Thanks to everyone who provided input on the forums and in PMs about the new bike purchase. I did some test riding today, and I have myself a new bike! Be gentle with me, but would love to hear thoughts on whether I made a smart move.
Goals starting out: To get a bike with carbon fork and seatpost and 105 at a minimum with a budget at about $1200. I am a new rider, graduating from a 1997 Lemond with really cranky 105 components that is not well-fitted to me.
Goals after looking for a while/talking to y'all: To bump the budget up to about $1600 and get, at minimum, full carbon and 105-level components. My bike fitter also strongly urged me to get into a women-specific fit.
Bikes that made the short list (prices and specs as best I can remember):
Marin Portafina- $1100 -"105 components" and carbon fork/frame- turns out only the shifters were 105, rest was Sora.
Giant Avail Advance 3 2011- $1100- Full carbon and Tiagra components
Cannondale CAAD10 - 5- $1500- Carbon fork/frame- this might have been the one that had SRAM?
Ridley Orion 2011- $1600- Full carbon and 105 except for brakes
Giant TCR Advance 2011- $1500- Full carbon and 105 except for brakes
What I Bought
$1200- Giant TCR Advance 2, 2010- Was a demo bike, so had been ridden a few times. They installed a new seatpost, put Shimano SPD pedals on and a new seat. We are going to swap the handlebars from 38cm to 36cm.
Specs: Full carbon, 105 on everything, including the brakes, however the shifters are the 105 level of the Flight Deck shorter reach components. It also has a Mavik Aksium Race wheelset, which I know is only a $400 wheelset, but was told it's a step up from what was offered.
They also tossed a pretty nice seat on there, but I'll most likely move my Specialized Jett Saddle onto there.
And, the requisite photos:
Edited by smurfcore 2012-01-21 7:37 PM