I am looking for a good bike around the $3,000 or less price point and the bikes that I am thinking about riding are:
Trek
Pinarello
Felt
Orbea
I know that fit is one of the most important parts of a bike, but I am wondering what people think of the above brands. Any others that you would recommend. These are some of the brands at the LBS.
This question can’t be accurately answered without your FTP, CdA, height, weight, and saddle height preference (way too high, or just a little too high).
Seriously though, road or tri?
On tri bikes, if price is your constraint, remove Trek and Pina from your list. While they do make some excellent bikes (well, Trek makes AN excellent bike…), they’re just too darned expensive. Felt will probably have the highest quality equipment for this price range. Orbea has some awesome equipment. Looking around, you can get an 08 Ordu for about $3200, complete, Ultegra SL, and that’s a sweet bike. I’ve never raced one, but I did a 70-miler on it and liked it. However, Felt’s B12 is going for around $3,000 new (https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/41138), and it has a higher quality build.
Edit: Have you considered Kuota? You might add that to your list. They make some awesome bikes. I believe the K-Factor SL is going for about $3200 complete.
Sent PM
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Kuota are down right rubbish. My LBS was selling Kuota in a big way as there No.2 bikes behind Trek with a distinct price advantage. I have 7 friends whom I ride with regularly, that is more than once a week, and of those 5 have had carbon failures. The application of the warranty has been ad-hoc with 2 guys being well looked after, 2 having to fight tooth and nail for a replacement and 1 ignored. The 2 guys whose bikes haven’t failed are sh_ting breiks. They spent all that money getting bikes into the TdF and then don’t support thier product.
And yes, I can provide photos and e-mails to Kuota; my brother-in-law is one of the unlucky one if anyone is really interested.
And why am I so cranky? One of my best mates who’s not flush with cash bought one and had it built up with Chorus, Mavic wheels and nice bars etc.; a huge investment for him costing over AUD $5000. After having his warrenty claim ignored he’s just given up the sport.
Check out the LOOK 576, right in your price range & a great bike.