ruk

I've been riding single speed for a few years now. I currently have a Bianchi San Jose and love it. I've gone on 50+ mile rides without any issues but want to start riding longer distances and need something with gears.

My budget for my first bike is $1500. I'm considering the Binachi Impulso Tiagra or 105.

https://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/roa...mpulso-tiagra/
https://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/roa...g/impulso-105/

Don't know much about road bikes, so any suggestions are appreciated.

12strings

If you can afford the 105, that will give you a solid proven 11 speed groupset, with the added benefit of the ability to swap out any upgraded Ultegra parts later on, as well as some Sram cassettes and stuff like that. Tiagra is 10 speed, and so not compatible with much else.

Looks like a great first road bike.

That said, the new tiagra has good reviews, and has a much nicer feel on the shifters than the previous generation. I was impressed when I test rode a tiagra bike recently.

Hiro11

$1,500 is the perfect price point for a first road bike.

The usual suspects:
Specialized Allez DSW SL Comp - mikesbikes.com
https://www.rei.com/product/892480/c...-105-bike-2016
Trek Emonda ALR 5 - Trek Bicycle Superstore

The Trek has a very slightly nicer build so it costs a little more, the Emonda ALR is a very nice frame as well. The Cannondale's a great deal on likely the best alloy road frame on the market. I like the looks of the Specialized the best and the Specialized frame is also really nice.

interungulate

A CAAD10/12 or Specialized Allez would probably be the most bang for your buck. If you want to stick to Bianchi, the 105 model looks fairly good, but I've heard the low-end quality for Bianchi is not nearly what it once was. A local bike shop will probably be able to cut you a little bit of a deal to get you under 1500 for any of those bikes.
But I'm always a CAAD10 advocate, for what it's worth.

McBTC

You don't need to pay more than $1500 for a new 105-equipped alloy road bike.

sced

5 star reviews, < $1500 w/ current 25% discount, mostly Ultegra, full carbon https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7#ReviewHeader

all Ultegra w/ carbon frame https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cf-pro-xiv.htm

pavsci2003

did i miss what this was in reference to?

ALR5 right now is well under $1500 (until end of may). Best bang for the buck and full shimano 105...no compromises on cranks and brakes.

bikernew

If cool with light weight aluminum buy a leftover Caad 10 105. If you can find local shop with one may be able to get a good deal. You didn't specify, but did you want an endurance/more relaxed position or aggressive/race setup OK?

bykemike 

Go second hand and you can get totally top shelf for that and less, take a friend that knows bikes with you if you don't feel comfortable to make that judgement.

1500 in the used market you are talking seriously nice stuff here. Many bicycles get ridden very little as well. Both of my current rides were purchased new by the guys I bought them from and , after sweating in the Florida sun for a couple of rides, realized biking wasn't for them.

My all carbon 105 Tarmac: $700 ish, My F4:13 Pinarello, all Sram Red, with Mavic SLR wheels about $1300.

Wileyrat

Between the two you posted, I'd take the 105 bike. I'd rather have 105 over Tiagra, and I'm a sucker for Celeste green.

Ive ridden one of these and thought it was very nice (and I don't usually like aluminum frames).

Ridley Fenix AL Shimano 105 Road Bike -- 2016 Performance Exclusive

Vexxer

What is your flexibility like? Do you have back issues? Road bikes come in two main forms, Race, and Endurance. Race, you are more bent over (aero), Endurance, you are more upright, better for people with back or flexibility issues, or people that just want comfort. If you are not sure which you want, the Fenix Wileyrat posted above may be a great choice. I test road one a couple days ago. It was kinda in between the two, not quite a race bike, but not quite as upright as an endurance bike either.

dim

get a new good carbon frame and fork:

Planet X Pro Carbon Road Frameset | Planet X



with the remaining money of your budget, buy a used roadbike with a good groupset (shimano 105 or better) and which has good wheels .... get a decent saddle and good tyres/cables and you should have a very good bike for your budget

I'm seriously thinking of the planet x frame ... it only costs £299 (approx $430) and gets very good reviews ....

American Euchre

The nashbar has a lighter frame (carbon), better component group (6800 vs 5800), and is lighter overall (probably around 16 lbs. or under vs 19/20 lbs for the bianchi 105). The nashbar does not compromise on the cranks: 6800 cranks are spec'ed. The nashbar does not spec 6800 brakes, but those can be upgraded for around $100).

Also, the nashbar costs far less with their semi-frequent 25% off deal: only $1350 for near full ultegra, carbon frame, 16 lbs. bike. That's one heck of a deal.

The specialized roubaix with comparable spec is $2500 list vs. $1800 list.

Joeyseven

What have you test rode so far? Have you ridden A few aluminum bikes?

Nothing wrong with aluminum.I own A few alum bicycles.For around $1500 you can buy or build A very nice road bicycle.
My single speed is steel and my newest road bike is Carbon.
Really a lot of great bikes available for around 1500.

12strings

[QUOTE=Wileyrat;18741743 I'd rather have 105 over Tiagra, and I'm a sucker for Celeste green.[/QUOTE]

The color is really the most important thing. If you get the Celeste green, people will know it's a Bianchi even before they're close enough to read the labels!

ruk

So it would be impossible to swap out the Tiagra components for Ultegra later on the Tiagra bianchi? I've seen online others have swamped them out for 105.

PepeM

That should be possible. Might require a new wheelset.

ruk

I would prefer an endurance/more relaxed position.

bikernew

You should be able to get a hell of a nice bike for $1500. S1 else above suggested buying secondhand, which I tend to agree with. Have you checked CL in your area? Are you even OK with that, or did you feel you HAVE to buy new?
I picked up both my bikes cheap and in like new condition, traveling just about an hour or so to purchase.

ruk

I am open to buying used. I have searched CL in my town, but mostly for Bianchis. I'll search for others now that I have some suggestions.

bikernew

Yes, you can get a nice CARBON endurance 105 bike for that money. Last fall when I started looking, I found a carbon Synapse 5 105 in CT for $1000 bucks and it had less than 200 miles on it! A month ago I passed up a 4 year old but BRAND new carbon Jamis Xenith with Full Ultegra set for same price.

bikernew

Also, have you tried any of your LBSs to see if they may have a good deal on a new leftover unit? On occasion Ive seen places that had bikes they just wanted off their floor for roughly 30% off retail

Being this IS your first road bike, I would still suggest looking on CL. Some others you may wish to consider:
Specialized Roubaix
Giant Defy
Cannondale Synapse
? Jamis Ventura Race 20lb Aluminum Tiagra which lists for $959, but the color shown on website is ugly if you ask me

12strings

NO, you can certainly switch out the entire drivetrain...but what you can't do with Tiagra is JUST switch out the cassette, rear derailleur, or front derrailleur, etc... but if you are starting with Shimano 105, you can switch out individual pieces with Ultegra/dura-ace, Sram Force Cassettes, etc...since they are all set up for 11 speeds.

MZilliox

This, if you have a head on you and some minor ability to wrench, there is no reason to buy a new bike. You get so much more for your money going used. 1500 would get you a solid frame with campy 10speed or dura ace 10 speed no problems.

are you partial to plastic, or have you considered steel? there are so many serotta atlantas and CSIs for between 1200 and 1500, i don't think any modern bike in the price range will serve you as well. My main roadie is still a 1999 Atlanta with modern wheels and campy record 10 speed, and its been a while since ive been dropped from the group.

02Giant 

I think you should be looking at 2015 closeouts, get a $2500-$3000 bike for $1500, or a $3400 bike for $1700 and a warranty.

Ridley Fenix Carbon Ultegra Complete Road Bike - 2015 | Competitive Cyclist