Looking for a road bike to complement my cyclocross bike (which will be relegated to commuting and trails). I have it narrowed down to 2 locally available 2012 close out bikes, as my options are somewhat limited by my size (6'4). Hoping to develop more as a roadie and maybe race next year.

1) Jamis Xenith Comp 61cm for $2100
- available to order from lbs with which I have an established relationship, and has treated me well. The catch is that I haven't ridden this bike, although I do fit on a 61cm jamis cyclocross, my current bike, the geometry is different. I might be able to try something similar geometry wise at some point, but they have nothing in my size in store right now. I might have to commit to buying this without actually having tried it.

2) CAAD 10-3 63cm for $1900
- from a different lbs I have frequented less. Tried it and loved it, is sitting in the shop right now. Pretty much know what I'm getting here.

So I basically see this as 2 good deals, probably can't go wrong with either, but I would still like input, cause it's a hard decision. The components are basically identical (caad has a nicer crank, otherwise both are ultegra with aksium wheels). Is 200 more worth the added comfort of carbon? Because I think speed will be a push. Is it possible the jamis will be too small for me? Is the quality of the CF good? What is my relationship with my current lbs worth? They never charge me full price for anything.

Thanks

You really have to ride them both and then pick the one that just feels right to you. Your LBS relationship sounds like it is important to you so that goes a long way for some people.

I personally know you can't go wrong with a CAAD. They are fast and reliable. I don't know too much about the quality of Jamis carbon.....

I would go for the CAAD myself but you will have to decide what your priorities are...

Welcome To Bike Forums, PGH!

Are you sure that you don't have those prices reversed?

At any rate, I'd get the Xenith. If it turns out that it doesn't fit, just order one that does....

Test ride them both, then make your decision.

It's 25% off last year's bike, which had msrp 2800, so yeah it's 2100.

If the 61cm doesn't fit I'm SOL, because that's the largest frame jamis makes.

I would not be spending over $2000 on a bike I haven't even test rode. I can't say which bike is absolutely better than the other (because they are quite different) but I really wouldn't spend that kind of money on something I haven't ridden at all...

Aside from frame material, are there any major differences? They are both race oriented bikes with nearly identical components. What makes them quite different?

No. In that case don't buy the Xenith! You should always ride before you buy, as a standard practice...

I always thought that the Xenith Comp had 105 componentry...

Get the CAAD 10 3. It's a great bike too!

check the jamis geometry to what you have now.

also, can you return the jamis if you dont like it?

can you test ride it elsewhere?

You can very carefully compare the bike geometries using something like the bike geometry comparator here: https://gearinches.com/blog/misc/bike-geometry-comparator

Get the info off the geo charts for each bike then plug them in the worksheet to see how close the two bikes are. Not the same as a test ride, but better than going totally blind.

I actually have both a CAAD9 and a Jamis Xenith Race. Not sure if the carbon is the same between the Comp and Race. But the main difference to me is that the Xenith feels like it jumps better and is more direct when you attack or sprint versus the CAAD9. I don't feel that the CAAD9 is harsher than the Xenith, but the majority of my rides are on nice roads. I ride much smaller sizes (51 Xenith, 52 CAAD9), so the frames might vary in geometry, stiffness, and feel as they get larger.

My mistake, the zenith race is the one I'm looking at.

Thanks all for the helpful responses.

It's actually kinda funny. People buy bikes online everyday, taking somewhat calculated risks without even a blink of an eye. However, usually those purchases are much less than $2000. The more cash required to spend, the higher the risk becomes.

On many past occasions, I've attempted to encourage certain people to buy online when the risks weren't quite so high. However in their cases, there was no reason to suspect a discrepancy in frame sizes. With you being able to fit a 63cm in a Cannondale, that sorta raises the stakes even higher and gives you good reason for hesitation.

Cannondale has an excellent bicycle frame exchange program, of which you might take advantage one day.

" A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush..."