Road Cycling - Help for a novice

I am looking to start riding again after selling my bike 7 years ago(stupid youngster mistake). I am trying to decide on a new bike to purchase and would like suggestions from someone more knowledgable than myself. I am looking for a road bike and have narrowed my search to 4 models. The overall price range is only about 180 dollars so it really is not a factor. I am looking at the Mercier Aquila, Fuji Ace, Fuji Finest, and Fuji Finest Aluminum. I would appreciate any/all help...thanks

I think you will find that all those bikes cost well over $180. In fact, a decent crankset for a roadbike costs around $180. If that's all you have to spend, buy something used. Just don't expect it to be very good, either. Any half-way decent used road bike will cost you at least $500.

I know they cost more than $180, I was saying the price range from the lowest priced bike to the highest priced bike was only a difference of about $180.

You'll have to forgive D*Alex, he's just learning how to read. ;)

They all look like decent "entry-level" road bikes with similar quality and brand components.
My question to you is: Are you buying this on-line or from a local bike shop (LBS)?
If you are buying from a LBS make sure you get the one you like and that FITS!
If you are buying on-line do you know what size to get and can you swap things like stems or cranksets to ensure proper fit?
If the bike doesn't FIT you won't ride it for long.

I'd recommend going the LBS route since this is the first bike you've had in a while. Things have changed in the past 7 years.

Let us know which bike you get.

get the one that looks the most sexy :D

If they're all the same..then get the one you'd like to be seen riding with the most.

I you wanna be seen with all of them, buy the most expensive one so you can say you spent more. Tat way people will think its better.

Originally posted by WorldIRC
I you wanna be seen with all of them, buy the most expensive one so you can say you spent more. Tat way people will think its better.

lol...yea, you can do that too.

My advice always has been the bike that fits and feels the best to you is the one to get.

Thanks for the replies so far. I am leaning towards the Mercier Aquila or the Fuji Finest. I am 6' 4" and 260 lbs looking to get down around 220. I need a 64cm bike and like the Reynolds 520 on the Mercier or the chromoly of the Fuji Finest versus the aluminum of the Finest AL and the Fuji Ace has a slightly shorter top tube length. I am looking to buy on the internet at a pretty substantial savings, so if I need to get a longer seat stem or anything at my LBS its no big deal. Any opinions about Fuji versus Mercier? The Mercier has the better components and I really like the looks of either one or all four for that matter.

Bill_me_l8r

I know you can get good deals on the internet,but I would I would still go to a LBS, just tell them the price you can get the bike for on the net (or even better a print out of the webpage you saw the price on) and tell them to match the price and you'll buy the bike from them.

It hasn't failed yet.