Opinions and Reviews on Low End Tri Bikes

yah, but what's the difference b/w the 7 and 9?

I'd much be riding on ultegra/dura ace instead of tiagra or 105.

Sizes	here is specs and geometry for Trek Equinox 7 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm
Frame	Alpha Red Aluminum
Fork	Bontrager Race Lite TT, carbon
Wheels
Wheels	Bontrager Select Aero
Tires	Bontrager Race Lite 700x23c
Drivetrain
Shifters	Shimano Dura-Ace, bar end control, 10 speed
Front Derailleur	Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur	Shimano 105
Crank	Shimano 105 53/39
Cassette	Shimano 105 11-25, 10 speed
Pedals	n/a
Components
Saddle	Bontrager Race Lite TT
Seat Post	Bontrager Race Lite TTX
Handlebars	Bontrager Race Bullhorn w/Race Lite clip-ons
Stem	Bontrager Race Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset	Cane Creek IS-2 Integrated w/cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy
Brakeset	Alloy dual pivot w/Bontrager Race Lite Aero levers

A	Head Angle	72.0°	72.5°	73.0°	73.0°	73.0°	73.0°
B	Seat Angle	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°
C	EFF Top Tube	51.020.1	52.520.7	54.521.5	55.521.9	57.522.6	60.023.6
D	Chain Stay	40.015.7	40.015.7	40.015.7	40.015.7	40.015.7	40.015.7
E	Bottom Bracket	26.610.5	26.610.5	26.610.5	26.610.5	26.610.5	26.610.5
F	Offset	4.01.6	4.01.6	4.01.6	4.01.6	4.01.6	4.01.6
G	Wheel Base	96.037.8	97.238.3	98.938.9	100.039.4	102.140.2	104.741.2
	Trail	6.72.6	6.42.5	6.12.4	6.12.4	6.12.4	6.12.4
	Stand Over	72.028.3	74.029.1	76.029.9	78.030.7	80.031.5	82.732.6
	Seat Tube	53.020.9	56.022.0	59.023.2	62.024.4	65.025.6	69.527.4
	Head Tube	7.83.1	9.73.8	11.64.6	13.65.4	15.66.1	18.67.3
	Frame Reach	38.915.3	40.015.7	41.416.3	42.016.5	43.517.1	44.817.6
	Frame Stack	48.519.1	50.519.9	52.620.7	54.421.4	56.422.2	59.123.3
	Seat Height Minimum	62.024.4	65.025.6	68.026.8	71.028.0	74.029.1	78.530.9
	Seat Height Maximum	77.030.3	80.031.5	83.032.7	86.033.9	89.035.0	93.536.8

COLOR:
Gloss White & Race Red

SIZES:
650c x 48 & 50cm, 700c x 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm

Est. WEIGHT:
21.31 lbs.

FRAME:
FELT Tri Specific Custom Butted Super-light 7005 smooth welded Aluminum, FULL Aero Seat Tube with rear wheel recess & Down Tube, CNC Head Tube & BB Shell, Forged Horizontal Dropouts

FORK:
NEW Felt 3.2 Airfoil Carbon Fiber Bladed with Aluminum 1" steerer

HEADSET:
Cane Creek type 1" Integrated with 20mm Cone and 2 X 7.5mm Spacer Stack

STEM:
FELT 3.2 6061 Alumnim 3D Forged 26.0mm with +/- 7 Degree Rise, 48cm=60mm, 50cm=80mm, 52cm=90mm, 54cm=100mm, 56cm=100mm, 58cm=110mm, 60cm=110mm.

HANDLEBAR:
"Felt Tri Specific Design: 6061 Butted Aero Base Bar, 26.0mm 48-52cm=400mm, 54cm & 56cm=420mm, 58cm & 60cm=440mm, with Clip-On Adjustable Length 7075 Aluminum Bend extensions and ALLOY arm rests with High Density Foam Pads"

GRIPS:
Devox Tri-tip Ergonomic Base Bar grip with Felt Gel Ribbon Cork Tape WHITE with FELT 3D Logo wrapped extensions

END CAPS:
n/a

SHIFTERS:
Shimano Dura-Ace SL-BS78 bar end, 20 speed

FRONT DERAILLEUR:
Shimano 105 braze-on, double

REAR DERAILLEUR:
Shimano 105 SS Short Cage

CRANKSET:
Shimano FC-R550, Forged Aluminum, 53/39T; 48 & 50cm=170mm, 52cm & 54cm=172.5mm, 56cm-60cm=175mm

BB SET:
Shimano Hollowtech-II

CHAIN:
Shimano 10-Speed

FREEWHEEL:
Shimano 10-Speed Cassette, 12-25T

BRAKE LEVERS:
TRP Aero RX 4.1 Alloy

BRAKES:
Dual Pivot with Cartridge Brake Shoes, Stainless Hardware and Teflon Bushings

CABLES & HOUSING:
Shimano Dura Ace Derailleur and Felt Slick Brake

SADDLE::
FELT 3.3 Tri/TT Saddle with Carbon Injected base, Gel Nose, Custom Waterproof Cover and Extended Length Hollow Chrome Moly rails

SEAT POST:
FELT 3.3 6061 Aluminum with Dual Position Saddle Mount, 27.2mm, 300mm

SEAT POST CLAMP:
30.6mm 6061-AL Forged Aluminum, Chrome Moly 5mm x 0.8mm Bolt, Stainless Steel Nut-Bar. 16 Grams

F/HUB:
Felt TTR-4 Sealed Bearing CNC Machined 7075 Aluminum 24H with Chrome Moly Quick Release Skewer

R/HUB:
Felt TTR-4 Sealed Bearing CNC Machined 7075 Aluminum 28H with Chrome Moly Quick Release Skewer

RIMS:
Felt TTR-4 700c 30mm Deep Aluminum with CNC Machined Braking Surface, 24H Front/28H Rear

TIRE:
Vittoria Rubino Slick Folding 700c x 23c

SPOKES:
DT Champion Stainless 2.0mm

PEDALS:
n/a

EXTRAS:
n/a

size	48	50	52	54	56	58	60
HA	72	72.5	72.5	73	73	73	73
SA (rear position)	78	77.7	77.6	75.9	76.3	76.7	77
TT (rear position)	490	500	520	545	557	581	593
SA (front position)	80.1	79.8	79.7	77.9	78.2	78.5	78.8
TT (front position)	473	483	503	528	540	564	576
TT C-C	490.3	500.2	517	545	557	581.2	593.4
Head Tube	115	130	100	110	125	145	160
ST C-T	480	500	520	540	560	580	600
ST C-C	426	446	472	497.5	511.4	530.2	544.3
BB Drop	45	45	70	70	70	70	70
CS	385	385	405	405	405	405	405
Front Center	566.5	571.3	589.3	595.8	612.2	641.2	657.3
Wheelbase	947	951.9	984	990.5	1007.1	1036.3	1052.4
Rake	35	35	40	40	40	40	40
Standover	703	720	753	768	782	802	816
Crank Length	170	170	172.5	172.5	175	175	175
Stem	60	80	90	100	100	110	110
H-bar	400	400	400	420	420	440	440
Seat Post	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300	27.2 x 300

For the Specialized Transition E5 Comp

FRAME Specialized E5 AEROTEC, fully manipulated aero tubing, compact Transition race design
FORK Specialized FACT carbon aero Transition fork, carbon legs, aluminum steerer, Speed Zertz  
HEADSET Specialized Mindset Plus, 1 1/8" integrated threadless, cartridge sealed bearings, alloy 20mm cone w/ one 10mm and two 5mm alloy spacers  
STEM Specialized Comp-Set, 3D forged alloy, 4-bolt 31.8mm bar clamp, 4- position adjustable  
HANDLEBARS Specialized Zertz Transition bullhorn bars, 31.8 clamp, w/ Profile Designs T2 Cobra aero bars  
TAPE / GRIPS Body Geometry cork ribbon  
FRONT BRAKE Shimano 105  
REAR BRAKE Shimano 105  
BRAKE LEVERS Aero Levers  
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano 105, 10-speed, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull  
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Ultegra, 10-speed, short cage  
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Dura-Ace, 10-speed bar ends  
CASSETTE / FREEWHEEL Shimano 105, 10-speed 12-27t  
CHAIN Shimano 105, 10-speed  
CRANKSET Shimano 105, Hollowtech II 2-piece crankset  
CHAINRINGS 52x39T  
BOTTOM BRACKET Shimano 105, Hollowtech II  
PEDALS Composite body test ride pedals  
RIMS Mavic Aksium  
FRONT HUB Mavic Aksium, 20 hole, Mavic QR  
REAR HUB Mavic Aksium, 24 hole, Mavic QR  
SPOKES Stainless 14g aero  
FRONT TIRE Specialized Mondo Pro, 700x21C, aramid bead, 120TPI  
REAR TIRE Specialized Mondo Pro, 700x21C, aramid bead, 120TPI  
TUBES Specialized standard presta tube  
SADDLE Body Geometry Toupé Team, superlight foam, carbon reinforced base, microfiber cover  
SEAT POST Specialized Transition carbon w/ Speed Zertz  
SEAT BINDER Specialized CNC, alloy  
NOTES Chain stay protector, derailleur hanger, clear coat, owners manual

Size	49	52	54	56	58	61
Seat Tube Length, Center to Top	470mm	480mm	490mm	500mm	520mm	550mm
Seat Tube Length, Center to Center	410mm	420mm	430mm	440mm	460mm	490mm
Top Tube Length (Horizontal)	500mm	520mm	534mm	548mm	564mm	584mm
Bottom Bracket Drop	72mm	72mm	70mm	70mm	68mm	68mm
Chainstay Length	400mm	400mm	400mm	405mm	405mm	410mm
Seat Tube Angle	76.75°	76.25°	76°	76°	75.5°	75°
Head Tube Angle	71.5°	72°	72°	72.5°	72.5°	72.5°
Rake	45mm	45mm	45mm	43mm	43mm	43mm
Trail	66mm	63mm	63mm	62mm	62mm	62mm
Front Center	575mm	589mm	602mm	611mm	623mm	639mm
Wheel Base	964mm	978mm	992mm	1006mm	1019mm	1040mm
Standover Height	716mm	726mm	738mm	754mm	776mm	802mm
Head Tube Length	90mm	100mm	115mm	135mm	160mm	185mm
Handlebar Width	400mm	420mm	420mm	420mm	440mm	440mm
Stem Length	90mm	100mm	110mm	120mm	120mm	130mm
Crank Length	170mm	170mm	172.5mm	172.5mm	175mm	175mm
Seatpost Length	300mm	350mm	350mm	350mm	350mm	350mm
TT is measured horizontally from center of HT to center of ST
*Not all sizes available in all markets.

Darrell,

   I looked into the Specialized Transition, and you can get WAY more for your money. There is no doubt that the yellow and black scheme along with the sleak frame are certainly eye candy, but the coponents you get with it are pretty crappy... for a bike you are spending $2800+ on and getting 105 components, no thanks. I got the B16 and had all components upgraded to Dura Ace and Ultegra. It is an awesome ride, I love FELT, but I have ridden with Chad and his ride, especially with the Tri Spoke wheels he sports make it pretty sick too! Ride a bunch of em, see what is most comfortable, and as the line goes in Monty Python... CHOOSE WISELY!

About how much does an upgrade in components?

 Could be wrong -- but normally if you wanted to upgrade the components it might be easier to go up the next model (more $$$ though, I know).  Personally I got my B12 for around 2700 & it's Ultegra.  I can't believe the difference between my Ultegra group bike vs. my road bike which is 105/Tiagra.  Worth the $$$ (but there's pesky budgets that we have to live within)
Here's another list of bikes (slapping myself for not giving this to you sooner, sorry)
www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Entry-level_tri_bikes_Trek_and_Fuji_693.html
Here are some more (it's only allowing me 1 link so you'll have to copy and paste)
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/2009_tri_bikes_at_the_entry_level_668.html
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/2nd_step_tri_bikes_695.html
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/Mid-priced_tri_bikes_850.html
Slowtwitch has some great info if you've never looked there

Ok-thanks for posting SPECS!

Sherry's non-professional professional opinion:

Us triathletes are like kids in candy shops-me included! We're already midway through tri season.

I've ridden both aluminum frame/carbon fork and full carbon. Full carbon is the way to go! Trust me...if you're going to be training/racing looooooooong rides your twig and berries will thank me!

Also-105s are kinda crappish.

What does Sherry recommend? 2 options:

1. Wait till end of season when you can get a carbon ultegra model for a nice discount OR

2. Go to the shops, get fitted for your correct size on the models and hit craigslist.

Triathlon is a HUGE time and money investment. You don't want to settle.

I just purchased the 2010 Trek 2.3 and I love it. I am training for a 300 mile ride later this year and my mountain bike was killing me at the 20 mile mark.
I had to upgrade the saddle on the 2.3... I bought the men's bike and after my first 40 miles the saddle was making delicate areas well... painfull. I went in and got fitted to the new Bontrager Womens Specific Saddle. It makes such a difference having a saddle that is right for you.

~good luck on you search... I ended up looking for a month before making the final choice.

~~Michelle