What are Trek Up To?
Pross
Posts: 43,538
I have recently started looking seriously at getting back into cycling after a 15 year break and originally I was looking for a road bike in the £600 area. My intention was to buy a bike that I could use to get fit, do some light touring, ride sportives and eventually use to start racing again. Obviously it's diificult to get a bike that suits everything but in that price range the Trek 1.2 seemed a good compromise.
However, on visiting my LBS I saw the Trek 1.7 and realised that if I could talk my company into joing a C2W scheme I could pick this up for well within my budget. The big point for me was that the components were 105 throughout which is a level I'm familiar with from my previous cycling days. I have since been looking at several other bikes that were very tempting such as the Focus Cayo but reminded myself I was looking for something with more all round suitability but have now discovered that Trek have replaced the 1.7 with the 2.3 which is about £250 more expensive and falls outside the C2W budget and that the lower spec 2.1 is the same price as the 1.7 (incidently the component upgrade from the 2.1 to 2.3 doesn't appear to justify the extra cost!). What are Trek thinking about? Surely they realise that the C2W scheme is helping them raise sales in the sub £1000 category but that they are now looking lower spec in comparison to their rivals? This change is now pushing me more in the direction of the Cayo or a Ribble providing we go for a C2W scheme that includes the relevant suppliers. Does anyone else have any suggestions in the sub-£1000 range now that Trek appear to be shooting themselves in the foot?
However, on visiting my LBS I saw the Trek 1.7 and realised that if I could talk my company into joing a C2W scheme I could pick this up for well within my budget. The big point for me was that the components were 105 throughout which is a level I'm familiar with from my previous cycling days. I have since been looking at several other bikes that were very tempting such as the Focus Cayo but reminded myself I was looking for something with more all round suitability but have now discovered that Trek have replaced the 1.7 with the 2.3 which is about £250 more expensive and falls outside the C2W budget and that the lower spec 2.1 is the same price as the 1.7 (incidently the component upgrade from the 2.1 to 2.3 doesn't appear to justify the extra cost!). What are Trek thinking about? Surely they realise that the C2W scheme is helping them raise sales in the sub £1000 category but that they are now looking lower spec in comparison to their rivals? This change is now pushing me more in the direction of the Cayo or a Ribble providing we go for a C2W scheme that includes the relevant suppliers. Does anyone else have any suggestions in the sub-£1000 range now that Trek appear to be shooting themselves in the foot?
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Trek still have the 1.7 for 2010 - my colleague's looking at it on Bike2 Work...
The 2.3 and 2.1 is a range a step above the 1.X series - hence the price hike (assume it's a different frame but haven't checked)
If your LBS can't get you a 1.7 I suggest you find a new LBS.Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0 -
Theres loads of great bikes out there - Trek just dont do it for me I'm afraid.0
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My LBS still have the 2009 1.7 but by time my company gets around to setting up the C2W scheme they may not. In fairness the LBS has given me great service and haven't mentioned the 1.7 being stopped but I looked at the Trek website to see what the 2010 version will look like and they don't have the 1.7 or 1.9 and reviews elsewhere suggested the 2.3 and 2.5 replaced them? If the 1.7 is still around for 2010 that's great and it will still be top of my list although the idea of a carbon cayo or Ribble Sportive is tempting me
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Just on looks get the 2.3, and if you can't find a shop that will let you pay over the £1000 out of your own pocket, find another shop.
But as soon as you start thinking about paying £1150 for the 2.3, it opens up to so many other bikes that are much better.0 -
My LBS said the 2010 Treks and Giants were coming into stores over the next few weeks - I think there's been a slight price increase to keep the kit at the same level (or it may have been same price/lower spec - but I don't think so)
Anyway - the new 1.7 is mainly white with a bit of black and red - white bar tape and saddle - so not the most practical thing for commuting. That said, there does look to be a lot more room beneath the fork to take mudguards over the 2009 model, so it does look like they have made one or two pretty useful tweaks to the frame.Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0 -
Just on looks get the 2.3, and if you can't find a shop that will let you pay over the £1000 out of your own pocket, find another shop.
But as soon as you start thinking about paying £1150 for the 2.3, it opens up to so many other bikes that are much better.
Exactly, at £925 the 1.7 was a good deal IMO, I don't really want to pay any extra as my intention is to get the C2W salary sacrifice over as short a time as possible and pay it off with the money I'd originally set aside for the 1.2. Would rather get the 2.1 than the 2.3 and then replace the brakes, chainrings and wheels over time - prefer the colour scheme of the 2.1! :oops:0 -
Not sure you can pay off the bike tow work scheme any earlier than dictated in the original agreement - it's a loan scheme, not a hire-purchase scheme - which is a significant difference.
The only time you'd pay it off early would be if your employment with that company were to cease for any reason - and then you're liable for the remaining balance in one go and AFTER tax, so you'd lose the savings!Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0 -
My understanding is that you have a salary sacrifice over a set term which is normally 12 or 18 months but I can't see any reason why the agreement couldn't be set up from the start as 3 or 6 months (rather than paying off before an agreed date)? If not it's not a problem but I would just want it paid for ASAP in case of any job change, redundancy etc.
Thanks for your help all. Without the C2W scheme my choice was set but with it there are just too many bikes to choose from! Everything has changed since I bought my last bike (a Ribble 653 with Ultegra), oversize tubing, combined brake / gear levers, 9 or 10 speed standard instead of 7, compact chainsets, aluminium and carbon becoming the norm :shock:0 -
Depends how flexible your company are - mine even insist on us all taking out 3rd party liability insurance - despite the fact that I currently have 3 different people providing me with cover for this already (home insurance, bicycle insurance, and British Cycling Silver Membership)Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...0
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If you can find a bike shop with a 2009 1.7 in stock, you should be able to place a deposit on it. This will then buy you time to set up the C2W scheme with your employer.
In the case of CycleScheme, the form even has a box to say how long the bike quote is valid for, meaning the shop will hold the bike for this period.
Depending on how flexible the shop is, you might even be able to buy the bike outright, then get a refund when the C2W voucher is issued. It does mean outlaying the cash temporarily, but you'll get a 2009 bike and avoid the 2010 price increase.
I'd suggest explaining your situation to the shop and seeing what they can do - there is probably some sort of arrangement you can come to. However, this is all outside the C2W scheme, so use your judgement on how much you share with you employer's scheme administrator
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...but have now discovered that Trek have replaced the 1.7 with the 2.3 which is about £250 more expensive and falls outside the C2W budget and that the lower spec 2.1 is the same price as the 1.7...
It's not just Trek: it's everyone, everywhere for 2010. Prices up, specs down, thanks to higher costs and the whole £/$/Yen thing of the past year.0 -
Am in the same boat as you - returning after a long absence!
I have decided on Cube Aerial LBS has one at £749 although am sure they will do a deal as I need to get a load of other gear as well (Will be using the Cycling 2 work)Focus Culebro Tria0 -
Where are you and what size do you need? My shop still has a 2009 1.7 in stock (Aylesbury) and would reserve it with a deposit. We also have a couple of 1.9's reduced so if you are happy to pay £100 you could get that for a £999 voucher and your own £100 outlay0
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I understand the 1.7 & 1.9 are replaced with the 2.3 and 2.5 for 2010...I was interested in a 1.9, which to my mind looks better than the new model(?)
The '09 Treks seem thin on the ground in certain sizes, Evans had one single 1.9 bike in their system on Monday and have now removed the bike from their site,,,so don't hang around of you want an '09.
If you are lucky you will find a dealer who will work a deal to get an '09 out of the door.;)0 -
Where are you and what size do you need? My shop still has a 2009 1.7 in stock (Aylesbury) and would reserve it with a deposit. We also have a couple of 1.9's reduced so if you are happy to pay £100 you could get that for a £999 voucher and your own £100 outlay
I'm in South Wales. Reg Braddick have a 1.7 in my size but I don't want to put a deposit down until I get confirmation that the company are definately signing up to C2W. I'm sure they will eventually as part of our business is setting up green travel schemes for other companies so its a bit embarassing that we aren't already on it to be honest! :oops:0 -
Yep it's an unfortunate time for the C2W scheme (which is still awesome in my view). I was all set on going for a bike on C2W when our company scheme opens in October. However since it doesn't take effect for a couple of months I'd be looking at a 2010 model. Given the increases in costs and downgrading of parts I decided to stump up the cash up front and get a 2009 Trek out of my own pocket, rather than a tax subsidised one but with lower spec.
You can still get great bikes for under the 1k (the Boardman carbon is undoubtedly a great bike and gear) but I believe Boardman work on a 2 year range renewal (at the moment).0
