Re: Parlee, Moots, Waterford comparison: Bikefanclub.com

Hi all,

I enjoyed this thread because I'm in the market for a bike and so far have three contenders, all rather different. Perhaps y'all can help me decide:

Moots Vamoots
Merckx Team SC / Premium
Parlee Z2

I rode the Vamoots for about 3-4 hours, Merckx for one, and Parlee for 3-4 hours also. All demo bikes were about 2.5cm small for me. They shared the same traditional 3x front wheel for the test rides.

Vamoots: probably the top contender, primarily for durability. Seemed the most stable, although at the same time it seemed to take the tightest turns. It felt the harshest of the three.

Merckx SC: Felt real natural, fun to ride (racy paint job?). Surprisingly, this team racer's bike seemed to take the same turns wider. Not sure how if these aluminum/sc frames will stay together as long as I will.

Parlee Z2: Very nice road absorption. Stability is real good, handling real good. I initially excluded carbon from my choices because of durability concerns, but am reconsidering. The price of the Parlee makes me queasy.

All are super nice. My current thinking is to go for whichever happens to be the best price deal, hoping for a lightly used one. I'm a recreational rider, doing hill climbs and bombing descents in the Rockies for mountaineering fitness. I could get away with spending a lot less, but figure if I do it right the bike will last me many seasons.

Have any suggestions for a decision? Thanks!

p.s. here's some current fit data:
Height: 6'2" (188cm) Wt: 165-170lbs (75kg)
58cm C-T
57cm top tube with 11cm stem
Saddle height: 81.5cm
Saddle - bar delta: 11cm
I have a ruptured disk and soreness in my lower back. I find that tilting my seat forward just a tad really helps, or the tackle will go numb. I generally get numbing in the left hand after an hour.
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