bike-geek

After a month of reading and a few weekends of test rides I just ordered my first road bike...a tarmac expert double (56). My LBS is ordering it today and I'm wondering if I should have saved $400 and just gone with the comp.

This is the difference: Expert, Comp

FRONT BRAKE - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105
REAR BRAKE - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105
BRAKE LEVERS - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105,

FRONT DERAILLEUR - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105
REAR DERAILLEUR - Shimano Dura-Ace, Shimano Ultegra

CASSETTE - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105
CHAIN - Shimano Ultegra, Shimano 105

CRANKSET - FSA SL-K MegaExo 2-piece carbon crankset, Shimano 105 Hollowtech II 2-piece crankset

BOTTOM BRACKET - FSA MegaExo, Shimano 105 Hollowtech II

RIMS - Mavic Kysrium Equipe, Mavic Aksium

I am somewhat concerened that the FSA crank got some real bad reviews. I "could" order the expert triple, to get the Ultegra crank, but then I gotta get the red!

Thanks,
Charlie...

Grasschopper

Nah...if you went with the Comp you would be left thinking what might have been better on the Expert. If it was in your budget then you made the right choice....well unless the Roubaix would have been better

Namenda

Wow...buyer's remorse, and you don't even have the bike yet!

You made a great choice. You'll love that bike. If you had gone cheaper, all you'd be thinking about is upgrades. Enjoy it.

cuda2k

You did great, I've also heard a lot of the problems with the FSA cranks come from the chainrings. Swap them out with some Shimano rings if you have issues with it first. Everything else, certainly worth the $$$.

joshalope

105 is nice, but Ultegra is just silky. Also, the wheels should make a noticeable difference. Think about how long you're going to keep the bike for, and then amortize the $400 over that period of time, it's really not that big a difference in the long run, plus you'll wind up spending more upgrading, which you will definitely do if you got the comp.

Greg180

It was the right choice. I just picked up the Tarmac Pro and I love the way it handles and rides. There is not a lot difference between the Pro and the expert except price and upgraded groupo.

7rider

Wife's Tarmac Expert is a beauty and she loves the bike. The only thing we swapped out were the Mavic Ksyrium Equipes for Easton Ascent IIs.

ryanspeer

I was stuck in the same predicament as you, but with the '06 models. I chose the Expert and never regreted it, really, because the components and wheels gained with the Expert far outweight any price savings of the Comp, in my opinion. The Equippe's aren't terribly light weight, but the Aksiums are even worse. In my case I was able to get the Ultegra 6600 crankset instead of a heavier (more problematic??) FSA carbon compact crankset on the Comp. The wheels, cranks, and ultimately the shifter/FD/brake combo made the Expert a better choice for me.

The overall bike was something like .75lb. lighter, and came in a far cooler blue color than the red Comp anyway. No buyer's remorse is necessary. You made a wise choice.

subcultro

Agreed. Go expert. Youre going to want to upgrade later anyways, and its much cheaper to do it this way than to buy the peices separately. My friend just picked up an expert and its a great ride. If you buy the comp, you'll always wonder if the expert was a better deal, and if you buy the expert you'll never once think to yourself "well maybe I would have liked worse components." Buy it and enjoy. Be sure to post pictures once you get it =)

garysol1 

I had the expert and loved it. I did upgrade to Equipes for SL's before I left the shop.

geraldatwork

You made the right choice. I think the biggest reason is the wheels. Also a year from now you won't miss the $400. You'll probably wish you got an even better bike.

bike-geek

thanks for the comforting. funny thing was that my original budget was $1,200. HA!

I rode 10 dif bikes and kept going back to the tarmac.

the more you learn, the more you spend.

the main thing that got me freaked was the fsa crank reviews and I heard that there was some complaints about the hubs on the ksyrium wheelset.

charlie...

ryanspeer

Again, sounds similar to me. I had $1600 to spend and was originally thinking I'd do the Tarmac Comp or a Giant TCR Advanced. Didn't like the feel/fit of the TCR, and then the salesman had the absolute GALL to show me the Tarmac Expert, Gerolsteiner edition - for ONLY $600 more (Comp was on end of season clearance at $1600, and the Expert wasn't discounted as much). At that point, it was all I could do to ignore the Expert. I ended up losing that battle.

And I don't regret it.

venturi95

I have yet to ride any of the new (now 2 years old) 10 speed stuff, but in the past I would always recommend the extra money spent on the upgrade to Ultegra from 105. You won't regret it.

Sirrobinofcoxly

Naa, always buy the best bike you can afford. I think you got your money's worth in upgrades. You're just going to end up spending $400 bucks buying new higher end parts anyhow

bike-geek

I did it. Picked it up on saturday. Sweet bike. I'm even loving the yellow accents.

garysol1 

It does not exist without pics...

briscoelab

Actually you are incorrect, if refering to the 07. The Pro has a totally different framset that is MUCH lighter and stiffer than the Expert. If you have an 06... then they are the same frame.

boz1971

I went with a Comp in the Gerolsteiner color and swapped my DA from my other bike. Love it. Handles great, climbs great, and seems to absorb the road very well.

ryanspeer

Every time I get on my Tarmac vs. my commuter/rain bike (Litespeed Capella - aluminum frame) it feels like I have a tailwind the entire ride. The ride quality continues to impress me every time I swing a leg over it.

Evoracer

Buddy of mine just last week picked up a new '06 Expert for $100 over the '06 Comp. Do some shopping if you're not committed to your LBS already.

UT_Dude

Dangit.... I have an '06 Expert. The only thing stock is the frame and seatpost, but you're making me want to upgrade that now, too.....

ITT

I love my Tarmac Comp. You will be just as happy with the Expert.