Trek Pilot 2.1

Price Paid:  $680.00 at craigslist

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Alt-A1A

Bike Setup:
07 Trek Pilot 2.1 105's 10x3 and a polar cs200cad everything else is stock

Summary:
It came with 105 10x3 shifters and ultrega components cane creek brakes Bontrager select rims, saddle, seat post, handlebars and stem.I just got a Polar cs200 I've notice I'm able to get up to and maintain 15mph as my avg. and I consider myself really out of shape

Strengths:
the overall weight of the bike seem very light and stiff yet with a real plush ride

Weaknesses:
overall most of the bontrager part the saddle is really bad after 15 miles I the brakes need to be adjusted almost every ride but other than that I love the bike

Similar Products Used:
09 Allez, Scott S40,

Price Paid:  $120000.00 at Spoken Wheel Cyclery

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Tour de Rock in Pella Iowa and Ragbrai

Bike Setup:
I put headlights and taillights on mine. I use a flightdeck computer and wouldn't be without it. This year I feel I really learned how to ride and the pilot has worked great

Summary:
My Son hounded me about getting a Trek bike. I bought his 7500 fx. It is a good bike and I rode about 1,500 miles on it. I bought my pilot 2.1 in May I have around 750 miles on it and love it. It is really smooth. I am not a professional so I can't tell you all the good or bad . But I feel it is a lot smoother and I get a lot of miles racked up and my knees don't hurt like last year

Strengths:
My kids bought a men's rx seat for me for Christmas. I really enjoy that seat and would recommend replacing the seat. The bike rides really smooth on rough roads and shifts really great

Weaknesses:
I don't know any weaknesses as I have only ridden a 7500 fx and a target bike. This is a great bike

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Race Pace Bicyc;es

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere 50-60 miles takes me

Bike Setup:
Pilot 2.1, Look Keo Classic pedals, Forte 44cm bar, Forte Carbon Pro SLX Saddle, Easton EA50 90mm stem. Cateye CD3000w wireless computer. Blackburn stainless hollow tube bottle cages.

Summary:
I bought the Pilot after my beloved Bianchi Giro and I parted company. My racing days are long over and the Pilot fit what I was looking for. No it does not handle like my Giro did but it also does not make my back feel like the Giro did either. The bike is plush to ride the carbon forks and rear seatstays are great for long distances. The Bontrager components are pretty junky. After about 300 miles I started breaking spoke on the rear rim, drive side. No problem Trek gladly replaced the rim with a Bontrager select series and I have not had any further problems. The bike climbs well both out of the saddle as well as in. I ditched the 3rd chainring and set the stop screw in after several key missed down shifts. I never used the thing. I plan on replacing the front DR for an Ultegra and have replaced the stem with and Easton. Frankly the bike is an excellent ride if your not looking to race with it. Long distances are really a breeze on this thing. Ohh ditch the stock saddle to. I have the Perfomance Pro SLX and it's great. I miss my Bianchi we were together for 12 years but I can ride faster, longer on this bike. I test rode the 07 model but did not purchase until this year. No 07's available but plenty of 08's. Buy it for the comfort and flip the stem for more aero effect.

Strengths:
Plush ride. Great long distance comfort.
The 105 shift/brake levers are flawless.
The Cane Creek brake set is up to the task. They are much better then they look.

Weaknesses:
The Bontrager components are not the greatest. They are a cost cutting measure. I was going to swap the wheelset after breaking some spokes the new select seris wheel is working fine.
The fork could be stiffer under hard breaking. Does an Ultegra front DR really cost that much more?????

Similar Products Used:
None. This is the 1st non-hardcore bike I have ever owned.

Price Paid:  $1250.00 at BikeTech.

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
STP

Bike Setup:
Shimano 105 front/ Ultegra 10 back/ Bontrager wheel set and handlebars and neck/Carbon seat post/shimano SPD pedals/Trek 8.1 Cyclocomputer (Wireless).

Summary:
I rode several bikes before deciding on this one. I was riding a Cannondale SR 400 from 1986 for many miles, but I began to have a lot of pain in the shoulders & buttocks.

I started searching for a new bike in February. I liked the Specialized, but found it too small and too compact, hitting my shoes on turns. I rode a Navarro by REI, but did not like the gears, esp. on hills.

I then rode the Trek 2.1 Pilot and instantly fell in love with the easy posture and accurate gear-shifting. After 1 week and 100 miles, I don't feel any muscle or back aches that I felt previously. This bike loves the flats and getting up hills can easily be done on the middle chain ring, surprisingly.

There is no vibration. No strange noises, just a smooth ride. Repositioning from a standing stance (ie. Hill climbing) to a seated one is very easy and there is no feeling of instability.

There was some getting used to the double-click feature on the front gear. But that was easily resolved.

I would recommend this bike for larger, but athletic riders and people with back and neck problems who still want a competitive ride. I am a little heavier, muscular, but hill climbing is easier with this bike. Additionally, going down-hill at 40 mph produces no shudder. The upright stance gives you complete control.

I also want to give a shout out to Local Bike Stores. In this case BikeTech, who really surprised me by ensuring that I had the right size bike, 58 instead of 54. They measured me and gave me tips on hill climbing and posture. Additionally, called me to let me know that my bike had just had 20% knocked off of it before I purchased it. Another bike store where I was looking at a Lemond Alpe D'Huez, laughed at the possibility of dropping the price from $1800. "We just don't do that here." Additionally, BikeTech added a package that included Waterbottle, backpack and other additions.

Additionally, I thought that I needed a 54 (which they originally told me was not the size I needed, but I insisted), they ordered one and then told me no, this was not the size for me. They were totally correct. My entire posture was terrible. Additionally, I was given 2 hours to test ride the correct bike. I went to my practice 10 degree hill and back and test rode the bike for 25 miles before deciding on the bike. They were willing to make adjustments as needed at no extra charge. Just a shout out to the local bike store.

Thanks!

Strengths:
Flats, Hill climbing. Carbon front and back forks provides significant dampening of road vibration.

Compact design makes you feel like you're riding your couch:). It is significantly stable.

Gear shifting is near flawless.

Weaknesses:
Need to get used to the double click gear shifting. Otherwise okay.

Similar Products Used:
Previous Bike: Cannondale SR 400 (1986).
Test Rode: Specialized Allez Compact/ GT road bike/Cannondale CAAD9 Triple/Novara Strada/Lemond Alpe d'Huez.

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Price Paid:  $999.00 at LBS in SF

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
San Francisco Bay Area

Bike Setup:
Stock except Terry Liberator Y Gel (soon replaced by Koobi PRS Enduro), Cat Eye wireless cycle computer.

Summary:
I picked up 2006 model at an LBS as my first road bike after spending years with casual MTB and Motocross racing experiences.

LBS on Valencia st in SF had my size with a huge discount tag (1 year old model + seasonal store wide sale). I liked 2006 color much better than 2007 one, and 2006 had Ultegra derailleurs for BOTH front and rear. You'll get Ultegra only for the rear on 2007 model (front: 105). If you find a 2006 model, get it!


Thanks to its upright position, I didn't have too hard time to get used to the road bike riding form. Coming from MTB world, god damn this thing is light! I can't believe how light and smooth my everyday ride have gotten.

The bike needs to be broken-in a bit more,and then tuned up. I'm getting Koobi PRS Endulo. I weight 136 lb (I'm a guy) and my seatbone is fairly thin. Other than the stock seat, I have no problem with the set up, and loving more and more everyday.

Strengths:
light, great components for the price, upright position for casual rider, Ultegra, lifetime warranty on frame, essential carbon parts, price.

Weaknesses:
stock seat can be better.