General Cycling Discussion - Bike wanted

I am looking at getting my first road bike, probably used. I saw a trek 1500, that had 105 components. I don't know much about components but 105 seems to be the bottom of the "better" quality components. I am not interested in a "race bike", but one more for longer rides and general fitness. Please recommend a bike that is comparable in quality to the Trek 1500 that I might want to take a look at. I rode a Bianchi the other day, don't recall the model, for sale at the LBS. My problem is I haven't ridden enough to figure out what I like. The Bianchi was nice, but felt different then my MTB. I think I would need a longer ride to figure out my preferences. Perhaps you can recommend bikes at the desired level and I can concentrate on figuring out what works best for me in that catagory.
thanks

There is nothing wrong with 105. Any new bike in the thousand dollar price range is going to be a good one. Ride as many as you can- road, touring, cyclocross, fixed.... just to see what the difference is. When you think you know what you want, have a shop size you up, but test ride the same model a size smaller and a size bigger to see what feels best. For long rides, I would look at the "comfort" road bikes like the Bianchi C2C or the Specialized Sequoia. Don't rule out steel touring bikes though, I was in Performance today and they had the Fuji tourer marked down to $750. That's a good deal if you can stand to ride a boring brown bike. YMMV, so go ride some bikes.

Hey d, I have a Trek 1500 with 105 and an Ultegra rear derailure (I'll never spell that right), and I love it.
Unless you rode Ultegra or Dura Ace exclusivley, you probably wouldnt know the difference. So don't sweat the 105, you'll pedal along just fine!
By the way, I'm halfway between tri-cities and Spokane, know of anyone else who lives out this way? I'm in Warden and need a riding partner.

105 is good.

I would suggest bringing your mountain bike shoes and pedals into the LBS and doing a few longer test rides to see what you like.

I suspect that if you end up buying a used bike, you'll just have to pick something that is available in your size.

105 is good.

I would suggest bringing your mountain bike shoes and pedals into the LBS and doing a few longer test rides to see what you like.

I suspect that if you end up buying a used bike, you'll just have to pick something that is available in your size.

I suspect that this could be the problem with buying second hand. Choices of bike that will fit you will be limited. Mind you- some bike shops will swear that the bike they have sitting on display is in your size and fits you perfectly- just because they want to shift it.

Only way to check out for size is to get on a bike and try it. And then try the next size up and down. Bit awkward with the smaller shops but what I sometimes did- in my earlier days- was to go to a larger shop where they do have the choice of bikes and sizes. You can soon tell when you have the right size this way. And again- there will be one bike that tells you that this is the one to take home. Try enough bikes and it will find you.