Trek Vs Specialized

I was looking at the Trek for myself but the LBS were jack asses and were not helpful, but another LBS was a specialize dealer was very helpful they sold me a specialized. I am also getting back in to cycling after a long layoff and didnt want to look like the lance effect. Not to take anything away from Trek they are great bikes you couldnt go wrong with either one.

The differences between them are all in areas of individual preference. Neither brand is better or worse than the other, but there are slight differences between the bikes that might make one or the other better for a given individual.

I have a Specialized Crossroads Elite and a Specialized Roubaix Elite. My wife has a Trek 7200. When she bought the Trek 7200 and I bought the Specialized Crossroads, both of us tried both bikes. She chose the Trek because she liked the SRAM grip shifters better than the Shimano trigger shifters. I bought the Crossroads because I liked the trigger shifters better than the grip shifters. Other than that, there was no significant difference between the two bikes.

When I bought my Roubaix Elite, I had also considered the Trek Pilot 5.0. For me, there was no difference in the two bikes, so I chose the Roubaix because it was $350 less expensive. I know that there are some who think the Pilot is much better than the Roubaix. There are some who think the Roubaix is better than the Pilot. I liked both of them.

There are a few gaps between the brands, but for the most part, each brand has a model that matches very closely to a model of the other brand. Specialized has nothing to match the Trek 5000 or 5200, but I have heard that Trek is planning to phase out these models. The Specialized Allez Expert matches up well with the Trek 2200, but Trek has nothing to match the Allez Pro.

I am lucky in that my favorite bike shop carries Specialized, Trek, Felt, and Serotta. I have a lot of options without having to also consider the difference in the service I will receive from the LBS.

Well obviously Trek for me.

It's all personal preference. I can't stand Cannondale bikes, but I know they make some good bikes, so yea.

It's all personal preference. I have rode both brands, and raced Trek mountain bikes (had a Y-bike back in '95....remember those?). Bike technology is so common that manufacturers just try to make their bike a little different from the competitors to gain an edge in taking your money. Personally, I test ride bikes for the feel of the bike, which to me is the most important thing to consider. Fit can be adjusted, components can be replaced or swapped out, but bike feel is inherent to the design of the bicycle, and if it doesn't feel right, I go look somewhere else. When I worked for a bike shop, that's what I told customers. Find a bike that feels right.

Never ridden a Spesh but always liked the shape of the Tarmac and Roubaix. I bought a Trek Madone 5.9 Aero Ultegra from a guy in my club and I love it. The bottom bracket is huge and ultra stiff. I swear sometimes it feels like someone is pushing you up the climbs. I started a time trial the other day and the timekeeper took one look at the bike and said in a gruff Scottish accent "You've nae excuses on a frame like that son"!!

simmoclayto said:

Very broad subject, but a mate likes Trek road bikes. I prefer Specialized.
What do you guys reacon??

p.s. GO SPECIALIZED[img]cyclingforums.com.aubiggrin.gifOpen ↗[/img]

I built up two 5900s and one of the first Madones, but have never ridden a Specialized. Riders in my club, that have owned Trek's and Specalized's top road bike, say the Specialize has much quicker handling. Some use the top tube as a feel guide, for keeping their shins verticle, and don't like the lower sloping top tube of a compact frame.

simmoclayto said:

Very broad subject, but a mate likes Trek road bikes. I prefer Specialized.
What do you guys reacon??

I like coca-cola. My buddy prefers pepsi. What do you guys think?

L

PS Go coke!

I like 7up. You [censored] ...how can you like Pepsi ??

;-D

Try 'em, ride 'em...buy the one you like most, because that's the bike you WILL ride.

Ronanmk said:

I like 7up. You [censored] ...how can you like Pepsi ??

;-D

Try 'em, ride 'em...buy the one you like most, because that's the bike you WILL ride.

But what if they don't have the same wheels, tires, tubes, saddle, handlebars, and stem length? Are you evaluating the bike or the components on it?

lks said:

But what if they don't have the same wheels, tires, tubes, saddle, handlebars, and stem length? Are you evaluating the bike or the components on it?

You're evaluating the whole package....that's what ultimately you'll ride.

Ronanmk said:

You're evaluating the whole package....that's what ultimately you'll ride.

Nothing wrong with that, unless you want a bike with what you want on it. But most dealers will change seats, bars and stems for a customer. It would depend on the dealer and bike if he would do more, without additional cost. At some point, buying a frameset and having the dealer put on what you want, makes more sense. Only the buyer can determine that point.