Coming back to road bikes, which one of these two to go for?

Iain C

I've decided to take advantage of the bike to work scheme and want a decent modern road bike to start munching some miles on.

It's down to one of these two that are in my scheme...

Scott Speedster S20 2008
Felt F75 2008

I'll really do my homework over the next couple days but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts? There's a review of the Felt on bikeradar but I could not find one for the Scott. I'm mainly a mountain bike rider so I don't know much about road bikes.

FWIW I much prefer the look of the Scott, it really is nice, but the carbon rear triangle on the Felt is quite cool...

Thanks in advance!

jonginge

Found a review of the scott:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610 ... -1,00.html

Not ridden either so can't really comment but I can't fault my luvverly scott cr1

Rich Hcp

Go for the one that fits and suits you the best.

Iain C

I've got to order online so it's probably not an option.

I just could not bring myself to waste some poor bloke's time in an LBS if I have no intention of purchasing...I guess they must get a lot of this now anyway with the boom in online trading...

keef66

I think the Felt has more aggressive geometry; my personal preference would be for the Scott. Read some good reviews, including one video.

It's on my shortlist along with the Trek 1.7, Cannondale Synapse 105, Bianchi C2C Via Nirone Alu/Carbon Veloce, Orbea Motirolo.

OK, it's not a very short list.

Waiting to see if prices start to fall as 2009 bikes appear.

Iain C

Well, the Scott is permanently out of stock in my size, not to be replaced until the '09 bikes come out. Bike to work scheme will be closed by then so it's got to be the Felt or something else really!

The Felt's growing on me, in fairness to my rather non-expert eye the frame and fork look better (carbon steerer and rear triangle versus ally) and the rest of the spec is very much of a muchness.

Only other option is the slightly cheaper Spesh Allez Elite...carbon where is counts but lower spec elsewhere and only 18 speed. Any good? Someone told me you get more for your money with Felt as they are not as established as Spesh. However I do wonder if the geometry and style would suit me better...I don't want to race, just munch miles quickly on road. Does the sloping top tube design make a slightly more upright/comfy ride? It seems that a lot of road bikes are looking like this now, is the Felt behind the times or too "focused" for me if I'm honest with myself?

keef66

That's what put me off the Spesh; the frame is great, and owners seem to love it, but I couldn't bring myself to pay £800 for a 9 speed Tiagra equipped bike.
Conventional advice is however to get the best frame you can afford, so maybe you should consider it??

The Trek 1.7 to me is looking like the most likely option; just hope the Bontrager wheels don't need trueing every other day.

Why is your choice so limited? Which online retailer are you restricted to??

colinmac2002

Is it really just between the Scott & the Felt? Both are 105-equipped, aluminium frame (OK, the Felt has the carbon triangle), and carbon fork. Also both appear to be around the £1000 mark, which strikes me as a lot of money to pay for that kind of spec.

Chain Reaction have the Cube Attempt 105 for £800 and the BeOne Storm 1.0 (my bike!) for £700, while Wiggle have the Focus Variado for £700. These are all broadly in the same equipment level as the Scott & Felt bikes, but if you are limited to those two then the Felt should be perfectly fine.

Iain C

Restricted to Wheelies I'm afraid...if anyone could recommend anything from their site then great, but based on what people are saying here I think it's going to have to be the Felt.

I was reading other threads about geometry and slooping tubes, so it's not really any different. As someone says, I don't want to pay £800 for a Tiagra equipped bike!

Let's be honest, at my level, whatever I buy I'll love, unless I find something else better which I could have had at the same price, which de to the restrictions, I can't!

MonkeyMurphia

Planet X accept the Wheelies bike to work vouchers (they told me themselves a few weeks back), you should be able to pick up a great bike from them!

keef66

Just had a look at Wheelies site. The Cannondale CAAD9 105 is just over a grand, and looks pretty good in the Liquigas replica colours. Any good to you?

As Colinmac2002 says, if you were able to go for one of the mail order only brands like Cube or Focus you can get a 105 equipped bike for £700-800 and an Ultegra for £900 (they are all on my other shortlist)

Iain C

MonkeyMurphia wrote:

Planet X accept the Wheelies bike to work vouchers (they told me themselves a few weeks back), you should be able to pick up a great bike from them!

OMG so I can get this beauty for just in the grand limit? Are you sure that they take them?

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... d_999.html

If so it looks like I'lll be ordering some carbon porn and a large box of kleenex... :P

keef66

Looks like it. Mentions Wheelies cycle to work scheme on the Planet X website.

I may be adding this to my (not very)short list

Noclue

My employer used wheelies for their cycle scheme and they got a planet x for me so it should be possible.

Iain C

Hmmmm...planet X themselves said to me today that they are not able to accept the specific Wheelies Direct vouchers at the moment. It's something that's in the pipeline for later in the year but not at present.

The scheme in question is "cycle solutions"...any more thoughts? Looking like it's time to order the Felt as things stand!

Noclue

the way it worked was i called cycle solutions and asked them to source the bike, they called planet x who sold the bike to cycle solutions, who then in turn sold it to my employer, who lease it to me through the scheme, hence my voucher was for cycle solutions/wheelies not planet x themselves. Hope this helps.

doyler78

Noclue wrote:

the way it worked was i called cycle solutions and asked them to source the bike, they called planet x who sold the bike to cycle solutions, who then in turn sold it to my employer, who lease it to me through the scheme, hence my voucher was for cycle solutions/wheelies not planet x themselves. Hope this helps.

That is the standard way round the problem however when you do things this way the scheme provider becomes the customer and you're company just a third party therefore all warranties could be voided as 3rd parties will not be covered. That is why so many people have problems using Halfords through cycle to work because the manufacturers do not stand over 3rd party sales they are to the original customer only. It is more risky and all parties in my opinion should be made very clear about that. You can check with Planet X if they would stand over any warranty issues in these circumstances. They may be more flexible than others.

Denny69

Being a Giant owner I'd say none but I've heard Felts are top banana. A lot depends on the price range you're looking at and then you've got to compare them both.

See if your LBS (assuming they have both) will let you take them both out for test rides to see which one you're most comfortable with.