Road Cycling - Looking for my First Road Bike

I am not fond of the term "entry-level", but that is what I am looking to buy. Now that I have finally settled back in the US from Japan (a long and arduous three-month process), I have decided that I have enough space to have another ride.

My goal is to buy something that is not too expensive, but since I would like to upgrade the bike myself, having a good frame on which to build is key. Given my goal to upgrade as I become more familiar with the bike, I do not desire anything except the most inexpensive components for now.

That said- through reading online and talking with a couple local shops, I have settled on getting one of these three:

Trek 1000, Giant OCR3, Cannondale R400

Trek is the lowest priced.
Cannondale seems to have the nicest frame.
Giant seems right in the middle.

Generally, I would gravitate to the middle-ground (in this case Giant), but since a nice frame is what I really want, I am leaning towards getting the Cannondale.

I plan to ride all three before I make a final decision, but I was wondering if there were any opinions on these. Or if there are any others that I should include in my search.

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

- J

Have you ridden much on road bikes in the past? What is your budget? Will you ride on long 3 hour+ plus rides? Are you a bantam weight or a Clydesdale? Want to race? How flexible are your muscles? Have you had any lower back problems? Your answers to these and many other questions will affect how well you will get along with your new bike! Upgrading your frame is a poor option unless it is the right size, geometry, and road feel for you.I would consider expanding my search beyond the choices you have mentioned, looking into steel and perhaps other frame materials depending on your budget. Just my opinion, but I believe a lot of novices have been misdirected toward super-stiff aluminum crit bikes, and have quickly lost their enthusiasm as a result.

I have a Trek 1000.....its a good starter bike ive been told, and so far so good...its very nice for what im doing, which is mostly bike paths and rides for exersise

Have you ridden much on road bikes in the past? What is your budget? Will you ride on long 3 hour+ plus rides? Are you a bantam weight or a Clydesdale? Want to race? How flexible are your muscles? Have you had any lower back problems? Your answers to these and many other questions will affect how well you will get along with your new bike! Upgrading your frame is a poor option unless it is the right size, geometry, and road feel for you.I would consider expanding my search beyond the choices you have mentioned, looking into steel and perhaps other frame materials depending on your budget. Just my opinion, but I believe a lot of novices have been misdirected toward super-stiff aluminum crit bikes, and have quickly lost their enthusiasm as a result.

Hmmm... lots of interesting questions. Answering to the best of ability.

Not much riding on Road Bikes (it is my first, after all).
$500-$800 is about my budget. Don't want to buy a really expensive bike only to discover I don't like it. I would rather buy a cheap one and find out I don't like it. :D
Yes. I intend to ride 3+ hours at times. I have made such rides on my trusty Hard Rock with few ill effects (except lower stress, better health, and occassionally some fun).
I think I am about average for my height, but I will not get into too much detail since someone would be bound turn this thread into one about training and nutrition. Let's just say I'm about 5'10" and 73 kgs.
No racing. That requires real work and real training. Cycling for me is all about the ride and getting outdoors. I will leave the truly serious riding to the truly serious.
I am not as flexible as I used to be, but I can still touch my toes.
Never had any lower back problems, but I am sure there is a first time for everything.


In general, my budget is a limiting factor so I have opted for what I can afford. I would love to get a nice steel frame that fits perfectly, but that is something that I will not understand until I have put many miles on the bike. I figure after riding something for a while, I can try others and decide at that time if I want to make the additional investment.

I also prefer to upgrade on my own for two reasons: I like working on my bike as much as I like riding it; I get to know each part intimately and how it affects my ride so I can appreciate each and be more knowledgeable about my bike as a whole.

I suppose if I had unlimited funds, I would take a similar approach. Only my purchasing cycle would be much shorter. :)

- J

My first bike was the Giant OCR 3. It was an awesome started bike for me. I upgraded the components on it and rode it for 2 years before getting my TCR. I would definitely say the OCR 3!!!

It's at the top of your price range, but you might want to check out the Specialized Sequoia. Several people in my club have them, and love them. The stem can be adjusted for your comfort. It has two sets of brake levers, and both work equally well.
I have a 2002 Trek 1000, and it's a very good bike.