Shuffleman

It is a nice bike and the price seems pretty good. It would really depend upon the condition of the bike though. Personally, I am not a big fan of purchasing used rental cars because I do not think that they get treated with the same level of pride as they would by a private owner. I would look at the bikes hard before making a purchase. If they look good, it may be a good deal. If they are all scratched up and dinged I would walk as the deal is not that great.
I used to be more concerned about buying a used carbon bike than I am now. Bikes are pretty tough. Check them out and you can usually see issues.

eyewannabike

Smart move by the rental company. They get free bikes. They probably get to depreciate them since they're rented and then they sell them to you for still more than they would have paid wholesale. I'm not so sure that's in your best interest. Rental bikes would get used a lot. A lot of regular used bikes not so much. Some are. Those that are are probably as well maintained as a rental bike.

I'd suggesting buying an actual used used bike instead of a rental. you'll pay less and the chances are that it's probably been ridden a lot less.

JmanEspresso

Since no one mentioned I dont think..

If you have Cannondale available to you, the Synapse Aluminum 105 Disc should tick most if not all of your boxes. Its ~1500 retail. The Synapse wins some bike of the year awards from certain magazines/websites, although they're generally speaking about mid tier carbon variants. But, hey, I ride the Synapse too, so, obviouisly ill suggest it.

If you have Bianchi available, the Impulso 105 is in the same price range. The shop near me has it for 1550 iirc. Another 100-150 bucks gets you the disc brake version, and then you can jump up to the Carbon Intenso in the 2-2.2k area.

Trek Domane 2.3? Also there is some Emonda models that fit in your price range too. The Trek Domane is a real nice ride, after riding a bunch of bikes, I really liked the Synapse and the Domane. Went with the synapse because for what I spent and the deal I was offered, I got a whole lot more bike than I could have got with the shops offer on the trek. I got into a Synapse Carbon 5 105 for way less than I should have ALWAYS ask the LBS your dealing with if they can offer you a deal on the bike your choosing.. I went with the best deal I got, but pretty much every shop offered me something to entice me.

For me, after riding basically everything all the shops near me had(not EVERYTHING), the sportive bikes as a whole, appealed to me. Not every race geo bike is hardcore aggresive, but as a whole, you do lean further forward, and you more often than not get larger "standard" gearing. I live in hill and mountain central, so I wanted real nice gearing, so a compact crank and 11-30/11-32 was my ideal setup. Compact crank with 11-28 was the least I would do. The race geo bikes generally would have a 52/36, or a standard 53/39, and a small casette, 11-25/26, sometimes a 28. For me, where I live and ride, and just my general physical ability, if I had a bike with the lowest gear being 39/25, I would actively avoid 80%, if not 100% of the routes I could ride around here, and would be relegated to the rail trail almost exclusively. So, I got a bike that gives me 34-30 for the climbs, and now Im willing to tackle whatever comes my way.

truflip

thanks for your input regarding this. I will not be going this route. the rental company wants a $200 deposit and it's non refundable.
You got a point. Thanks for your input!
Ahh.. the Synapse Aluminum 105 Disc isnt carried at this shop that has the CAAD10. They have Synapse for women. I'll try and speak with the manager if they can bring in the men's model somehow.

Same for the Bianchi. I think that might be a US specific model too. The intenso will be out of my price range if its 2-2.2k where you are. We have only one bianchi dealer here and they seem to have expensive Bianchis all the time. They sell a Pista for $950 or something ridiculous.

I saw the Trek 2.3 Domane. There's a big trek dealer here. have yet to test ride it as there's a no test rides on rain policy (not that i would want to bike in the rain anyway). Definitely on my list. Will check the Domane.

Thanks for the tip on deals. I never asked to be honest but I will and see how they respond. Two shops I checked out are large chains and they would only give discounts on accessories you buy the same day (helmet, gloves, bibs, etc..)

I never considered the gearing setup of the bikes I've shortlisted. so thanks for that. I will read more into it. I just assumed all 2015 105's were the same. I dont live in a hilly area but there is a nice set of climbing hills id enjoy riding in.

Thanks for your input. Very much appreciate you sharing your experience!

Did you happen to try a Lapierre Sensium 200 by any chance? Two shops have it. one of them is selling it for $1900 which is in the territory of the Defy Advanced 1. Will try and catch the shop for a test ride ASAP.

JmanEspresso

Sorry, not familiar with the Lapierre. Cant comment on it either way.

One thing to keep in mind, if the shop is a certain brands dealer, what they have in the shop is usually just the popular models they're selling most of. Usually, though I suppose not always, if they're a real dealer of the brand, they basically can get you whatever you want from that brand. Ive got a few shops to choose from in the immediate area, one which carrys specialized, cannondale, BMC and Cervelo. They definitely have more cannondales than any other brand, but for example, in the shop they only stock 4 high end BMC models, and literally 2 Cervelos were there the other day. But, I had the BMC Grand Fondo on my list of bikes to check out, and I asked them if they could get one, and they told me yes, of course.

Some shops wont mind if you ask them to get you a bike, and then you dont buy it. Other shops sort of assume you will. But, doesnt hurt to see whats what.

truflip

Now worries. I found a shop with that bike in my size so I'll try it out tomorrow. The other usual good shops are smaller/smallish so theyre a bit hesitant to order in a bike they dont normall stock since if I end up not buying it, it's a bit of a hardsell for them. They know what sells hence why they stock those bikes they have I guess. It's understandable. They do offer to put me on a similar (geometry) bike of the same brand so i guess that will do.

Anyway, I did get a chance to ride three bikes today. Giant Defy Advanced 2, Felt Z85 and Felt Z5

For me, the Defy Advanced 2 was a let down. I feel like the shop didnt do a great job putting the bike together to begin with (rattled, derailleurs not adjust, handlebars not at right angle/heigh, tires not mounted properly, etc). But the biggest thing were the mechanical disk brakes. They simply sucked. Shop said disk brakes take about a month to break in. Aside from that, the bike felt similar to the aluminum Defy 1 model but just lighter if you picked it up. Riding it, it felt the same. Rather tame, sluggish response, will go if you want it, etc.. I just failed to find where the $600 premium was. I really wanted to like the bike too.


One shop had Felts, Scotts and Cervelos. Got on the Z5 then the Z85. Z5 size was too big but the bike felt great nonetheless. I got on the Z85 just for fit test and wow, at proper size/fit, the bike was fun! It was zippy, snappy, quick, yet stable. Very smooth ride and predictable. They stopped on a dime too! my heart rate went up from either the excitement (joy) of riding or it could be that i kept mashing because it just felt like it always wanted to go. The Felt bikes seem well built and put together in terms of the parts quality and the way the shop assembled them. Big plus! If anything, the Felts remind of the Defy's when just cruising about but will gladly oblige when you wanna go nuts (sorta like the Spesh Allez but better)


Sadly they dont have the carbon Z5 model in my size but they wanted me to get on a Cervelo R2 and hinted they'd offer a really nice deal for it. I will be going back to try it as it looked nice and purdy on the wall (grey orange scheme). I know, it's different geometry but i'll give it a chance.


Tomorrow, I will check out the Lapierre Sensium also. Ran out of time today. At this point, I think the Giants are out of my shortlist as they just feel too mundane for my body type and riding preference and that for the same price, a Felt Z5 to me is a better ride, value and the shop seem to know how to assemble bikes!

truflip

Just to update those wondering, I ended up purchasing the Lapierre Sensium 200. Two shops had it for $2500 but one was promoting the brand with Accell so I got it for $1900. It was this or the Felt Z5 for $100 more. This bike seemed to have the better overall package considering they ride and feel almost the same to me.

I took it out today for a 55km loop at the local hills. Climbed 950m without much issue other than my own fitness. So far so good!

inspclouseau

Congrats and many kilometers to you.

LaPierre makes the prettiest bikes in my opinion and I would love to get my hands on one. It's just very difficult to find many dealers with any stock by me in Florida. I'm in the market myself, and will begin test riding later this summer. I have a speedster 20, and quite frankly, 20 miles in and my body is just in pain from the road buzz. By research alone, the Cayo 4.0 is at the top of my list. I want something very compliant but snappy too.

ColaJacket

Pics or it didn't happen.

GH

truflip

Thanks! Same to you Sorry to hear about the speedster 20. I never got to ride one (no stock). Good luck finding the Cayo 4.0!
Here you go

inspclouseau

Love it! I want! How does it ride?

truflip

I dont really have much to compare to other than my fixed gear Fuji Feather and the other road bikes I tested but I'd say it rides pretty damn sweet. It's not quite an endurance frame, not quote a race geo either. It's sort of in between actually and for my body type and needs, it worked out very well.

The first ride was 2.5hrs long with some breaks. I was sore just cause of the work put in rather than the bikes fit. If you can find one, definitely give it a ride. Might be surprised! Not sure why there isnt more of them around the forums so I plan on writing a review after a few more rides in