I was in a bad racing crash, which left my 2003 Trek 5500 literally in pieces and me with three broken vertebrae.
I loved that bike, the DA-7700 was a great gruppo, But it doesn't seem cost effective to get Calfee to repair it. Calfee quoted me roughly $1k, but thats without shipping and my LBS Mechanic's time to take the thing apart all the way, then put it back together.
I'm not going to race on the next bike, if i do race again, i'm going to use my dad's bike that he's scared of riding, or buy a moto Ti with rival from Bikesdirect as a racer.
on to the new bike, I'm currently considering this list of bikes:
Kestrel Evoke, Sram Red Build from bikes direct (~2700 but meh, red is nice but not necessary)
2010 Trek Madone 5.2, Traditional Gearing (yay!) Made in the US (yay!) 12 trek logos are a bit much though, and the only internally routed cable is the brake cable.
2011 Trek Madone 5.2, I was thinking about the alternate paint scheme of red/black, but the all black is pretty snazzy too. I love the internal cable routing, But its only available with compact gearing (totally unnecessary on Long Island)
the 5.1 and 5.5 are both an idea because of the rival/force builds but i think that both of the paint schemes are ugly as sin. and I dont want to ride a silver/white bike or a creamsicle either.
I was also considering the LOOK 566 Rival Build from Real Cyclist, although, I think I've been spoiled by my DA and will want to swap out for force as time goes on.
I also just found out that I got a scholarship to do study abroad this january in Europe (Rotterdam) for free. That will give me easy access to Bike shops in Britain, France and Italy, where I won't have to pay tax, and I could just take the bike home on the plane in a box disassembled. (if i buy a bike in europe i'm going to ride up col du madone, or im going to rent a road bike and do it, either way im doing that ride)
Anybody know if its a good idea to buy an Italian/French bike in Italy or France vs. Buying it here, I haven't left the US since 1996, so I have no clue.
My old Trek was metallic red, and gave me 7 great years of service. all my kit is black/red, and I think I look good in red, so I like red on my bike.