I've been fascinated with highracers for a long time, and I think this year will be the one where I actually take the plunge. I haven't test ridden anything since last year, so I'm looking to zero in my search.

The primary use of my highracer will be for commuting (about 25 mi each way, most of that uninterrupted highway), and I will also take it on recreational rides. The ideal bike will balance speed and reliability. I have other bikes I can ride in slop, so it doesn't need to be able to withstand extreme abuse. However, I don't want to think I'm messing it up if I get a little wet.

Of the bikes I've tried, the Corsa (which is at the upper limit of my price range) has been my favorite so far. Fast, climbs well, and I like the handling. The Strada intrigues me, but I haven't been able to ride one yet. For those of you who've ridden the Corsa and the Strada, how different is the handling?

Also, what do people think of carbon seats? The weight reduction is nice, but does comfort change with the seat angle since they are rigid? Also, does having a carbon seat noticeably impact pedaling efficiency, or are they mostly bling?

What's the general opinion how the Volae, RANS, and ActionBent stack up against the Corsa or Strada?

Although I love my Actionbent trike... I don't know that their hi-racer would stack up to the other names you've mensioned. It wouldn't take much tweaking to bring it up to snuff but a close look at componentry may just make the difference. Actionbent comes with mid-level components and often have no-name hubs, BB/Crank, and headset combo's. The rest is SRAM/Shimano/Avid... Definitely check the brake options on your list as well.

What part of Oregon are you in? There is a Portland club that has several hi racers (Bachetta's). They do weekly rides that you might want to join as a guest. great people!

BTW... what trike is that in your Avatar?

I've owned a Bacchetta Aero and I still own a Volae Team. I have friends with the Corsa, the Strada, and a couple F5s. In my opinion, the Corsa is a great bike, but the Volaes and the F5s are great, too. You can only ride them and decide which is best for you. I assure you, there isn't a heck of a lot of difference in performance.

Although I love my Actionbent trike... I don't know that their hi-racer would stack up to the other names you've mensioned. It wouldn't take much tweaking to bring it up to snuff but a close look at componentry may just make the difference. Actionbent comes with mid-level components and often have no-name hubs, BB/Crank, and headset combo's. The rest is SRAM/Shimano/Avid... Definitely check the brake options on your list as well.

What part of Oregon are you in? There is a Portland club that has several hi racers (Bachetta's). They do weekly rides that you might want to join as a guest. great people!

BTW... what trike is that in your Avatar?
I'm from Monmouth, and the trike is just a 2004 Cattrike Road with a Velo kit (http://velo-kit.com/) mounted on it. The kit is really a blast to ride, and I can roll it up and toss it in the back of a car in 10 min.

My wife already feels like a cycling widow, so I only get up to Portland occasionally. I figure for purposes of my commute, there won't be much difference between highracers because it's a straight shot with a few rollers. However, handling on loose stuff and climbing is something I'm interested in, so if anything stands out from the field in those respects, I definitely need to take a look.

If I can get a good deal used I will, but the highracer market appears pretty small. The Fujin and Seiran really look intriguing, but they are out of my price range.

I am partial to the corsa over the strada for sure. olae and F5 would also be great choices.