colinw Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 Done lots of research on the various options for a carbon bike under 20k (yes saw previous thread on it as well) and have my eye on the specialized tarmac comp and felt f4. They appear to me to both be very similar frame wise. The tarmac comes with 105's, while the felt has ultegra. Both are listed at the same price of R18500 but there is a dealer advertsing the felt on bikehut for around R16500. At that price the felt makes more sense but I want to make the right purchase. I rode the felt in the car park and it felt good. I am currently riding a 10yr old canondale caad3 (alu frame) with 2nd from bottom components (shimano). it does have a carbon fork though. I have never had a days problem with the canondale and although its old I have only begun the ride again properly the last 5-6 months after many a years brake (7 actually). A recent UK mag compared the tarmac to the giant tcr (3), pinarello FP2 and a raleigh ..something. The tarmac came out on top !!I am looking for an aggressive, responsive ride that likes the hills as much as I do. any suggestions ?
Overlord Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 Can't go wrong with the Specialized.Very stiff and climbs like a bat out of hell.
Iwan Kemp Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 Go with the Felt. I test rode just about every bike out there when I was looking for a carbon frame to build and the Felt was great value money over and above being just damn great. You pay to have Spec on your downtube...too much if you ask me.
mbaymike Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 i agree with crow....felt is good value for your hard earned cash
Bike Mob Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Specialized...all the way!PS get your LBS to match the price
AndreZA Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Us poor mortals will never feel the difference in the frame material. Go for the better components. And besides, Specialized riders have to use cocaine to make them look "cool".
NotSoBigBen Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Parra I do not use cocaine !!!!! OK so I don't look cool either ..............
AndreZA Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Parra I do not use cocaine !!!!! OK so I don't look cool either .............. I rest my case. Oh yes, they date under age girls aswell.
Overlord Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Us poor mortals will never feel the difference in the frame material. Go for the better components. And besides' date=' Specialized riders have to use cocaine to make them look "cool". [/quote'] I take my coke in a glass thanks. The mirror is overrated.
Speed Devil Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Quick Hijack... Is there a problem with Speciliazed's website? I have been trying for a few days to get in but when I click on the "Specialized link" on their homepage it says "done, but with errors" in the bottom left corner of the screen
Eugene Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I have that exact Specialized that you are looking at. It is an awesome bike, I love it and beats the pants off the Felt in the looks department. I've only got one gripe and its not related to the Tarmac frame, but mainly the Shimano wheels. The rear wheel of the RS10 wheelset (spec wheels) cracked. It was replaced pretty quickly by Shimano with a new one. The problem is that the new one was an RS20 wheel and was a different colour. My new bike now has 2 different coloured wheels. Cool Heat Agencies (the Shimano importers) were pretty indifferent to my problem and was told to try and accept "as is" I think the Felt has Mavic wheels, so it might be worth considering the above when making your decission. I would buy the Specialized again in a flash, as long as it doesn't have Shimano wheels.
Bike Mob Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I also got Shimano Wheels, but swapped them out when i bought them for a black set, I've only ridden the Shimano's for 200km if anyone wants them... I'll let them go. Getting back to the topic, I researched the whole issue we're facing here. I chose the specialized. I looks awesome, I really liked the zerts, and the sloping top tube. And the fact that it stood out to me... If Mere mortals cant tell the diff in frames, then that surely applies to 105/Ultegra too? Plus the warranty on the specialized is better...
Mackem Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I also have a Tarmac Comp as well as Tarmac SWorks. I was a little sceptical about the components compared to my Sworks that has Record. But the bike is great - the only item on the bike I have changed is the saddle - Couldnt handle the Toupe and went for an Arione - Much better!
GT oke Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Go with the Felt. I test rode just about every bike out there when I was looking for a carbon frame to build and the Felt was great value money over and above being just damn great. You pay to have Spec on your downtube...too much if you ask me. NOOO not FELT!!!I know somone who broke his frame the first time he went riding with it!
AndreZA Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 If Mere mortals cant tell the diff in frames' date=' then that surely applies to 105/Ultegra too? [/quote'] True. But if you're going to pay the same amount of money and can get better parts, even if you can't tell the difference, you should take it. Why pay more for a slightly better frame (if they s it is) and slightly lower specced parts then get a good frame with almost the best parts. It's the moving parts that wear, not the frame.
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