Cyclocross - of these two bikes what would be the better deal?

http://www3.cannondale.com/bikes/10/cusa/model-0XR6C_0XR6T.html

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/cyclocross/2010-conquest

The cannondale is $1179 and the redline is cheaper I think.

I dont see if the cannondale is a 9 speed or 10 speed. I dont get what sora,tiagra or 105 is. I dont get what different parts of the bike are, they say either sora,105 or tiagra so I dont know which one matters.

The cannondale is 9 speed, but the shifters it shows do not look like sora as listed. Sora does not have the secondary lever behind the brake lever?

Sora, tiagra, and 105 are component groups. Sora is lowest, tiagras in the middle, and 105 is the best of the three. Best performance, lighter, nicer finish.

Red line is a better bike.

I think I will go with redline since I only have a $1000 if I dont get any more money, but I dont know if the redline has rack braze ons.

I would look at the Kona Jake. Negotiate it down to $1200 and you have a great value.

sure looks like the Redline is the better value of the two. What are you planning on doing with the bike? As pharding said, the Kona is a nice ride as well. I think this will be my next bike.

Commuting and some racing.

Having owned variants of both bikes, you really cannot go wrong with either frame.

However, the Redline does generally hang better components on their bikes as compared to Cannondale at the same price points.