Road Cycling - What Frame to Get?

I am a college freshman thinking about turning semi-pro and upgrading to a new bike, but needless to say, money is TIGHT. I need a road frame thats cheap, versitile and race worthy. I want to stay away from mixed material frames. Also I use a very fast cadence (105rpm), and want to try to work that into my advatage. I can spend about 1000-1300 on the whole bike. Any recomendations?

I would get something with Shimano 105 at that price. Shimano 105 is what is called "entry level racing" and is a very good, relatively economical component set. Now at that price point, you will not get one of the fancier frames out there but I have yet to see a bike at that price that had a frame that wasn't good and functional.

What type of frame do you have now? What do you like about it? What have you learned about other frame materials that interests you to want to learn more? Would you buy a car based on a stranger's recommendation without telling him more about what you THINK you want?

Here's a stab - based on your age and aspirations, I'd say go for an aluminum frame. Maybe a Cannondale or a Felt or a Trek or a Douglas or an Iron Horse or.....

Good luck in college.

55/Rad

I am a college freshman thinking about turning semi-pro and upgrading to a new bike, but needless to say, money is TIGHT. I need a road frame thats cheap, versitile and race worthy. I want to stay away from mixed material frames. Also I use a very fast cadence (105rpm), and want to try to work that into my advatage. I can spend about 1000-1300 on the whole bike. Any recomendations?

How exactly are you planning to turn "semi-pro"? What cat do you race now? Don't you think the team that picks you up will get you a bike if you're really good enough to go "semi-pro"?

I have an aluminum now and its lasted great, plus it gives me an advantage in the hills but I dont like the compact geometry. I was a velodrome racer for a while, and have come to appreciate race geometry and responsive steel frames. I just havent got the same feeling out of an aluminum bike. How many people today are racing on cro-moly? And am i crazy to even consiter doing it?

I have an aluminum now and its lasted great, plus it gives me an advantage in the hills but I dont like the compact geometry. I was a velodrome racer for a while, and have come to appreciate race geometry and responsive steel frames. I just havent got the same feeling out of an aluminum bike. How many people today are racing on cro-moly? And am i crazy to even consiter doing it?

The new thing is Aluminum tubes with carbon stays and forks...I have one of those now and it makes a huge difference...all the stiffness and snappy feel of oversized aluminum with the smooth ride (almost as sweet) as steel....I dare say. And you can get a killer frame with serious Campy stuff at the price range you are looking at.
Z

How exactly are you planning to turn "semi-pro"? What cat do you race now? Don't you think the team that picks you up will get you a bike if you're really good enough to go "semi-pro"?

No kidding. if you are semi pro, you should have sponsors (or be given a team bike), hell, I even have sponsors I can go through to get cheap deals an I am cat4.
If you are an average age of college freshman (~19) you should have team offers coming at you from every direction if you are supposedly as strong as you claim.

Where do you live?