Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Greetings and some bike buying advice

Just found this forum and have been reading voraciously. Here's the story:

I'm 33, 6'1", 296#.

Started riding last summer (after not having been on a bike since college), got up to the point where I could do about 18 miles at a stretch on my old hybrid bike (circa 1995 Gary Fisher Marlin), but pretty much stopped for the winter. Want to get back at it a bit more intensively, and am looking to move to more of a road bike.

I've read a lot of the threads here, so I have the beginnings of a clue, but wanted some concrete advice. Went to the LBS today, spoke to one of the reps, and he suggested the following 3 models:

Raleigh Revenio 2.0 (http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/revenio-20-11/) ($850, an "entry road bike" as the salesman called it)
Raleigh Revenio 3.0 (http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/revenio-30-11/)($1200, basically the same bike but with better components, according to the guy)
Specialized Secteur Elite Apex (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52882&scid=1001&scname=Road)($1400 - this is the bike the guy thought was the best option for me)

Any thoughts on these bikes? I asked him about steel frames (as they seem to be more highly recommended for heavy riders), but he said that they only carry one steel road bike, and in his opinion the idea that steel is better for heavy riders is 15 years out of date. I also asked him about whether he though hand-built wheels were a better option, and he seemed to think that the stock wheels (especially on the Specialized - Mavic CXP22 rims) would be more than adequate.

All of the prices are within my alloted budget, though the Specialized is pushing it a bit - but I'd rather not be in a situation where 2-3 years from now I realize I need "more" bike...

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Juliean.


PS: wrong model (and link on the spec) - fixed it now.

Get the 3.0. 105 is good stuff.

The Revenio 3.0 is on my not-so-short list (currently 8 bikes long). In my market, the bigger of the shops that sell the Raleighs price them at about $1100, putting them a good $150-$200 less than all the competition, and with a complete 105 group where many substitute Tektro brakes. It sure looks like an unbeatable value. As soon as they get some more in the shop that are my size, I'm going to test ride one. Maybe this weekend. Not sure how I feel about its rather, um, distinctive appearance, though.

I've decided that even though my budget is tight, it needs to stretch to the point where I can get 105 components. My last road bike had 600 stuff (the precursor to Ultegra), but it's 20+ years old, so I figure stepping down one level to the current 105 may actually still be an improvement for me. Going lower than that, I'm afraid, might not be.

Well, the answer turned out to be "none of the above". After going around several local stores, one had a used Bianchi on consignment - for less than a quarter of what I expected to spend, I now have a bike that I'm happier with than any of the new ones I looked at.

I'm not sure of the year (dealer thinks mid-2000s), but it's a Bianchi San Remo, steel frame (and fork), Campagnolo components (except the brakes - those are some sort of Shimano cantilever brakes, not sure what model), Mavic rims.

A friend (who is a very experienced rider and mechanic) looked at it, and he thinks the bike probably has less than 50 miles on it, there was zero wear, the wheels were perfectly true, etc.

Bike rides great, and I'm looking forward to putting some miles on it.

I'd ride your new bike a couple hundred miles then take the wheels in and have them re-tensioned (not trued). You should have a great, reliable bike. ;)

Ahhh, a classic steel bike. Fantastic choice indeed. Looks like it is in great condition... enjoy!

Well, the answer turned out to be "none of the above". After going around several local stores, one had a used Bianchi on consignment - for less than a quarter of what I expected to spend, I now have a bike that I'm happier with than any of the new ones I looked at.
Good deal. The Secteur Elite is an outstanding bike, but the Mavic CXP22 wheels aren't very Clyde friendly.