Originally Posted by
slimyfrog
Indeed, that is absolutely the plan. but I'm still at step 0, which is figure out what is available and what my requirements are. Hence my original post. I
don't want stock in local shops to be my limiting factor. For example, I learned springing for carbon might not be a horrible idea after all, and I'll definitely bother going out of my way to a Felt dealership. Something I wouldn't have done last week
Thank you everyone for the feedback.
It doesn't have to be. If you like the ride on a certain frame, but the bike you test ride only has Sora, then ask the LBS if they can order it in Tiagra/105/Ultegra. If it's an older model that they really want to sell, maybe they'll put a new groupset on for only a minor cost.
When I got my Fuji Sportif from PB, I road tested a bike that only had Claris on it. But the frame fit me as well or better than all the other bikes that I had tried (there and at other LBSs), so I ordered a Fuji Sportif with Tiagra. I've had no major complaints about the bike.
GH