Trek 1200

Price Paid:  $320.00 at local paper

Favorite Ride:
anything other than the river ride

Bike Setup:
Tiagra shifting and braking. Shimano S560 rims (amazing improvement in acceleration). Speedplay pedals and carbon Sidi shoes (highly recommended, I actually noticed a difference in power). Toupe Ti saddle (pay for the comfort, it is worth it). FSA Mega Exo crank (again, I definitely noticed an improvement in feel and power). Sram rear cassette... c'mon, it has orange plastic in the middle. If nothing else it scores cool points.

Summary:
I love this bike. That pretty much sums it up, but I'll go ahead and continue. I bought this bike to see what my road buddies were talking about. One ride with an awesome crew, and I was hooked. This bike has performed flawlessly (when maintained), and has gotten me invited on many elite racer rides. I know, I know, it sounds like a bunch of hooey, but if you don't believe me, then I'll race ya! ;-)

Strengths:
Stiff, shifts reasonably well, aggressive cornering geometry, sprints okay.

Weaknesses:
Fork is kinda weak for hard cornering and braking, but the other parts work well enough for what they cost. I had to upgrade the seat though. 40 miles = pain. 80 miles = me ready to call for a ride home.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Bikes Plus Dallas TX

Favorite Ride:
Natchez trace

Summary:
The bike does not shift very well. Brakes are decent. Clearance between back wheel and frame is suspect at best. Wheels are cheap. Very rigid ride

Strengths:
Frame seems well made and fairly light for the money. Nice paint and finish.

Weaknesses:
Not enough clearance between back wheel and frame. Cheap wheel set. Does not shift very well. Cant really change to tires that are any wider because of limited clearance between back wheel and frame.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Wheel & Sprocket

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere around West Bend, WI

Bike Setup:
Trek 1200 with stock shimano sora parts, Rolf Vector Sport rims.

Summary:
This is a phenomenal bike!! The trek 1200 was my first real road bike that I bought strictly to help maintain my fitness level. I had no idea how much I would enjoy cycling prior to owning this machine. WOW - this bike is an outstanding performer. It is a GREAT all around bike that simply put; puts to shame all of those who spent up to three times as much on other machines. The trek 1200 is rigid, climbs well, leaps into sprints like a jack-rabbit, corners confidently and predictably, and on 700x20 tires descends like a freakin' bullet! Since my introduction into cycling over three years ago, I have trained properly and have since taken this machine to the starting line of several catagory 4/5 races and managed top 10 finishes. The only things I changed proir to racing were the saddle and the rims (Rolf Vector Sport). In my last race I crashed this bike THREE times (none of them my fault) and still managed to pull a top 20 finish. That should give you an idea of how solid, yet raceable this frame really is. Alas, I must now upgrade the original fork and sora parts but the frame is undamaged and definately a keeper. I cannot stress enough how incredibly versatile this bike really is. So whether you're looking for a weekend touring bike or a catagory racer, this bike amazingly fits both descriptions.

Strengths:
Great sprinter, good climber (with after-market rims), good descender, and with practice is sleek in the corners.

Weaknesses:
Bit heavy for racing off of the store shelf; however, that's nothing one or two simple upgrades can't fix.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond Zurich, Lemond L'alpe duez, Trek 5500

Price Paid:  $350.00 at forget

Favorite Ride:
Alpine Loop

Bike Setup:
ultegra shifters and derailers, rx100 everything else, selle italia flite saddle

Summary:
I purchased this bike in 1993 used with almost no miles on it. It has been a great bike to get me interested in the cycling world. I am most impressed with the ability to sprint, it literally leaps forward with each pedal stroke. For those purchasing a frame for the long haul this is a good frame, after 9 years and who knows how many tens of thousands of miles the frame is now just starting to get a little flex in it (and only slightly). I have toured and raced on this frame. My favorite is to come to the races on this average rec type frame and bust out a top 10 placement consistently (those with the pricey bikes laugh until the race is over). Good bike for the money. A few upgrades on the bike would lighten it up a bit, but that is not really necessary for this level of frame.

Strengths:
Stiff, rigid, sprints like a rocket, long lasting quality frame

Weaknesses:
Killer on 200 milers, need to upgrade saddle, feel every bump, a little on the heavy side but at 22 lbs not bad

Similar Products Used:
Giant Cadex, Leader 780r, trek 5200

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Scheel's Allsport

Favorite Ride:
Baird's Creek, Green Bay WI

Bike Setup:
added computer, upgraded seat, 56cm Tiagra

Summary:
Excellent bang for the buck! I had been doing a lot of road riding on my mountain bike and decided to move up to a road bike so, ostensibly, I could travel further and faster. It worked! The Trek 1200 is a very (read YIKES!) rigid set-up which also makes it very predictable. The shifting is flawless. I am upgrading the seat to reduce pressure, but the rest is top notch (well, pedals not so great but still workable). I take 30 mile rides on this bike 3 or 4 times per week and wish I had time for more! I also tested the Giant OCR-1, Trek 1000, and a Specialized; the Trek 1200 rode and shifted the best.

Strengths:
durability, price, smooth operation of components

Weaknesses:
rigid!