u/Whole_Professor6245

Hello all,

I have been saving for a while and finally have enough money to purchase my first road bike, and I am planning on buying the X-Lab RS7, as the value for money seems unmatched even in the used market. However, as many of you likely already know, these bikes are sold out almost everywhere I look. I would prefer to buy from a LBS, as I would be supporting local business along with being able to get a bike fit and try on the bike before buying, but living in a rural area there are few shops that I can get to easily. I was wondering if any of you know of when they will be back in stock for shops and/or online (even though that would be a last resort).

Additionally, I was looking at the alloy RS5 and realized that, with the deal that they're running currently, I could purchase an RS5 and a set of Elite Wheels Marvel 50D II carbon wheels for around the same price as the RS7 (by about $100). I would love for this bike to be something that I can use for a lot of group rides and longer training miles, but my ultimate goal is to join my college's cycling team and race competitively with it. That being said, do any of you have any experience with these bikes or that wheel set, and if so, would I end up being better off with the alloy frame and aftermarket wheels. I do love the feeling of a responsive bike (when I tried them I liked the Trek Madone much better than a Domane), so do you think that the nicer carbon wheels will be enough of a difference to make the RS5 feel like a racier RS7?

Thank you all in advance, and if you have any other recommendations (my budget for everything is hopefully under $2500, and that includes shoes/pedals, computer if able, etc...) that would do me a little better than what I am currently considering I will be happy to hear them, I am fairly new to the sport and am excited to learn all that I can.

Thanks again!

Hello all,

I have been saving for a while and finally have enough money to purchase my first road bike, and I am planning on buying the X-Lab RS7, as the value for money seems unmatched even in the used market. However, as many of you likely already know, these bikes are sold out almost everywhere I look. I would prefer to buy from a LBS, as I would be supporting local business along with being able to get a bike fit and try on the bike before buying, but living in a rural area there are few shops that I can get to easily. I was wondering if any of you know of when they will be back in stock for shops and/or online (even though that would be a last resort).

Additionally, I was looking at the alloy RS5 and realized that, with the deal that they're running currently, I could purchase an RS5 and a set of Elite Wheels Marvel 50D II carbon wheels for around the same price as the RS7 (by about $100). I would love for this bike to be something that I can use for a lot of group rides and longer training miles, but my ultimate goal is to join my college's cycling team and race competitively with it. That being said, do any of you have any experience with these bikes or that wheel set, and if so, would I end up being better off with the alloy frame and aftermarket wheels. I do love the feeling of a responsive bike (when I tried them I liked the Trek Madone much better than a Domane), so do you think that the nicer carbon wheels will be enough of a difference to make the RS5 feel like a racier RS7?

Thank you all in advance, and if you have any other recommendations (my budget for everything is hopefully under $2500, and that includes shoes/pedals, computer if able, etc...) that would do me a little better than what I am currently considering I will be happy to hear them, I am fairly new to the sport and am excited to learn all that I can.

Thanks again!

Hello all,

I have been saving for a while and finally have enough money to purchase my first road bike, and I am planning on buying the X-Lab RS7, as the value for money seems unmatched even in the used market. However, as many of you likely already know, these bikes are sold out almost everywhere I look. I would prefer to buy from a LBS, as I would be supporting local business along with being able to get a bike fit and try on the bike before buying, but living in a rural area there are few shops that I can get to easily. I was wondering if any of you know of when they will be back in stock for shops and/or online (even though that would be a last resort).

Additionally, I was looking at the alloy RS5 and realized that, with the deal that they're running currently, I could purchase an RS5 and a set of Elite Wheels Marvel 50D II carbon wheels for around the same price as the RS7 (by about $100). I would love for this bike to be something that I can use for a lot of group rides and longer training miles, but my ultimate goal is to join my college's cycling team and race competitively with it. That being said, do any of you have any experience with these bikes or that wheel set, and if so, would I end up being better off with the alloy frame and aftermarket wheels. I do love the feeling of a responsive bike (when I tried them I liked the Trek Madone much better than a Domane), so do you think that the nicer carbon wheels will be enough of a difference to make the RS5 feel like a racier RS7?

Thank you all in advance, and if you have any other recommendations (my budget for everything is hopefully under $2500, and that includes shoes/pedals, computer if able, etc...) that would do me a little better than what I am currently considering I will be happy to hear them, I am fairly new to the sport and am excited to learn all that I can.

Thanks again!

Hello,

I am beginning college at the University of Notre Dame in the fall and am looking for my backpack for school. I have a pretty packed schedule and don't plan on visiting my dorm much throughout the day (unless I have enough of a break), and the campus is fairly large but within walking distances. I am trying to decide between the Nike Utility Elite 2.0 (37L) and the Nike Utility Speed 2.0 (27L), I prefer the look of the Elite and it is within my budget, but I want to know whether the larger size will be too much or make me look comical while walking around. I'm not entirely sure how my day will look, but having everything I will need throughout the day with me is appealing, I just do not want to go overboard or look stupid walking around campus, and if any of you have any advice I would be very appreciative!

Thank you all so much in advance!