FIRST BIKE - Felt DA3 or B10 Di2 ???

Wow - great prices.

you asked the perfect question.  the answer is a clear and resounding YES.  As the owner of a B10, I concede that the new DA frame is slipperier and would, all other things equal, get you to the finish line sooner on race day.  But- there's a reason why people need two bikes, one for every day riding/group riding, and then their race bike.  it's because they don't have Di2 with dual position shifting.

I spent this summer doing group rides on my B10 and it worked out great.  i stayed on the bullhorns whenever in the group- where I had shift buttons and brakes, just like any road bike.  Nobody complained, as I was in the same riding position as they were with the same ability to control.  Then, when the group spread out, or if I got dropped off the back or I wanted to catch a breakaway- to aero I would go and it made a huge difference.  If you're going to have one bike for racing and training, having Di2 is your ticket.  I'd also contend that just having Di2 will make you FASTER.  I have, on more than one occasion, pulled away from other riders when cresting a hill as I was able to shift both chainring and cassette simultaneously from the bullhorns, and then continue shifting as I transitioned back to aero over the top of the hill.  It's an amazing thing that you can do with Di2.  

The B10 frame, at least at my weight (135lbs) is a terrific balance of comfort and stiffness.  At no point does it feel flexible or sluggish, yet it eats up road vibration making it a wonderful steed for the long haul.  This bike is made to go 112 miles.   Another advantage of the B10 is that it has a regular, easy to service head set.  Just like any other bike.  the DA's headset is unique, and if you need to do anything with it, you need to have a mechanic that has been property Felt-trained.  (from what I hear).  

That said- the DA is a superbike.  it's right up there with the fastest bikes on the market and it has a great look.  there's no getting away from that.  Theoretically, you could save your money, find a good deal and slap ultegra Di2 on it at some point in the future.  Then again, in a couple years you can find a DA or other superbike frame for sale, and move your Di2 over to it.  

the B10 for $2800 is a steal.  Grab it.  it will do exactly what you want it for.

oh, and then report back and lemme' know how you like it.

Thanks a lot LittleCat......

Now you have me considering the DA4 and just adding the Di2 for an extra $1,200. The DA3 and DA4 are the same frame with different paint and components correct?

Yes- correct.  well, that would certainly be the trick setup, and one of the least expensive ways to get a superbike frame with Di2.   You can buy just the DA frame too.  Or, you can do it with a B12 as well, if you want the more traditional, easy to deal with, front end and the new frame.  

I'm not quite so sure that the bold statement is true.......

So I missed out on the B10 because someone beat me to it and they don't have another 56cm which is my best fit. I'm not sold on the DA3 yet because I like the idea of Di2 since this will be my only bike. Now I'm torn on what to do... I've been scouring everywhere and have found a brand new in box carry-over 2012 B2 Di2 for $3,600 online but that seems like a dream come true. HOWEVER, it is from a bike shop in California with an excellent seller rating, PayPal approved, has a 14 day return policy plus eBay Buyer Protection, and they've provided their contact info...

With all that criteria, I can't think of anything else to be hesitant of??? HELP!!!

Does anyone know anything about the 2010 Felt B2R??? I just found a used one on craigslist with under 1,000 miles locally. It looks incredible and the price for a first bike is much cheaper than the ones previously mentioned (under $1,500). At that price I could even put Di2 on if I wanted to. I can't find any professional reviews online about it though, just feedback from one guy who gave it a 2.5/5.0 which I find hard to believe considering Felt's reputation....

Thanks for pointing that out Audiojan, I wouldn't have thought about the Di2 wiring. As for the warranty, do you think that's a big issue? I mean they have so many loopholes in their policy they could get out of almost any claim they wanted to. 

Yes the frame and fork are warrantied to be free of manufactured defects for life but other than that, the warranty reads to be fairly useless. 1 year on components which likely won't have issues in that short of time frame, they don't define "normal wear and tear" and the warranty doesn't cover "Any damage, failure or loss caused by abuse, neglect, improper repair, improper maintenance, alteration, modification..." which would include aftermarket race wheels on it. Not to mention that even if you were to order a bike online from a certified Felt dealer, such as me finding the best prices in California, you're out of luck on warranty anyway because it doesn't cover "Any bicycle or frameset purchased via the internet."

I don't want to have to worry about getting a second bike within a year due to the season only being 5 or so months long in MN...

You just had to get all logical on me didn't you.... lol.

Apparently I'm missing something here and 110% appreciate all of the advice and feedback. Your car example makes sense but I still don't understand the point of a road bike when triathlon is my only interest other than an optional fundraiser or 2 (some of my cousins have a team for the MS 150). As far as that goes aero bars are not banned according to their website, you're just not allowed to use them while pack riding.

I guess I don't understand the need for versatility because I would be getting the bike for a single dedicated purpose - Triathlon. The MS 150 would just be a bonus and with the terrain of MN, Di2 would simutaneously resolve both circumstances...

What am I missing that a road bike, with or without aero bars, would provide that a tri bike couldn't???

I'm sorry to distrub you. 

I'm from China and will participate the escape from Alcatraz in this March. so I want to buy a Tri-bike in California before the race. 

could you please recommand some place where I can find the Felt tri-bike? if there are some sale of Felt tri-bike, it will be better... actually I think DA4 is enough for me. but if the DA3 is under 4K USD, I will consider DA3...

what's your final choice of the bike?