I've pretty much got it narrowed down to these two.

I'm not really planning on doing tris, but duathlons, and a few long (180-200 mile day) events a year, along with other recreational riding. I bike commute and do weekend riding on a hybrid right now, and plan to stick with the hybrid for the commuting for the most part. Oh, yeah, and I run a marathon or two and about a half dozen 1/2 marathons a year also...

Anyway...

These are the bikes I'm looking at:

Novara Squadra (http://www.rei.com/product/763768)

Novara Strada (http://www.rei.com/product/760863)

One carbon fiber, the other aluminum.

I'm really torn between these two.

I can get either of them for 20% off next spring.

Let's hear it...

If you've got the cash, go with the carbon fiber.

If this is going to be for Tri's why a compact and not a standard double?

Get the Alu, use the money saved to buy some better wheels.

Get the Alu, use the money saved to buy some better wheels.

Good point.