help me before I n+1 again....
 

A nearby LBS is advertising a 2012 Felt Z2 in my size for just over $4k. Dura Ace DI2, Shimano RS80, carbon/alloy wheels. I think the normal list price is around $7k. I'll be test riding it tomorrow.

This was not in my plans, but I've been watching my riding buddies who have DI2 and it looks sweet, and of course I dream of a frame and wheel upgrade. I may not be able to resist. Of course, everything depends on how it feels in the test ride....

Does anybody ride the Z2? What do you think?

No chance of help from me- It's your problem so stop prevaricating and just buy it.

I rode the Dura Ace DI2's and can only say they are sooo very sweet... I think the next step up from them is an automatic transmission. Until then, it is a simple little "click" and away you go...

... Sorry, no help here either... :(

Keep us posted -- and don't forget the pictures...

Man, I wish I could even afford a 4K bike.

Do it, you'll be helping the world economy.

I don't ride a Felt, and I haven't stayed in a Holiday Inn Express either, but their bikes and the Ui2 are well thought of and work flawlessly for those that have them. Spend it now or spend more later when you start thinking you screwed up by not buying it when you had the chance and it has gone up in price.

Bill

I say, "If it fits and you can afford it, Go for it!" I was in the same boat and perfectly happy with my aluminum frame Giant Defy until the day that I walked into the LBS and saw this red and white, carbon fiber Bianchi Infinito sitting there calling out to me. I knew at that moment, that I had fallen into the clutches of the dreaded N+1 disease and the only cure was to buy the bike. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size in the red and neither did the distributor. But then I saw the Colnago. After days of doing nothing but thinking of what it would be like to ride this bike all the time, I went in and pulled the trigger. Lucky for me, the distributor only had my bike size and color with the Ultegra group, which the LBS only charged me $100.00 more for it than the same bike with the 105 group.

As Bill said, "Spend it now or spend more later when you start thinking you screwed up by not buying it when you had the chance and it has gone up in price." Jump on it! You won't be sorry

Go for it!!!
I have a 2011 Z4 (Ultegra, not Di2) and the ride is awesome. The Z2 must be super-awesome. :thumb:

I worked part time as a wrench in a high end road bike shop this past spring. I got to ride numerous bikes with Di2 during post service test rides. As much as I've groused about my feeling they have no need to exist, I have to admit they are pretty slick.
Saw a couple of examples of the Campy electronic, but never got to try it out.

N+1 keeps me smiling like an old fool.

Particularly in public

OMG - looking at your list of current bikes, you seem to have a serious n+1 habit. how did you manage to avoid n+1 in 2012?

Asking this bunch to help you to stop a N+1 deal is like asking a pusher to help kick a drug habit. :D Good luck and post pictures.

Just had a thought. If you truly want to resist the urge to buy the n+1 for 4 grand, send the money my way. I'll be glad to take it off your hands. :innocent: :P

Chug! Chug! Chug!

Will you be riding it in the Minnesota winter?

In my opinion, electronic shifting is useful in three circumstances:

1. On a time trial bike, where you can set up satellite shift buttons at the brake levers and at the ends of the aero bars, allowing you to shift gears without changing hand positions, thus maintaining your aero position while on the aero bars, or allowing you to shift even while you are climbing or cornering with the hands out on the brakes.

2. On cold rides, where your hands get too cold to work the mechanical shift levers on the brifters. Shimano front derailleurs especially tend to get a bit "sticky" and hard to shift, especially when your hands are frozen.

3. I think it's also useful if you're usng mechanical Shimano shifters, since they are so badly designed from an ergonomic standpoint. For example, when you move a Campag shift lever (either direction), the thing shifts. Right now. With Shimano, if you're downshifting, it shifts right away. But upshifting is actually a two-step movement - the thing only shifts on the release step: click (no shift yet), release (now it shifts). This is why I would never use mechanical Shimano shifters. But I think Di2 fixes this.

My recommendation: go ride a fixie and get out of this stupid and constant corporate marketing/upgrading cycle. Turn to Buddhism and learn to forego desire. Save your money. Just my two bits...

Luis

I think we all get caught up in the, "if I buy a better/newer camera, I'll take better pictures." I know I do.

However, there is a certain amount of satisfaction using fine tools, whether it is a bike, skis, camera or chisel.

It's so very simple, IF you can truely afford it and you really want it, then WHY do you care what anyone else thinks?? ;) Me, I couldn't even DREAM of bicycle costing :eek:$4 Grand, much less $7Grand but life is SHORT, as Nike says: Just Do It! :):thumb::D

well, this is a little anti-climactic, but the guy at the LBS didn't get back to me and the test ride didn't happen today. It's possible that the bike is already sold, but if it isn't I won't have time to pursue it until Saturday, if it's still available.

So maybe I won't be getting a great bargain on the bike of my dreams.

Thanks all for your input and your perspective. I don't NEED this bike. It's true that I ride a low end road bike (Trek 2.1 Al frame, 105 components) and that most everybody in my local club rides with much nicer gear, but there's nothing wrong with my bike and I have no illusions that a better bike will suddenly make me a stronger puller or a noticeably better climber. But my few experiences on really nice carbon bikes is that they are a joy to ride.

To those who say that $4k is a heck of a lot to spend on a bike - yeah it is. I can "afford" it in the sense that I have more than that sitting in my checking account and I have a very secure job- I'm very fortunate that I do not live close to the financial edge. (And I KNOW that that makes me fortunate). On the other hand, there are other long-range demands on that money - keeping my 100 y.o. house from falling down, my daughter's college fund, etc. so I debate the wisdom of spending that kind of coin on a bike.

But biking is my passion and I spend many hours/month in the saddle. I may still pull the trigger if the opportunity hasn't passed.

Watch for sales on Ultegra Di2; it works just as well as Dura Ace, and it's a much better value, as long as you're happy with a 10sp cassette (rather than 11). I understand the components are also interchangeable, so you can always upgrade, especially the parts that stand out, so that it's harder to tell if it's DA or Ultegra. Not many people can tell the difference, anyway. Even fewer care, unless it's on their own bike!

Luis

No apologies needed. You seem to have fortunate circumstances in your lfe and it seems that you are aware of them and grateful for them.

I say: ENJOY THEM!
.... Don't waste them (which it is clear that you don't) -- but don't disavow them either!

Best of luck with your dream...

It happens with the beautiful, and the mundane... Today I narrowed my selection of snow tires to a middle of the road Goodyear with a middle of the road price, and top rated Michelins priced to match. The Michelins won.

Buy the felt.

You are a fortunate man who got to this forum by living long enough and you have done well. I have bought 2 new bikes this year that aren't anywhere near what you are looking at, but it was comfortable enough for me to do it without putting us in any kind of jeopardy. I am enjoying them both immensely. This is "our" time. If it is still there when you go in next, heck yes, enjoy the bike. To you, it will be rewarding and worth every penney. If I find ourself in a safe position next year, then we will buy a new tandem and we will enjoy every day we can go out and play!

You'll get it one day...

Do it if its still there. You say biking is your passion, then it's worth it. A few years ago I was looking at a CF bike, but had just retired and was trying to figure out expenses on less income. When I talked about it with my wife she said "you worked hard, you enjoy biking, and you will use it, so get it". I did and have never regretted it. So just do it, as they say.

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.