Road Cycling - Buying a bike

Hi!

I'm looking for a bike that can give me decent speed but can take light abuse. I ride mostly on paved trails but also on hard packed sand/dirt trails. I really prefer a road style instead of a hybrid type. I ride abot 1500 miles a year.

I've started shopping for this criteria and have road tested a Bianchi and Fuji both with cro-moly forks. The Fuji rode great for me and had lots of versatility in gears. I'm not sure about Fuji's reputation. I know there's many choices Trek etc, but I have no idea the spectrum of quality/rep especially for what I'm looking for. Definitely thinking under a $1,000.

Thanks for any hints!

Try a specialized allez, available starting at around $750. Good quality, nice ride, and reasonable parts pick.

If you plan on riding dirt and must have a road bike, look into cyclocross bikes.

Whatever you decide on, make sure it fits! Dont let them talk you into a smaller/larger bike they're trying to get rid of. The fit will be the deciding factor in how the bike feels.

Fuji bikes have a very good reputation.
Here is another good value CX/touring/road bikehttp://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/nova02.html

I have no first hand experience, but Jamis has a couple of models that might work for you. If you get a frame that can handle, like, 700x35s for off-pavement, you can always swap them for 700x28s or whatever road use.

Have a look at Cyclocross bikes, it sounds as if this type of frame will exactly suit you needs and do consider Steel frames, they last longer, fixable ( if damaged, bent etc), better ride quality ( smoother more shock absorbing).

Ride the variety
Pat

Thanks for the advice everyone, it helped me focus on what I was looking for in a bike. I ended up buying a Fuji Touring bike. I think it will give me the toughness and versatility for which I've been looking. Thanks for the vote of

I tried a LeMond Cyclocross which I really liked for its feel but I preferred the range of gears on the Fuji.:beer:

Enjoy that Fuji!! I own two of them, and love 'em both! The old Fujis were made in Japan, and were really pretty good bikes. In '91 they (along with everyone else!) moved their production to Tiawan, and the quality suffered somewhat. Fuji has worked real hard to again produce a quality bike, and I think they have! Ride on!!

congratulations, i've got a touring bike(different brand), very stable on rough potholed pavement and dirt, 700X35 conti, they do a lot of varied terrain very well.