Road Cycling - campy mirage....

so i'm in the market for a new road bike and pretty much narrowed it down to a bianchi. my budget is about $1k and my housemate, being a campy snob, has got me interested in a campy setup. so i was considering the campione but it has a mix of veloce and mirage. i was hoping for a full veloce bike but i haven't seen one in that price range. should i go for it or should i consider upping my budget? i also like the giro which has full 105. would that be better than a bike w/campy mirage? i've only read a couple of reviews on mirage and they weren't very good.

since people usually ask for type of use, here's some background. this'll be my 1st road bike, so i'll be a brand spankin newbie, but i have aspirations of doing my 1st duathlon by next summer and would like to use this bike for that race. anyway, 'preciate any input. thanks.

My wife rides campione as her primary bike,
and there has been absolutely no problems
with the mirage components. They seem like
a real work horse line, no flash finish is ok
but they just work, with few adjustments needed
once they're dialed in. Shifting is good, albeit
not as crisp as say Centaur/chorus/record
I think its a pretty bullet proof line in terms of
durability also.

Marty

My Mirage is 5 years old, and has been used for foul weather, off road and touring. The RHS ergolever is starting to wear a bit so is not quite as sharp as when new, but it still works. The shift mechanisms, hubs and headset are all sound.
I think its good stuff and fairly good value. If you are used to Chorus and Record shifting you may give it a bum review, but I really cant fault it.

cool. i think i'll go w/the campione then. since this'll be my 1st road bike, i won't know any better :) i was just hoping i wouldn't have to replace parts w/in a year or so. thanks for the advice.

I think you should at least upgrade to a bike with Centaur. I will be worth the few hundred extra dollars. Increase your budget to $1500 and you won't be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!

man, i hate it when I ask about components and whatnot, and I state a budget, and people go, "Spend $1500, and you'll get a nicer bike!" NO SH*T! If I spent $1500 and got the same thing as I got for $1000, i would be sorely dissappointed! There would be no point in spending $1500!

In my case, If I say my budget is $1000 dollars, thats probably already streching it. Increasing this by 50% is simply just not a viable option, otherwise, I would have said, "My budget is $1500" instead of saying "my budget is $1000". Just a pet peeve...

I hear you about that pet peeve...

I have a Univega with Mirage triple and I'd have to give it a pretty solid review. I have another bike with Record (albeit 8) and that's smoother but the Mirage puts the chain where it's supposed to be. You'll be happy.

:beer:

I would have said, "My budget is $1500" instead of saying "my budget is $1000".

Then everybody would tell ya to buy a $2300 bike.... :D