need advice on: Trek 1600 or Felt z70?

Hello,

I am interested in buying a new street/road/racing bicycle. I looked
around some of the local shops in my area (louisville) and test road a
couple as well.

At the first shop, which is about 2 miles to my house, I test rode a
Felt z70. The sales man said he was going to give it to me @ $1050.

At the second shop, which is about 10 miles from my house, I looked at
two bycicles though, I test rode only one.. they are Trek 1600 priced
at $1000 and Trek 2.1 priced $1150.

I like the Trek1600 as well as the Felt z70. I wanted to know how the
brands compare against each other and which one would be a better
purchase or should I pay slightly higher and get a better one. I do
not want to go over the $1000 mark by too much.

My primary reason is to enjoy the bike (casual riding in the evenings)
and commute to work which is about 10 miles away. My heart is set on a
racing bicycle .. and must admit that I am very excited about this
purchase.

I want to make the better investment here. Which is the newer/better
model, reliable, better parts used is what I would like to know. I
appreciate (and am looking forward to) your comments. :-)

Thank you.

Zee.

On May 13, 8:46 am, wrote:
Hello,

Felt z70.
Trek 1600 priced
Trek 2.1

Surly Crosscheck?

Before you buy, you might want to also look at, test ride, a Surly
Crosscheck. There should be a couple of dealers in Louisville. You can
leave it completely stripped for the go-fast mode... Ten miles is a
sweet spot commute. Not too long and not too short. But I'm not sure
I'd want to be locked into really narrow racing rubber. Been there
before. As your commuting experience evolves, you might wish for
additional clearance in the stay/fork areas. This allows for fine
tuning the ride. That's problematic on full bore racing units.

Will wrote:
On May 13, 8:46 am, wrote:
Hello,

Felt z70.
Trek 1600 priced
Trek 2.1

Surly Crosscheck?

Before you buy, you might want to also look at, test ride, a Surly
Crosscheck. There should be a couple of dealers in Louisville. You can
leave it completely stripped for the go-fast mode... Ten miles is a
sweet spot commute. Not too long and not too short. But I'm not sure
I'd want to be locked into really narrow racing rubber. Been there
before. As your commuting experience evolves, you might wish for
additional clearance in the stay/fork areas. This allows for fine
tuning the ride. That's problematic on full bore racing units.

That's good advice. The Surly Crosscheck Complete has several very big
advantages over the Treks and the Felt.

1. 4130 CroMoly versus aluminum

2. Non-compact frame (the 1600 appears to also have a non-compact frame,
but the 2.1 and the z70 have compact frames

3. More versatile. With the rims on the Crosscheck you can put on some
700x23 tires for a "racing bike" for centuries or long road rides or use
the 700x32 tires for commuting or leisurely rides.

However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
triple crankset. That's probably $300 extra once you change the
derailleurs, crankset, and spindle. For that reason I'd get the Long
Haul Trucker instead, however it's nearly impossible to buy one because
the waiting list is so long. Also, about the narrowest tire you can go
to on the LHT is 25mm, with the wider Adventurer rims.

Of the three original choices, I'd get the Trek 1600. $1000 is a good
price, that's usually the end-of-the-year closeout price around here. Is
this for the latest model, or last years model (not that it matters)?

I know that QBP is trying to keep the number of "complete bike" Surly's
down to a manageable level, but offering a Crosscheck Complete Triple
would be a welcome addition.

On May 13, 12:19*pm, SMS wrote:
Will wrote:
On May 13, 8:46 am, wrote:
Hello,

Felt z70.
Trek 1600 priced
Trek 2.1

Surly Crosscheck?

Before you buy, you might want to also look at, test ride, a Surly
Crosscheck. There should be a couple of dealers in Louisville. You can
leave it completely stripped for the go-fast mode... Ten miles is a
sweet spot commute. Not too long and not too short. But I'm not sure
I'd want to be locked into really narrow racing rubber. Been there
before. As your commuting experience evolves, you might wish for
additional clearance in the stay/fork areas. This allows for fine
tuning the ride. That's problematic on full bore racing units.

That's good advice. The Surly Crosscheck Complete has several very big
advantages over the Treks and the Felt.

1. 4130 CroMoly versus aluminum

2. Non-compact frame (the 1600 appears to also have a non-compact frame,
but the 2.1 and the z70 have compact frames

3. More versatile. With the rims on the Crosscheck you can put on some
700x23 tires for a "racing bike" for centuries or long road rides or use
the 700x32 tires for commuting or leisurely rides.

However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
triple crankset. That's probably $300 extra once you change the
derailleurs, crankset, and spindle. For that reason I'd get the Long
Haul Trucker instead, however it's nearly impossible to buy one because
the waiting list is so long. Also, about the narrowest tire you can go
to on the LHT is 25mm, with the wider Adventurer rims.

Of the three original choices, I'd get the Trek 1600. $1000 is a good
price, that's usually the end-of-the-year closeout price around here. Is
this for the latest model, or last years model (not that it matters)?

I know that QBP is trying to keep the number of "complete bike" Surly's
down to a manageable level, but offering a Crosscheck Complete Triple
would be a welcome addition.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Will and SMS,

Thank you for your comments. I will look around for the Surly
Crosscheck before I make the purchase (i am getting itchy fingers
though :-)). I think the Trek 1600 was last years model.

wrote:


Thank you for your comments. I will look around for the Surly
Crosscheck before I make the purchase (i am getting itchy fingers
though :-)). I think the Trek 1600 was last years model.

The Trek 1600 doesn't seem to be available in our local shops anymore,
so you are probably correct. You ought to be able to compare the specs
online between all the bikes you are looking at, but for me it always
boils down to which one I like the best, especially if there's not much
difference in the price.

| That's good advice. The Surly Crosscheck Complete has several very big
| advantages over the Treks and the Felt.
|
| 1. 4130 CroMoly versus aluminum

This is an advantage because?

| 2. Non-compact frame (the 1600 appears to also have a non-compact frame,
| but the 2.1 and the z70 have compact frames

Have you looked at a 2.1 or a Pilot-series Trek? They're not "compact" in
the sense most people think. It's a traditional frame that slopes *UP* to
the front, allowing the bars to be 3cm higher than a "traditional" flat top
tube bike. And given that they come in umpteen-different sizes, it's not as
if they're doing something to simplify stock at the expense of fit.

| 3. More versatile. With the rims on the Crosscheck you can put on some
| 700x23 tires for a "racing bike" for centuries or long road rides or use
| the 700x32 tires for commuting or leisurely rides.

True. If you need 32c tires, a Crosscheck is the better bet. If 28c will do,
the 1600 or 2.1 will do fine.

| However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
| triple crankset. That's probably $300 extra once you change the
| derailleurs, crankset, and spindle. For that reason I'd get the Long
| Haul Trucker instead, however it's nearly impossible to buy one because
| the waiting list is so long. Also, about the narrowest tire you can go
| to on the LHT is 25mm, with the wider Adventurer rims.
|
| Of the three original choices, I'd get the Trek 1600. $1000 is a good
| price, that's usually the end-of-the-year closeout price around here. Is
| this for the latest model, or last years model (not that it matters)?

The 1600 is an '07; it doesn't exist in the '08 line. Trek went to
upward-sloping tubes for virtually all models below $3k, and even above
that, you have a choice. Higher handlebar positions are becoming in style
these days (they were always more practical for many, but "style" kept
people from wanting to ride that way... thankfully, "style" is subject to
change, and for the time being, change for the better).

| I know that QBP is trying to keep the number of "complete bike" Surly's
| down to a manageable level, but offering a Crosscheck Complete Triple
| would be a welcome addition.

Agreed. But there's this thing about bicycle product managers. They tend to
design bikes for themselves, and someone designing a cross bike is going to
put a double on it becuase real 'cross riders wouldn't be seen with a
triple. Sigh.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com



"SMS" wrote in message
...
| Will wrote:
| On May 13, 8:46 am, wrote:
| Hello,
|
| Felt z70.
| Trek 1600 priced
| Trek 2.1
|
| Surly Crosscheck?
|
| Before you buy, you might want to also look at, test ride, a Surly
| Crosscheck. There should be a couple of dealers in Louisville. You can
| leave it completely stripped for the go-fast mode... Ten miles is a
| sweet spot commute. Not too long and not too short. But I'm not sure
| I'd want to be locked into really narrow racing rubber. Been there
| before. As your commuting experience evolves, you might wish for
| additional clearance in the stay/fork areas. This allows for fine
| tuning the ride. That's problematic on full bore racing units.
|
| That's good advice. The Surly Crosscheck Complete has several very big
| advantages over the Treks and the Felt.
|
| 1. 4130 CroMoly versus aluminum
|
| 2. Non-compact frame (the 1600 appears to also have a non-compact frame,
| but the 2.1 and the z70 have compact frames
|
| 3. More versatile. With the rims on the Crosscheck you can put on some
| 700x23 tires for a "racing bike" for centuries or long road rides or use
| the 700x32 tires for commuting or leisurely rides.
|
| However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
| triple crankset. That's probably $300 extra once you change the
| derailleurs, crankset, and spindle. For that reason I'd get the Long
| Haul Trucker instead, however it's nearly impossible to buy one because
| the waiting list is so long. Also, about the narrowest tire you can go
| to on the LHT is 25mm, with the wider Adventurer rims.
|
| Of the three original choices, I'd get the Trek 1600. $1000 is a good
| price, that's usually the end-of-the-year closeout price around here. Is
| this for the latest model, or last years model (not that it matters)?
|
| I know that QBP is trying to keep the number of "complete bike" Surly's
| down to a manageable level, but offering a Crosscheck Complete Triple
| would be a welcome addition.

On May 13, 11:19 am, SMS wrote:

However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
triple crankset.

I had to laugh here. One of the things I was going to grouse about was
the triple. I mean... how often do you drop to the little ring? I'll
stand on the peddles first... and I am a dedicated spinner. But to
have the triple, you carry around that extra half pound. Might as well
have bullet proof 32's on the rims (or heaven forbid.... fenders)

It seems to me, if you're testing go-fasts, you've either got legs...
or plan to get them.

Will wrote:
On May 13, 11:19 am, SMS wrote:

However the disadvantage of the CrossCheck Complete is that it lacks a
triple crankset.

I had to laugh here. One of the things I was going to grouse about was
the triple. I mean... how often do you drop to the little ring?

Me personally?

I'll
stand on the peddles first...

No such thing as peddles.

It seems to me, if you're testing go-fasts, you've either got legs...
or plan to get them.

Perhaps, though there are many roads around my area where I suspect that
all but strongest riders would welcome a triple.

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
| That's good advice. The Surly Crosscheck Complete has several very big
| advantages over the Treks and the Felt.
|
| 1. 4130 CroMoly versus aluminum

This is an advantage because?

You are well aware of the advantages.


| 2. Non-compact frame (the 1600 appears to also have a non-compact frame,
| but the 2.1 and the z70 have compact frames

Have you looked at a 2.1 or a Pilot-series Trek? They're not "compact" in
the sense most people think. It's a traditional frame that slopes *UP* to
the front, allowing the bars to be 3cm higher than a "traditional" flat top
tube bike. And given that they come in umpteen-different sizes, it's not as
if they're doing something to simplify stock at the expense of fit.

Yes this is true.

| 3. More versatile. With the rims on the Crosscheck you can put on some
| 700x23 tires for a "racing bike" for centuries or long road rides or use
| the 700x32 tires for commuting or leisurely rides.

True. If you need 32c tires, a Crosscheck is the better bet. If 28c will do,
the 1600 or 2.1 will do fine.

| Of the three original choices, I'd get the Trek 1600. $1000 is a good
| price, that's usually the end-of-the-year closeout price around here. Is
| this for the latest model, or last years model (not that it matters)?

The 1600 is an '07; it doesn't exist in the '08 line. Trek went to
upward-sloping tubes for virtually all models below $3k

That's too bad.

Higher handlebar positions are becoming in style
these days (they were always more practical for many, but "style" kept
people from wanting to ride that way... thankfully, "style" is subject to
change, and for the time being, change for the better).

IYO.

On May 13, 2:00 pm, SMS wrote:

No such thing as peddles.

Time to sell the Google stock. The spell checker missed it. Both
times. I guess there is something called a "peddles". Maybe it's a
verb.

As for the little ring... I can see it for loaded touring. But on
bikes with carbon forks and carbon seat stays??? That's design
confusion... (or maybe the Marketing V.P. got his way).