Specialized or Trek (or Fuji)?

I'd also have a look at the Fuji Team, full carbon frame, ultegra / 105 parts, about the same price and 3.0 lbs lighter.

http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=fuji-team-2006

kleng said:

I'd also have a look at the Fuji Team, full carbon frame, ultegra / 105 parts, about the same price and 3.0 lbs lighter.

http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=fuji-team-2006

Thanks for the link, but I don't want to go the carbon route -- at least for the entire frame (although I'm not averse to a carbon fork or seat post).

Up until I read about (and then rode) the Fuji Cross, I really thought I'd be buying the Trek or the Specialized.

Decisions, decisions. . . .

Mike Lief said:

I'm a 40-ish guy getting back into cycling after a long layoff. I narrowed the choice down to two bikes: the Trek Pilot 2.1 and the Specialized Sequoia Expert.

The Sequoia was a nice ride, and the only thing I didn't like was the $2,000 price, although the LBS said they'd take 20% off.

I went to the Trek store next and rode the '07 Pilot 2.1. The new paint job is awesome, but cosmetics aside, it was a nice-riding bike. It's $1,400, with Shimano 105s, rather than the Ultegras on the Specialized, and doesn't have the extra brake levers on the flat part of the dropbars.

I had read a few threads on this site about the Fuji Cross Pro, and went to the Performance shop to check it out.

I liked it, and it was $1,299, with 20% credited on my Performance Card (almost $300 after pedals are added!), which seemed to make it quite a deal. The Fuji has Ultegra Flightdeck and rear derailleur, and weighs about 21 lbs with the stock heavier rims and tires.

What do you folks think about putting road rims and tires on the Fuji for road riding, with the ability to take it offroad with a quick wheel swap?

I'm not interested in racing; just want a fun bike for weekends, commuting and the occasional long ride.

As it stands now, the Specialized was my favorite, but too much money; the Fuji seems like a versatile bike -- and a hell of a deal; and the Trek is the middle path, the reasonable (if boring) choice.

Comments? Advice? Mockery? Whattaya say?

Trek, every time. I have three and I really like them. Nice finish and great designs. My Trek's have 105 and Ultegra kit and my own view is that there's not enough between them to care about it. In fact to date, the 105 bike has been more resilient to the front derailleur cage rattling off the chain. The Ultegra bike has been a pure pig to get to avoid rattling anywhere,

(I do think Camp'y might be better than Shimano generally, but Trek don't buy from Camp'y anyway.)

I also have a Specialized, which is, well, not so likeable at all.

I definitely vote Trek.

KellyT said:

Trek, every time. I have three and I really like them. Nice finish and great designs. My Trek's have 105 and Ultegra kit and my own view is that there's not enough between them to care about it. In fact to date, the 105 bike has been more resilient to the front derailleur cage rattling off the chain. The Ultegra bike has been a pure pig to get to avoid rattling anywhere,

(I do think Camp'y might be better than Shimano generally, but Trek don't buy from Camp'y anyway.)

I also have a Specialized, which is, well, not so likeable at all.

I definitely vote Trek.

Well, I have an old Trek 790 MultiTrack, which I enjoyed riding, and I do like the Pilot 2.1.

But the Fuji is still tempting. Anyone had a chance to spend much time on the Cross Pro?

I have an '04 Specialized Sequoia Elite with 105 and I really love it. The carbon forks and stays and the ergo bars really smooth out the ride. My brother-in-law just bought a Trek Pilot. I thought it was a 2.1 but I know it has Ultegra. It also looked very nice but I did note it did not have rear rack braze ons which may or may not be important to you. He got a sweet deal on a close out with the Trek and only paid $800. At that price I'd say the Pilot is a better deal and a little better equiped, compared to the $1050 I paid for mine.
I guess I'd suggest basing your decision on the ride characteristics since both are very good bikes and manufacturers. When I bought mine the Trek counterpart then was the 1800C and it just didn't have as nice of a ride.
Good luck.

At 54 years, I considered the Trek Pilot 5.0, Specialized Sequoia Elite, and Specialized Roubaix Elite. I also test road the Pilot 5.2, and frankly could not tell the difference between Ultegra and 105 components. I ended up buying the Roubaix Elite and have been extremely happy with it. If you do not want all carbon, check out the base Specialized Roubaix.

Other than weight and appearance, there is no difference between 105 and Ultegra. Obviously, you are not a weight weenie, because you prefer not to go with full carbon, so there is no reason to pass up the 105 components.

KellyT said:

Trek, every time. I have three and I really like them. Nice finish and great designs. My Trek's have 105 and Ultegra kit and my own view is that there's not enough between them to care about it. In fact to date, the 105 bike has been more resilient to the front derailleur cage rattling off the chain. The Ultegra bike has been a pure pig to get to avoid rattling anywhere,

Front derailleur rattling more often than not is caused by very slight differences in the placement of the derailleur on the seatpost. It is nearly impossible to place the rear derailleur incorrectly, but to position the front derailleur optimally requires skill. I do not think there is an inherent difference between the 105 and Ultegra front derailleur that would account for the difference you have experienced in chain rattle.

In deciding amongst different bikes, my overwhelming priority was the best fit possible.

You can always switch out a gruppo or component, but if the bike doesn't suit you (and there are many reasons and factors), then it gets far more complicated. Seems like you've pondered that as you mentioned switching out wheels/tires on the one bike for more versatility.

I would ride the bikes, see what fits your budget and interests then go for it 🙂