Which Woman’s Bike? Felt or a Choice of Two Treks

Kris has her eye on some real smart bikes. She is thinking of getting a bike built with women’s specific dimensions and likes the look of two Treks and a Felt and wants our opinion on which we like the best

Question: I am thinking of upgrading from my Trek 7.5fx to a road bike. I have been looking at a women’s specific frame: Felt FW3, Trek Pilot 2.1 and Trek 1600. They seem to all have similar components. I am having a difficult time deciding. Which one do you like?

Hi Kris,
The bikes you are looking at are all very nice and as usual it’s a difficult job to put one above the others, but I will try.

Trek Pilot 2.1 WSD

First the frame; the Trek frame is alloy with carbon seat stays and carbon forks, so you have stiffness, lightness and comfort, the dimensions are to Treks women’s design, so the frame should fit perfectly and took correct at the same time. The equipment is a mixture of Shimano Ultegra and 105, mostly 105, with Bontrager wheels, tires, woman’s saddle, handle bars and stem. Brakes calipers and headset are from Cane Creek and 105 STI levers are short reach. A well thought out and designed woman’s bike.

Trek Pilot 2.1

Trek 1600 WSD

The equipment on the Trek 1600 is much the same as the Pilot 2.1, except the pedals, headset and brake set is not as good quality, the frame is also not as good as it is all alloy without any carbon seat stays. Between the two Treks the Pilot 2.1 is the better bike.

Trek1600

Felt FW3

The Felt also has woman specific geometry and is made of alloy and carbon. The equipment is also Ultegra and 105, but with FSA Chain set, bottom bracket and head set and wheels from Alex, no problem there, all very nice. All the other bits are from Felt and are also woman specific.

Felt FW3

The Conclusion

Really the contest is between the Trek Pilot 2.1 and the Felt FW3, the Trek 1600 is not in the same league. It’s a difficult choice as they are so similar and both bikes will handle similarly going by the geometry, but in the end I would go for the Felt, mostly on looks, as the design looks good and the color is nicer. Very difficult decision, but you have to go for what you have to live with on every ride.