Trek 2.3

Price Paid:  $1700.00 at United Cycle E-ville

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
icefields parkway

Bike Setup:
Aluminum frame w/basic carbon seatstays, fork blades, & seatpost.
105 shifters, front d, crank
Ultegra rear d
Tektro brakes
Bontrager everything else

Summary:
With 1000 km on the bike, we're starting to get to know eachother. Nice light bike for rec riding at a good price. Stiff, solid comfortable ride feel. The lowish BB height, tall head tube & medium wheelbase make it easy to stay upright and moving forward, comfortable at any location on the handlebar, but you are aware of the bumps in the road. All components reliable so far, no loss in performance in the rain. Brakes could use centering adjustment screw but have decent power, seat brought back memories of the plastic bmx seat I had 25 years ago (not a good thing!), tires are low quality and 25mm, not 23mm, but work fine for now. I know the B-brand "race" wheels aren't the sexiest, but work well and I feel faster with bladed spokes. LOVING compact cranks, for all the quirks that go with them. Often requires simultaneous front and rear shifting to get into the right gear, but it's nice to have such a huge range w/o the trim issues of a triple. Impressed so far with 105 components.

Strengths:
Geometry balances comfort, stability, and handling well
Pretty
Reliable (I hope, anyway, because this bike will need to last several years!)
Price-Past this price point, it's diminishing returns from any brand. For a noticeably better bike, you'd have to spend $700-1000 more, which in my household was better spent on a double Chariot trailer.

Weaknesses:
Look closely - seat & tires will need replacing. If you race at all, you might add wheels & brakes to the upgrade list. I know that's hypocritical after extolling the price, though.
Bumpy roads=bumpy ride
Not aero or ultralight or super flashy, so if you ride with dentists & trust fund babies, you'll need to swallow your pride.

Similar Products Used:

Price Paid:  $1550.00 at Shirk's Bike Shop, E

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Trek 2.3

Bike Setup:
2008 Black/Red Alpha Aluminum frame with carbon forks and seat stays. Shimano 105 shifters with Ultegra derailer. Everything else stock from the dealer.

Summary:
I moved up from the Trek 1200, triple , to a 2008 Trek 2.3. I absolutely love it. I have a compact cassette and have left all other stock components on for now. The bike is very smooth on the road. Shifting with the 105 shifters and the Ultegra derailer are very clean. You do have to watch for the front wheel overlap on slow, sharp turns with clipless pedals. It handles steady going down hills. I have had it to about 33 mph and it has been solid. It has been a gem going up steep hills. It climbs very well. I have been riding for 20 years and this is probably your best bet before jumping into all carbon, racing bicycles.

Strengths:
The aluminum frame with the carbon fork and stays seems to absorb vibration. It rides solid. Shifting is very smooth. The 105 shifters work very well with the ultegra derailer. You can move through the gears quickly without missing a beat. I previously had a 105 derailer and it constantly needed adjusted and the chain would hop off a lot. Not this set up. Climbing is a breeze with the compact cassette. The gearing seems to go down lower than the triple I had previously. The crankset is very quiet. I love the bike.

Weaknesses:
Bontrager seat is not a soft ride. I will probably upgrade at some point. The white handlebar tape will have to go.
I have only had the bike going on two months so I want to see how the Bontrager race lite tires do over time.
Going down large hills, pedaling with the high gears does not keep up at high speeds like the triple did. The name Bontrager is seen on the bike a lot more than the Trek name.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1200, triple ring.

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Jax Bicycle Shop

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Palos Verdes

Summary:
This is my first true road bike, so it's hard to compare this to another brand, but I can say that after a year I'm very happy with the bike. I originally wanted a cheaper bike (since this was just an excercise thing for me), but luckily I was talked into this one. I think this bike is the bare minimum in terms of road bikes that you won't quickly outgrow. If you go a level down you'll end up with thumb shifters and other lame components. If you go a level up, the bike and components just get lighter and stiffer, but no more functional.

As far as the price goes, since I bought this I've seen other brands with similar components for a little less money (Giant, Novarro, etc..) but I still don't feel ripped off by any means. Supposedly the way Trek forms the frame tubes adds to the cost, and they do a lot of R&D on the frame angles and such, but it's hard for me to say whether that's worth the brand premium. I can say that my bike hardly ever needs a tuneup and feels as solid as the day I bought it.

Price Paid:  $1325.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
Compact double. Crank Bro's pedals. Garmin GPS/heart rate monitor.

Summary:
The bike rides like a dream. Fast on the flats and like a rocket down hills. Handling is great but watch out of for toe overlap on the front wheel. The wheels are an upgrade over the 2.1 and seem to be worth the extra money. Shifting is fast and accurate. The bike seems responsive to my pedal strokes, expecially when climbing. I've had no issues with the seat like many reviewers. The aluminum frame seems stiff and the carbon fork seems to dampen much of the road vibration. The Bongrager race tires provide what seems to be good traction. The the fit/finish and paint are excellent. The low count, bladed spoke wheels are light and durable.

Strengths:
I have the compact double so shifting is crisp and sure in the front. The bike seams very steady at high speeds and through corners. I've had the bike up to about 38 mph so far and it seems solid, steady, capable and wanting to go faster. The breaks provide good stoping ability. The 10 speed cassette allows for excellent close grear rations, but the compromise is that you need a lot of strength up big hills. The finish quality on the components is high.

Weaknesses:
Break pads that come on the bike are terrible. The color/paint on the vinyl seat is rubbing off. Mine is a 2007 model and I think the white/silver/red color scheme is boring. The white handle bar tape will look dirty in a short amount of time.

Similar Products Used:
Specialzed Rub Comp. Fuji road bike. Trek 2.1.

Price Paid:  $1595.00 at Bicycle Ranch

Favorite Ride:
This one, my only one

Bike Setup:
Trek 2.3 compact, stock
Shimano SPD pedals/shoes

Summary:
I bought this bike at first to commute to our new light rail line, but it is such a joy to ride that I am now thinking about getting into cycling in a more serious way. I'm up to 150 miles a week (80 commuting), and I just got started! It is completely stock (except for clipless pedals), although I'm contemplating a new saddle, as the stock Bontrager leaves me a little numb after an hour or so. I've had a few pinch flats, so I might be buying some Hard Case tires soon as well. Other than that, this bike is awesome right out of the box, particularly considering the price.

Strengths:
Light but durable Al frame
Decent Shimano components, smooth ride
Awesome look (constant compliments from others on the train).

Weaknesses:
Wish it had a better saddle

Similar Products Used:
None