Very prudent thoughts at that.
However, personally, I'd just as soon spend the extra $1500 or so on events, gear, travel etc. or even another bike (you should get a fixed-gear!) than anything electronic.

Why does he need to justify his budget? He has the money, he wants something that's a step up from 105.

Gotta second this suggestion.

Disk brakes are the only thing that you can't easily upgrade as you ride.
Figure if you want disk or rim (I know you said you were leaning rim) and then look.

I doubt you will notice much difference in ride quality between a 105 drive train and Ultegra (not Di2) but you will notice the difference between stock wheels and a good mid-price ($1200-1500) set of wheel.

Make sure you get a good bottom bracket and good wheel hubs as that's where the friction is, so don't skimp there. If you are gonna spend money to upgrade specific components, look at the places with bearings first.

I don't think anyone is demanding justification. Just pointing out a few pertinent value points along his budget range. As he is asking for advice...it is safe to assume he might not be aware of what he doesn't know.

I think it would be fairly negligent to NOT point out to someone that $2000 will go nearly as far as $3000 when someone is asking for bike buying advice. He's free to spend his money as he wishes with the information.

And frankly...I'm in a similar boat. I'd been looking at bikes in the ~$1500 range...the longer I look, the higher my budget creeps. It's difficult to decipher whether this is because I'm seeing value in places I hadn't before, or am just being seduced by the shiny factor.

Statements like, "well, if you're not racing..." are absolutely attempts of justification.

Thank you.

I disagree. And even if it is a request for justification, I don't see that as being wrong either.

Many people don't know what they want. If the OP was 100% dead set on what he wanted to purchase, he'd already have a bike right now. There's nothing wrong with suggesting he hash out his reasoning for what he wants.

It's possible I'm wrong, but I don't get the impression anyone here is attempting to grill him out of maliciousness. They're simple, polite questions meant to assist in getting the bike that would be the best match for him. I'd hope when I had narrowed things down and and was close to purchasing that people would be so interested in helping me explore all options.

The new top two contenders (at the moment) after more research last night and this morning are:

I keep coming back to the Domane ($3200). The SuperSix w/Di2 would be sweet though ($3500). Both Trek and Cannondale will be at the Expo tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get an up close look at these, see whatever else and maybe even swing a killer deal on something.

I am appreciating all feed back/reasoning. At this point, I'm really not concerned with any future upgrades or additional equipments. Just focusing on the bike itself, as is.

For what it's worth, I like the look of the Trek much better

I test rode the Supersix last year. It is a straight race bike, if I'm not mistaken. Will be a bit more aggressive position than the other bikes you've listed so far.

That said...from what I'm seen in geometry charts...the difference between a race and endurance geometry are close enough that any bike can be made to fit like the other with a CM different length stem and a spacer.

....hookers and blow FTW.

...I've entered a new, contemplative and introspective phase of life. I'm thinking about buying a used plastic bike so I can ride it, decide it's not right for me, and then start a thread in road complaining about it.

What do you think ?

.
...to the OP: in the final analysis, people who cheap out on the bike they buy usually end up wondering so much about what they might have missed out on that they end up spending more money in the longer run anyway. This is coming from someone in a newer contemplative and introspective philosophical phase in life.

Thanks. That's why I want something pretty nice.

I think that's right up your alley

You'd look good on a plastic bike too

Me too. I keep coming back to it and I have spent many, many hours looking. To me, it seems the best for the price point, I like the looks, IsoSpeed frame, components, etc. I think it is the perfect comfort/endurance bike with a slant towards racing. Even if I never did race, I want to go fast. Not sure at this point, I can do any better.

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...FWIW, as an older, mechanically inclined bicycle dinosaur ( who watched with much amusement how the whole Cannondale Headshock "innovation" played out over the years), I am instantly suspicious of Trek's innovation "isospeed". Nobody knows how well it will age, how strenuously it's been tested, or in general whether Trek will continue to support it with parts if it turns out not to age especially well.

I can't say for certain whether it's the great innovation it's being sold as, or just another dead end in bicycle technology. But it's something you ought to think about in your decision.

Forgiving Ride, Relentless Performance

...damn straight.

It's a bearing. Trek has a lifetime warranty on their frames.

How many times do you have to go back?
Personally, of the two I'd go with the C'dale, but I'd skip the Di2 - though I know a lot of folks really like it, and if you're going to get it, best to get in on the bike now rather than as a costly upgrade later.
Good luck!

....do they have a lifetime warranty on moving parts in their frames ?

I would assume that they don't have a warranty on the bearing, but... it's a bearing. You speculate as to whether it's going to be supported or whether it's going to be a technological dead end... but it's a bearing. It's not Cannondale's HeadShok or Specialized's Future Shock... it's a bearing.

...because BB30 worked out so well over the years ?

Besides, I'm a little vague on what the front isospeed frame "innovation" entails. I know what the seat tube/top tube interface thing looks like. It's an interesting idea, I'm just not sure why a frame made with space aged carbon fiber reinforced composite plastic needs it...since it's so advanced in terms of lateral stiffness and vertical compliance already.


I can certainly see why it's a desirable innovation in their aluminium frames. Those guys can ride a little stiff.

LOL Thanks! I'm pretty much settled on the SL 6 now. Hope I can get it in my size. Maybe I'll see one at the Expo tomorrow.