are more anxious... it's like getting a new anything... you just wanna see your new baby while its being built to suit you.

archermd

I chose Specialized TriCross because: The best of the LBS in my area is a big Specialized shop, and their main rider who fit me has an S-Works Tricross, and he is a madman, rides far and long and many many miles. Many other guys their ride Specialzed too. Thye owner of that LBS rides a TriCross Expert Double. I wanted a triple, and few cross bikes come that way. And I considered a steel (Surly, Kona, or others) but harder to find. And Cannondale seems nice but expensive for the components you get and not a triple. So when looking at now 4 LBS and many brands, I went with the one that gave me the triple, a company that most people (not all, I know) respect, has nice products, and is coming from an LBS that I like and feel comfortable with. I think I now know which guys at this LBS ride the most and which ones the other shoppers seem to go to for help (I have watched to see which riders come in looking like they are fit and know what they are doing and have nice looking bikes, and who they talk to at the LBS). I Alos thought about Fiji and Jamis. In the end, I went with a bike that was one of the first ones I looked at. Also, if I really get into this and like it and drop some pounds, I might get a true road bike later, and I like some of what Specialized has to offer (and they will cost less than a Seven, Serrota, Cervello, unless I get an S-Works model. I had started this process think I had to have a Trek, but in the end, I found myself ordering something else. I thinkI will like it. I sure hope so for the money. I will now join the Sepcialzed Riders CLub, at 230 lb I hope the 2xl jersey fits! Will look nice when I am on my black bike with a red and white jersey.

dzinehaus

from what I saw specialized had some good prices for what they offered. I was suggested to convert a brodi into a hardcore commuter / cross hybrid, but I ended up finding a haro v1 which has similar geometry as what I was going for originally.

on my fixer im looking forward to shaving down my double into a single. Right now I have a sugino double 170.5mm with a 48/36 (if I counted right) and im changing that for a shimano 105 53/42 170mm. gonna do the same... shave off the teeth on the outer ring and se it as a bash guard... or im just gonna nix the 42t inner and have a 53t outer.

take some pics, hell use that as an excuse to see your LBS and bike being built. Go in and say 'do you mind if I periodically come in to take photos for 'insurance prposes' because this is an investment to me, and I want a fair enough accrate pricing of the parts & wanna write down S/N also.' They might look at you and think you are a lil anal, but then just kinda let it slip that you also wanna see it built along the way cause you are anxious to be with it. Double entendres are great sometimes ! In this case... I think that might be just what you are looking for.

NealH

Good move and, I am sure you will enjoy the bike. I too have been looking for the Tricross, a 61cm preferably the Expert model, though it has been difficult locating a 61cm frame in the Expert or Comp configuration. The 2008 models will be available next month and, the new color is the red-white-black S-Works color. They will also have the S-Works fork. The really bad news though, is that they will carry SRAM Rival. That's why I want to find a 2007 model.

reppans

Congrats.... same bike as mine, I like it alot. Also got a size smaller than I would a road bike, and got a free swap to a longer handlebar stem, and am very happy with the comfort/fit. I'm a very hilly area and I find I need the triple, even then, I wish I had a lower gear.

Only thing was that the front brake squealed, but set the toe-in on the pads enough and it will take care of it.

dzinehaus

What's wrong with SRAM ? they just aren't really big in north american market but they are still great at a competitive consumer market. my only issue with sram is that it can get really $$ for what it actually is.