I am toying with idea of picking up a closeout 2011 Trek 2.1. I see that it comes in a H2 and H3 version, the H3 being more comfort oriented. I don't really get the geometry charts with all those measurements. I wondered if anyone else had compared the two and felt a significant difference between the two? I am looking for a little more upright ride due to some back issues. Could I achieve the same results by swapping stems or adjusting handlebars, etc. on a H2ead of searching for a h3 frame?

the H3 geometry on a 56cm frame has a 1.5 cm longer head tube, a .6 cm shorter top tube and a .2 degree slacker head tube.

the handlebars will be that much higher and closer to you putting you in a more upright position than on a H2 for the same stem length/angle.

that's the difference. if you don't know what anything i said means, just get the H3. if you can get the frames for the same price and you want a more upright position i don't see why you would want an H2.

Visit the shop, sit on a few and talk with them. When I bought mine last year I went in thinking that I'd need an H3 frame, he sat me on a couple bikes, put me on a bike in the trainer and said that he thought an H2 would be fine. He was correct, my H2 Madone has been great.

Are you sure that a more upright position is the best approach to your back issues? I don't have back problems, but it's apparent from many threads on the subject that some with back issues find just the opposite, more upright is actually harder to deal with.

When I last purchased a bike a few years back I was amazed at how much better I felt riding the Trek pilot series vs. the other Trek road bikes. Sadly that Pilot was "borrowed" by my brother and shortly thereafter "misplaced". Ahh, family. Now I am getting the itch for another road bike and the Pilot series is no more? I guess the H3 is the closest thing I could get.

Last year I was in search of a bike which offered a more upright position and by sheer luck stumbled onto a bike store which had a brand new Trek Pilot 5.9 frame in my size from the last year Trek made the Pilot. I had them swap the components from my old bike, and I've been riding the Pilot ever since. I really like it a lot and for the life of me can't understand why Trek discontinued the line. At the time I bought the Pilot frame the personnel at the store told me the H3 geometry bikes are the "descendants" of the Pilot.

I don't have a medical for it but it has to do with my lower spine. I've ridden a few standard Treks and found I was stretched just a bit too far forward. I'd last maybe 20 min. before I'd start to tighten up. Then when I gt off the bike, it was a painful hour or so before I could stand fully upright. With the Pilot, I never felt like I was reaching forward and I never felt any pain. I am wondering if the Cannondale Synapse would be a reasonable substitute?

Side_FX:

You might take a look at the “Z” line of Felts, they are Felts ‘comfort’ line.

If you saw one go by, it could almost pass for the older Pilots, same frame style, still using the rounder tubes, not as stylized as lots of the newer carbon frames. They do have a bigger down tube but that is about the only obvious cosmetic difference.

I was just looking at the geometry charts (I have an old Pilot chart) and they are pretty close in most respects.

I have TWO 5.2 Pilots, one a 2007 ‘regular’ I purchased new in late 2007 because I knew Trek was changing the frame styles for 2008, and prices were going up, etc. I got mine on a ‘close-out’, and it was a steal.

My other one is 2006 5.2 SPA (the one with the rubber bumper in the upper part of the seat stays) I got off eBay in the fall of 2010, ‘low miles’, basically perfect. Still had the original tires, they were hardly worn, and I’m still riding them.

I also have a very bad lower back, and when I’m on the Pilot, my back is actually better as long as I don’t push it too hard for too long.

Anyway, the Felt Z’s, for example in a 54 (my Pilots’ size), the geo is almost exactly the same except the head tube is ‘taller’ (160mm vs. 140mm), so not as many spacers above the top of the headset would be needed to get the bars at the same height.

The effective top tube is exactly the same at 54.5mm

Here’s some other geo comparisons if you are interested for a “54” frame:

Head Angles, Pilot: 72.4 Felt Z: 72.5
Seat Tube Angles, Pilot: 73.8 Felt Z: 74
Seat Tube Length, Center to Top, Pilot: 49.0mm Felt Z: 50.00
Chain Stay, Pilot: 41.5mm Felt Z: 41.7mm
Wheelbase, Pilot: 99.5mm Felt Z: 1001.9mm
Stand-Over, Pilot: 75.0mm Felt Z: 74.5mm

So, depending on where you live, you might be able to find a Felt dealer, you can check their web site for dealer locations.

Good luck.

Thanks for the Felt suggestion. I read a little about those bikes, but I can't really say how I felt about them . I will take a look.

I just bought and was fitted in the store for a 3.1 in H2. My impression is that frame size, stem length and angle, and positioning of the hoods are at least as much of a factor as the geometry, and those things can all be tuned relaively easily. I do have back problems related to my SI join - being less stretched out allows me to acheive a more open hip angle, which helps a lot.

It just bums me out that Trek has only 1 option for the H3 geometry in the 1&2 series. You have to buy a 2.1 AND you only have 1 color choice? Felt, Specialized, even Cannondale have a whole series of bikes under 2K catering to a more relaxed ride. I would think Trek would want to be a leader in this area, no? Makes me a bit bitter on the whole brand.

I have lower back problems due to an old injury. I always felt that a more aggressive riding position helped take weight off my lower back.

You can to an extent, and it works both ways; i.e., you can get an H3 frame and duplicate the H2 fit as well by changing out stems and spacers.

I'd go for the H3. You can get lower on the bike without having to resort to weird fixes (like adjustable stems) more easily than raising the bars to fit you. My discovery that I needed a taller head tube required buying a new frameset, since the original frame's head tube was way too short.

consider a really, really nice purpose built hybrid. youll want the wide tires anyway.

That's been my nightmare, nice hybrid or roadie....or maybe a cross********** Oh the options are making me crazy!