I am going to be test riding a few bikes this weekend, and would like some advice on what to look for. Have never owned a road bike, was a runner for 25 plus years and my knees insist that I switch to riding.

I will be looking at bikes in the $1,000 to $1,200 range which at this point includes the Trek 1500 and Specialized Allez Elite, both with full 105 gear.

What are some things to be looking for when comparing bikes? At this point I have read many posts on this site and understand that two bikes of identical size can feel completely different. I'm not sure why, but I'll take it on faith for now. But what exactly will be different?

My intent is to eventually ride 150 to 170 miles/week and do some longer century-type rides every few weeks during the riding season. Maybe eventually participate in longer road races.

Thanks for any suggestions. I know that I may not notice much difference in a 10 mile ride unless I know what I'm looking for.

Cheers

I think both bikes you have mentioned are great bikes. Take each bike for a longer than around the parking lot ride. Your shop should allow you to do this. Think about how the bike feels in terms of its handling, acceleration, and comfort. Make certain both bikes are the same size, have the same saddle position and tire pressure before riding them. You may also want to measure the distance from the saddle to the handle bars to see it they are set up the same. It's all about the frame. Everything else sounds like its the same. Remember, you can always change components. If you want my opinion, I'd go for the Trek 1500. I like the geometry of that bike better (never cared for compact frames)

Focus on getting a good fit. This includes:

1. getting the right size for your body dimensions (sizing does vary from brand to brand and model to model)
2. top tube length is just as important as seat tube length (nominal frame size)
3. look at bikes with different geometries as well; some people prefer the more upright comfort-oriented bikes like the Specialized Roubaix or Trek Pilot. The bikes you mentioned have more aggressive geometries that are less comfortable at slower speeds.

You may notice some differences in handling and acceleration between bikes. A lot of this depends on how well the bike fits you. Bikes with shorter wheelbases will tend to handle more quickly. Bikes with longer wheelbases will tend to be absorb more road shock on long rides over uneven terrain.