Originally Posted by
stapfam
.... But you get what you pay for. On the face of it an aluminium bike with Tiagra is not worth what I paid for it but the proof is in the riding. The cost of this bike has gone into the frame with cost efficient but effective parts fitted to it.
Yes, and all in all I am quite pleased with the bike -- it does exactly what I hoped and does it better than I expected... But, I wish Trek had been a little more transparent in its specs... But, even then I probably would have still bought it as, in 2012 the DS 8.5 was the top of that line and so my choice would have been "take it or leave it" -- and I am very pleased that I took it...
It was the surprise factor that made me feel a little cheated rather than anything about the bike itself...
But, as you point out, I have to realize that Trek was reducing the level of some of the components to stay competitive in a very competitive market. And so ultimately, I got a good bike at a reduced price...
And, as MinnMan pointed out: Trek ain't the only manufacturer to do that...
So: Thanks guys for helping me think through that... I feel better about it now...