Please help me decide, first road bike...

[spyre]

So I'm looking around at options and have decided to pick between three bikes.

First option (most likely at this point) 2011 Fuji Roubaix 3.0 which is on sale at Performance for $599. Full sora setup.
http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...+3.0&Type=bike

Second option: Raleigh Revenio 2.0, on sale at LBS for $699. All sora as well, but has a carbon seat tube as well.
http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/revenio-2-0-12/

Third: 2011 Fuji Roubaix 2.0 which is very similar to the 3.0 but has full Tiagra gruppo. On sale for $849.
http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...+2.0&Type=bike


All of them feel pretty good. I think the Fuji 3.0 wins over the Revenio. I guess I'd like some insight on if it's worth the extra $250 for the Tiagra setup. I've been doing ~100 miles a week on a single speed cruiser which is getting old fast. I do still need to get all the extras for the bike too so the $849 is more than I really wanted to spend right now, but on the other hand I want to be smart about the purchase and not be wasting money. I also have to buy a somewhat similar setup for my wife in the next couple weeks too so all the costs instantly double basically.

Is the frame on the 2.0 worth enough that I'm not going to ride it for a few months and just want to sell and get a carbon framed bike? If the rest is super solid then the $250 now for the tiagra seems decent. If you guys think the bike overall in 2.0 or 3.0 format is still going to leave me wanting after I get more into it then I'm thinking perhaps I should save the $250 now to minimize losses selling it down the line and then when upgrade time comes I can look to a carbon/tiagra or 105's. I haven't really rode with either setup enough to know. It seems people with sora's are mostly happy enough with them which makes me think it'll be fine to get more into the sport with till I have a chance to ride for a while and get some more first hand education on what I like and don't like in a bike. I do plan on riding a pretty fair amount and with the perfect weather here I have ample opportunity.

So if you guys were in my shoes what would you do? Thanks!

[NRZ]

I would say the Fuji 2.0. One advantage with the Tiagra is the 10 spd, which would make upgrading easier down the road should you want too. Also, I would really surprised if the Raleigh had a full carbon post on such a lower end bike, it's more then likely a carbon wrapped alloy seatpost much like my Cannondale's post.

[TrojanHorse]

If you want to minimize losses find a used bike on craigs list that fits you and go with that. Loads of people buy entry level road bikes and never really use them.

[spyre]

I've been looking at craigslist for a couple weeks now and haven't really seen much. A 59 would be ideal but a 58 works fine too. There have been a few that were super interesting only to call and find out they are smaller frames. There just don't seem to be that many popping up that are the right size/price combo. Most I've seen in my size are all old old steel vintage stuff.

Also, it looks like the spec list on there may be wrong and showing the 2012 info, as I think the 2011 Tiagra is only a 9 speed. If it's a 9 speed Tiagra should that make it less desirable to me to bother with now?

[joe_5700]

Spyre, if you are going to buy new, the cheapest option may be your best. Whatever bike you buy, it is only going to help you select the bike that you want down the road. Trust me, no matter which one you select, you are going to be looking forward to the next one very soon. I have a bike that came with 2200 shifters, FR and Sora RD. I have ridden it for thousands and thousands of miles and it is just as functional as my 105 and Tiagra bikes. It also receives all of my rain miles along with my CAADx. I would go with the 2011 Fuji Roubaix 3.0. It can also become your rain/winter bike down the road.

[nickp08]

i had a similar dilemma... i hated the Sora shifters though so i was looking for something with better shifters. one of the Sora bikes I was testing (Felt Z100) had nice shifters (Microshift) but i ended up getting a great price on a full Tiagra equipped bike at a pretty comparable price to the Sora bikes i was looking at, so it was a no brainer.

[KoolAidnPizza]

Roubaix 2.0- because it has tiagra instead of sora. I found tiagra shifters to feel much more connected than sora. I don't like that you can't shift up from the drops in a sora equipped bike. Going with the 2.0 will be a better choice in my opinion

[pgjackson]

THose are all fine bikes. My best advice is to not buy a triple. You will regret it after about 3 months. Get a compact.

[SlimRider]

Welcome To Bike Forums, Spyre!

I'd say, change your bicycle choices altogether. Upgrade to Tiagra, as opposed to Sora, and get two Schwinn Letour Sport bicycles. Since you'll be buying two instead of one, because of your wife, save cash by buying online from bikesdirect.com.


The Schwinn Letour Sport ~ $600
www.bikesdirect.com/products/schwinn/schwinn_letour_sport_xi.htm


For help with assembly, just watch the following video as many times, as needed:
www.bikesdirect.com/instructionhelp.htm

* The bike arrives 95% assembled already!

[spyre]

Slim, that looks like I still have the sorta shifters and front derailleur. For the same price as the Fuji I think I'd rather just go LBS and get it for the same price and get lifetime fittings and adjustments and a couple tune ups. Also, it seems everyone here and everyone at ever LBS i've been to have all said skip getting a triple up front and stick with a compact (which all 3 of the bikes above have).

That said, I was looking at a number of BD bikes that do come with full Tiagra (and a 105 on the rear!) for the same price.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt2300_x.htm

Ok, so here is the question, do i get that or the sora Fuji? With the fuji for the same price I get 10% back in points (at Performance) and 2 fittings and a tune up for free. My good LBS by my house will do the assembly of the internet bikes for 30 bucks and is pretty darn cheap for any other maintenance ongoing. I just don't know anything about Dawes but the components there sure seem pretty great.

[spyre]

So the Dawes for 599 above is sold out, they do have the 2012 though for 799 which has the new 10spd tiagra cassette included. I'm torn on the much better shimano vs the better(ish?) name of the Fuji.