OK, so I rode the Felt today. I also rode a similarly-priced 2012 Roubaix SL3 Pro, with Ui2 at a different LBS. Rode both for about 10 miles, though on very different terrain.

The one definite conclusion is that I am going to buy a very nice bike. Compared to what I am riding now, riding a good super-light carbon bike makes so many differences, and it's going to be impossible to resist the upgrade. The surprise is that I didn't love the Felt as much as i expected, and that I liked the Roubaix more than I expected.

Some observations:

I've ridden carbon before, but even still, it was a joy to be on a high quality carbon frame - because of the weight and because of the ride. In particularly, the vibration-damping of the Roubaix is everything people say it is.

Electronic shifting really is different and really is pretty sweet. Whether it's so great as to justify the expense, I'm having trouble deciding. Also, getting the feel of the shifters is going to be an issue - particularly in cold weather when I'm wearing fingered gloves - I fumbled around quite a bit at first.

I don't know how much the Roubaix weighs, but the Felt is <16 lbs without pedals. That's easily 5 lbs less than my current Al Trek. Plus, the test bikes were bare - no water bottles, no saddle bag - and so I really noticed the bike weight climbing hills.

Handling on both bikes is superb. I often wonder at the detailed analysis people offer - such and such bike cornered so well or particular wheels that have the right or wrong stiffness. I won't claim to have that level of awareness, but I felt totally confident turning and descending with both bikes.

Also surprisingly, I got much better attention and service at the LBS selling the Roubaix - the place is the largest chain in the area and my impression usually is that it's staffed by 20somethings with attitude (and different 20somethings every time I go in there), but the guy spent a lot of time with me - put me on the trainer and made a lot of adjustments before my ride - including swapping in a longer stem. At the other LBS - a much smaller operation known locally for its personalized service, they sent me out to ride after just a brief adjustment to the seat height.

Decisions decisions

Decisions, decisions.

Decisions, decisions...

That's a good deal. I better stay out of the shops, if I saw that I'd have to have it too!

I wish I had your problems... lol.

I test rode a lot of bikes last year for my N+1. Although I was looking at lower budget bikes I could not resist trying a couple of the top end ones. Found a great deal of difference on "Feel" of the bikes so I can understand your problem.

I ride aluminium because I prefer it. I also have a CF Giant TCR-C that is good but set up for the use of hills and long distance. When I first got that bike I felt I had made a mistake. Handling was poor- it jarred the body greatly but it did go up hills. That one redeeming feature has been worked on and although it took time- this bike now works- is comfortable and still goes up hills.

So you now have a decision to make. Only way is test ride both the bike and the LBS and from your comments it looks as though you have made your decision. Not saying it is right or wrong but have another ride on the Felt after getting it better tuned in to you.That may persuade you better.

Well.................I purchased the CAAD10-1 (new) in November of 2011, rode it the day after Thanksgiving and then not again until March 2012. Got the 3.1 Madone (also new) in May of 2012, a bike that the shop was holding on layaway and the buyer backed out. Acquired the 2009 6.9 Madone (Project One) used from a fellow cyclist in October 2012. I haven't even ridden it yet, waiting for next season. It's the Trek Madone Project One frame with all brand spankin' new Rival components from a 2012 Scott Foil 30. Everything is brand new except for the frame.

I need aspirin as I have a bad case of N+1 FEVER.

You do have a sweet stable of road bikes. If all your friends were your size, you could equip a team.

Vacillating, maybe; don't think he can be accused of prevaricating here.

All I can add here is that I bought a 2013 Roubaix to supplement my 2012 Salsa Fargo. I do not have near the level you are looking at. I bought based on its' intended market as a long comfortable day ride. Mine is not as light as the Felt, but I have a lower price model. It is an exceptionally smooth and comfortable ride. The carbon post and steerer/fork and the zertz inserts all add up to one extremely comfortable bike. I was sure I would have to upgrade the Roubaix Toupe saddle, but, it too, is extremely comfortable. I haven't done a century yet, but it is the bike I would do it with...

bwfox,
Does your Roubaix have the cobl-goblr seat post?

No. It does have a full carbon post, but it did not come with the inserts like the cobl-goblr. I bought in Sept right after the 2013s hit the warehouse.

Okay, thanks much, I have read a few articles about the post and I was interested in how the post performed for owners. I know several other makers have had absorptive posts in the past, my wife has one on her Trek 7300. As good as the Zertz system works for the frame and fork I was thinking that a system like this for a post would work well, I vaguely remember some thread a few years ago about a "Roubaix" seat post but I cannot find it, now the cobl-goblr seems to have used this . My carbon post makes a good deal of difference for my CAAD 10.

Bill

n+1 happens.

I bought a bike, but not the ones I was considering before.

I was too excited by getting a great deal on that Felt Z2, but after riding it and the Roubaix and thinking about it some, I decided that those long wheelbase bicycles aren't for me. I am quite happy with the more aggressive geometry of my Al Trek. So I kept shopping. At a different LBS, I found a new 2011 Felt F3 Ltd on Tuesday. This morning I rode it and then made a down payment. On Saturday I'll go back for a fitting and maybe some parts swapping (stem, saddle, etc.) and it will be mine.

I'll post pictures once I get it home and have it outfitted.

Here it is...2011 Felt F3 Ltd, with Dura Ace FD and RD and FSK cranks....I haven't weighed it, but the specs say that it's 15.8 lbs. With the wheels upgraded to these Ultegras, it might be a little lighter.

Sorry about the slightly blurry image - the sun had gone down and light was low. I'll take brighter pictures later.

After your comment on the longer wheelbase- I checked the "Z"-"F" and my Boreas in comparison. Of my road bikes- Boreas is my bike of choice for the faster rides. The shorter wheelbase does seem to suit me better although there is not much difference with the other two. Glad you managed to "Re-TEST" the bikes and found the differeence that suits you.

And those Ultegra wheels are my favourite. May not be the lightest around but they ride well and are dependable.

From my days on the net the general consensus on everything is that ~$1000 is the sweet spot. Is a 4K really that much better? With the whole diminishing returns deal? Then again the guy in the book "It's all about the Bike!" had a custom touring steel bike built for about that much.

That $1,000 mark seems to be around the price to get a decent frame and 105 groupset. BUT to get a "Quality" bike- and not only in CF- You will be paying a lot more. There are the components for one thing. Better groupsets cost more and the lighter parts cost and they do make a difference in riding. Then there is the biggest improvement and that is in wheels. OM wheels on the cheaper bikes are nothing special. They can be improved on no end and it depends on how much you want to pay.

Not saying that the rider always warrants a $4000 bike but even the most basic of riders will feel the difference that Quality will give to a ride. Unfortunately quality does cost and does not always see an improvement in speed or stamina. Says me that went from a $600 bike to a $5,000 one and boy did I know the difference but it wasn't in speed.

I have no disagreement here: But, after buying a Trek DS 8.5 a couple months ago I have a slightly different perspective: Reading the specs on the bike and looking at it prior to my purchase, I believed the bike was a Deore groupset with an SLX RD... But, after buying it, I was able to get actual part numbers of the components and check them on Shimano's site and found that the bike was actually a mixture of: Alivio, Deore and SLX. But Trek somehow neglected to mention anything related to Alivio in their specs. Specifically the: hubs, brakes and crankset are all Alivio but not listed that way in the specs. Instead, they used vague descriptions or Shimano part numbers in the advertising... So, essentially, Trek led one to believe that they were selling a Deore groupset (or better) but instead, it was an equal mixture of Deore and Alivio with a token SLX derailer.... Buyer beware!

This is very typical. The RD and maybe the FD will be higher end, and less-obvious parts (hubs, cassettes, chains, etc.) are a little lower. This is how most all companies keep their costs down.

Yes, and no. I've been riding a $1k bike (Trek 2.1, 105 components) for several years and it's a fine bike. Well, I had upgraded the wheels so let's call it a $1.5k bike. When I'm in shape, that bike allows me to ride with the fast group in my club. I don't NEED anything more. But now I own a $4k bike and it's better, but it's not 4 X better. It likely won't make me much faster. It does weigh about 5 lbs less, which will help on the hills a little (a little less than 3% less climbing power required for the same hill - that's just physics) and the stiffness of the frame may help with power transfer some, so that will make a small difference.

But it's a dream to ride - the feel, the fit, the responsiveness, the smooth shifting, etc. I spend A LOT of time in the saddle, and the small improvements are worth it to me.

My MTB is a Bianchi Grizzly from 2000. Not a bad bike and for the time the spec was quite high without the goldplated price tag. Over the years many parts have been replaced as they wore out but I still have the wheels although they are not used now as they are in need of a few spokes and bearings need rebuilding. The other part I have not yet replaced is the front mech. That is Alivio and even I could not believe it was on this quality of bike. It even had the Alivio sticker on it till I scraped it off.

My other MTB is a 92 Kona Explosif. XT throughout and parts have been replaced on it but a couple of years ago I looked at a Kona again and too many "Spurious parts fitted and a lot of downgrades.

Quality of parts do change and this year I bought a Pinarello Uno FP. Cheapest bike in the range but advertised with Tiagra throughout. The wheels are Shimano 501's and the brifters are not Tiagra. They are 105 So far I have found no problems with the Tiagra and I would say it is up to the standard of my 6 year old mix of 105/Ultegra that I have on the other bikes.

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...