Originally Posted by
lesdunham
This is my vote for best value and fits your price range.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...e/sprint_x.htm
Probably a 54 or 56 cm frame, but I would go to a bike shop and see what size frame on average fits best. If you are on the border between sizes go with the smaller of the 2 candidates.
I have the 6600 drive train on my Moto IF (3 years old w/10k miles now) and it is excellent. On this Sprint with alu. frame and carbon stays it will do you well for rides, racing, or whatever. Sometimes people change out the seat and maybe wheels for better quality eventually.
I would not recommend a bikesdirect bike for a new rider. They require some assembly, the cables need to be adjusted, the brifters are usually too high on the bars and the rider has no idea how to fit them self on the bike. After taking it in to a shop and going through all of that, it isn't much of a value. Not to mention bike shops HATE working on bikesdirect bikes.