Road Cycling - What should I look for in a new bike?

Looking at getting a new bike in a 6-8 months... $1,500 is my target price, but I could probably go up to $2,000 if its worth it.. I like to do long rides so I've been looking at steel... The two bikes I currently am taking a long look at are the Bianchi EV Boron, and Bianchi Veloce made from reynolds 631... Both come with campy, veloce, and centuar respectively.

With as many bikes out there as there are, I thought some of you may be able to give me some suggestions on other bikes/models for me to be looking at as well...

I do think I would like a steel frame though...

Well, not specific touring bikes. I just rode with some buddies of mine that are on tour from their home in Cardston, Alberta Canada to Salt Lake City, UT. One is riding a Specialized Allez Comp, the other a Specialized S-Works, and the last fellow is riding a Ceravelo.

Don't discount Al bikes. I guess it would help to know what you mean by "long" rides.

I like to do long rides so I've been looking at steel... ...

I do think I would like a steel frame though...

If you do long rides, you must not be new to cycling, which may influence the advice you receive. Answer the following so we may better answer:

How long have you been riding?
How far are your long rides?
I see you ride a Trek 2000 now. I see it has an aluminum frame and 105 components. What (if any) do you feel its limitations are?
Why is chrome-moly steel more desirable to you than, say, aluminum/carbon (many current Trek models), titanium, or other popular materials?

If you do long rides, you must not be new to cycling, which may influence the advice you receive. Answer the following so we may better answer:

How long have you been riding?
How far are your long rides?
I see you ride a Trek 2000 now. I see it has an aluminum frame and 105 components. What (if any) do you feel its limitations are?
Why is chrome-moly steel more desirable to you than, say, aluminum/carbon (many current Trek models), titanium, or other popular materials?


Two years,

100+

My back feels like its been getting hammered on all day, and I've just been told that steel gives a softer ride I guess....


I'm not looking at doing any huge tours or anything.. (yet) but I do know that after a 75+ mile ride I feel more beat up than I do tired.

If you do long rides, you must not be new to cycling, which may influence the advice you receive. Answer the following so we may better answer:

How long have you been riding?
How far are your long rides?
I see you ride a Trek 2000 now. I see it has an aluminum frame and 105 components. What (if any) do you feel its limitations are?
Why is chrome-moly steel more desirable to you than, say, aluminum/carbon (many current Trek models), titanium, or other popular materials?

Maybe he's tired of the hard aluminum of the Trek 2000. Did it ever make you wonder why so many of the low level Trek road bikes are on Ebay practically new?? I didn't make that mistake and purchased a Reynolds 631 frame and have not looked back. It's possible the roads where he cycles are full of ruts, bumps and potholes. This is reason enough to choose steel.

http://www.gvhbikes.com/

check out the first two bikes in the "special values" section.

apart from that i think you have a good sense of what you're looking for and will be okay on any steel bike in that pricerange as long as you feel good on it.

i feel banged up after my long rides too and i'm looking to upgrade to a steel bike for the same reason.

you could also afford several carbon bikes for the $2000 price, i've seen several of these on the paths where i live:
http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?LPROD_ID=25375&lsubcat_id=7618&lcat_id=7604&referpage=

Most of the newer steel bikes come with carbon forks and some of the newer ones add even more carbon in the rear triangle. Lemond has taken this one step further in their "spine design" series.

http://www.lemondbikes.com/2004_bikes/steel_carbon.shtml

These aren't inexpensive bikes but the '05's are coming and the prices on the '04 Buenos Aires and maybe the Zurich are dropping and should get into your range.

55/Rad

I agree with 55/Rad. I just picked up a 2004 LeMond Buenos Aires for $1500. The shop I bought it from had it as a demo. It had only been ridden a couple of miles at most. I am very happy with it. The only negative is all the crap everyone will give you for "putting money" into Greg's pocket after the bashing he did of Lance.

I had a price limit of $1500 a few months ago, and I was also leaning toward the Veloce and/or the Vigorelli... If you want to stay in that range, don't ride the Virata ;) I rode the Virata, and it was the sweetest ride of any bike I have been on before and since. With the '05 models coming out, maybe you can make a Virata fit into your budget. I ended up blowing my budget, and have no regrets :D

I had a price limit of $1500 a few months ago, and I was also leaning toward the Veloce and/or the Vigorelli... If you want to stay in that range, don't ride the Virata ;) I rode the Virata, and it was the sweetest ride of any bike I have been on before and since. With the '05 models coming out, maybe you can make a Virata fit into your budget. I ended up blowing my budget, and have no regrets :D


I'll check it out.

If you do long rides, you must not be new to cycling, which may influence the advice you receive. Answer the following so we may better answer:

How long have you been riding?
How far are your long rides?
I see you ride a Trek 2000 now. I see it has an aluminum frame and 105 components. What (if any) do you feel its limitations are?
Why is chrome-moly steel more desirable to you than, say, aluminum/carbon (many current Trek models), titanium, or other popular materials?

You sound quite experienced. Before you limit yourself to steel (although I am sure it's a great frame material) try out some of the new Al/Carbon bikes. You should definitely try out the latest Treks and Kleins (owned by Trek, kinda like the Lexus of Trek IMO, although maybe they are too different to make that comparison). They both have the aluminum main frame and carbon stays/fork. It's supposed to be a really soft riding result. I have nothing to compare to, but I have no prob at all with any harshness of my Klein. And there are several Treks and Kleins with that design in your price range. I have seent alotta other brands like Giant use the Al/C mix.