Originally Posted by drovert

Thanks for this thread--very helpful. I've been lurking here for a while. Like others, I've been in a lather trying to decide what to buy as a first bike. I live in a remote area, so test riding bikes is not easy. I've been riding a friends steel bike since last summer--but it's way too big--so I have to get something that fits this spring. I have tried a variety of bikes--and I'm leaning towards buying something less expensive 1000-1300 and just riding it a lot. Question--online and magazine bike reviews seem targeted at a road racing audience and all say the same stuff like "stiff back end paired with shock absorbing characteristics....etc." which isn't very helpful. How firm is the ride? How much road noise is absorbed. Does any site or magazine do any quantifiable consumer-reports type testing?

Anyway, picking three bikes mentioned already, generally, what are the differences (if any) in ride characteristics between a Caad 10.5, BMC SR01 and Giant Defy 1? If I could ride them side-by-side I would, but it's really not feasible. Thanks!