Anyone know anything about these bikes? I can't find any useful reviews on the internet. This month's Bicycling magazine mentioned them. I'm intrigued about the Zertz inserts. Anyone have any experience with them?

I don't trust old guys, but I'll listen politely.

Weak Link,

You might try over at Road Bike Review if you don't get any responses here. Good luck

That's what I'm talking about. There are no reviews of the bike at Road Bike Review.

I thought the Zertz stuff was a technology Specialized patented.

The Z series are supposed to be relaxed geometry road bikes, equivalent to the Trek Pilot series. Haven't seen much in the way of reviews but I did look over a few at the Felt booth at the TdC and they are pretty good looking bikes.

Relaxed geometry sounds great to those of us who find most modern road bikes too tight, race-oriented, harsh, twitchy, etc., and/or who like to use wider tires, such as 700Cx28 or even 700Cx32.

I purchased a Felt Z70 in June 09. It was my first road bike and a transfer from a hybrid. I have logged 1200 miles on the Z70. This is a truly amazing bike. I have no comfort issues, it is light and well constructed. I purchased this on the advice from the bike shop owner after much discussion. He told me I would feel like I cut the anchor loose from the hybrid. I ride 3-4 MPH faster on the Z70, can go farther each ride and after just a short breather feel like I could keep going at the end of my rides. Having no road bike experience prior to this I have no regrets with my purchase. This may be said about many road bike brands, but I will say the Felt Z70 performs beautifully. I can not tell you one thing I have found that I did not like about this bike.

I have been cycling two years now and since I purhcased the Z70 I can tell you I ride as much as I can. I have been transformed physically and I now consider myself a serious cyclist. I initially started cycling after a diagnosis of diabetes and found that walking to lose weight was beating my feet. I started cycling and purchased a hybrid. The road bike became a desire and finally made the move and do not regret the purchase in any way. The Z70 was everything I was told it would be. For my first road bike I was guided very well and have a terrific bike.

Define old.

I looked around too and could not find anything about them either, but it looks like they have had them on their bikes for several years so they must be "okay?"

40 is the old age of youth, 50 is the youth of old age.

I ride a Tricross Pro and Roubaix Pro, both of which have Zertz inserts. I don't know if they make that big a difference to tell you the truth. Slightly wider tires (25's) make a far bigger improvement in ride. I have never noticed them in a Felt frame but have seen them on a Felt seatpost.

What I read about the Z series is, that they are comparable with the Specialized Roubaix.

I test-rode a Z4 and was quite impressed. Not as plush (or heavy) as a Roubaix Expert, but quite comfortable and stable. I'd say it's a very worthwhile alternative to the Roubaix, especially if you need a slightly shorter top tube or you find the extended Roubaix head tubes too much of a good thing.

I own a z 25, and put 3000 miles on it in the summer of 09, including Ragbrai. It is one of the most comfortable road bikes I've riden. The z series gets it's comfort from relaxed geometry. I also have a Scott cr1 sl which is a fine bike, but if I'm going to ride all day, I always take the Felt. Mine is completly stock except for the wheels, and the brakes, and the crank, and the stem, and the bars, and the cassette, and the chain. I love the stock saddle. Nothing wrong anything I changed, just upgrades.

I test rode the Z70 before I purchased a Roubaix Expert in 07'. I didn't feel much of a difference between the two models at the time. I went with the Specialized in part due to the LBS saying they were not selling many Felts and might not carry them in the future. My Roubaix has 6 of the Zertz inserts on the frame and seat post. My newest bike is a Tarmac Pro SL that only has the Zertz inserts on the seat post, however they used a lightly colored purple Zertz in lieu of the clear Zertz. My guess is the purple hued Zertz are 3 times better than the clear ones.

Both the Roubaix and Tarmac are size 56 and are set up with to the same fit. I have found the Tarmac just as comfortable to ride and even more so while I'm in the drops. I do have 23's on both bikes, 25's do make a difference. I don't have any century rides on the Tarmac but on 50 to 60 mile rides there were no issues. I did replace the seats on both bikes with Specialized Phenom saddles.