That sexy sexy Cervelo Soloist is looking good, but I’m looking for Ultegra components, not 105. Too bad the higher-end version is $2400, otherwise I’d be all over that bike like Mr. Tibbs on a P3.
So what are some good road bikes in that price range? Would it be cheaper to buy a frame then buy a component package?
Trek 2200
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The one that fits you best. 
I like tom’s answer
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I believe you can pick up a Giant TCR with Ultegra for under 2G’s.
I’ll also give thumbs up to a Giant TCR-1 with Ultegra for the price you are quoting. Also have you considerd a second hand Soloist?
Assuming the bike fits, have you looked at a Trek 5200? I got my 2002 with ultegra for $1999 plus $550 for a trade in at the end of the season. So for $1450, I couldn’t go wrong. I have put about 6000 miles on it and have to say that it is one of my best investments. Maybe check out R&A Cycles of New York. Depending on what size you need, you might be able to find a new older model in their closeout section.
You should check out the Lemond Zurich. Last year’s model was all 853 steel with full Ultegra, this year’s is partial carbon with full Ultegra. The bike’s spec is completed with Bontrager wheels, bars, etc.
If you can find a 2003 model in full 853 steel, you’d probably get a great deal on a full ultegra bike.
I got my Buenos Aires(853/521 steel mix) two years ago for under $1500 with full Ultegra. It was a great deal. Because of the new partial carbon frame, the Buenos Aires is now Ultegra/105 mix. I guess Trek forgot that people were buying the Lemonds because they were steel bikes with good gruppos.
Have fun picking out your new bike!
what size are you looking for, and would you consider going used? i’ve got a 55cm team saturn lemond victoire frameset on ebay right now. fits more like a 56 or even 57, depending on your geom. needs.
sorry for the shameless plug, but even if it wouldn’t fit you, i’d still say check evil-bay.
ross
Cervelo Prodigy?
I’m betting your reasonbly young. If you drop 2k on a bike now, come 'round college (or a crash), you are going to hate yourself.
You’ll be served fine with 105, but if you must, get ultegra shifters and rear der., 105 everything else. You could also get Campy Veloce 9speed everything, and that will cost about the same, work with 9 speed shimano, and is a better groupo, assuming you buy a frame.
I’d get a cannondale caad 5 (caad4 if you can find a new one), they can be had for 'round 400 bucks, and are of world champ quality.
If a Cervelo is the thing for you the SuperProdigy is a great bike.
Felt F35 is about $2000, has Dura Ace STI, front and rear derailleurs, FSA carbon pro cranks, Velomax wheels…
The Giant TCR1 is a great bike, if you can find one. They are sold out for the year already. Giant is not filling NEW orders according to James, their inside sales guy.
Perhaps Jamis and KHS deserve a look if you are shopping components.
-SD
I’m not sure if you want a dedicated road bike or something you might wany to use for tri’s as well. I was in the latter category when I got my bike, a Trek 2300 w/ Ultegra. While it’s a great bike, knowing what I know now I would have looked a lot harder at a Soloist, even with 105.
ritchey road logic if you can find one. thassit.
gunnar roadie built nice to price.
i’ll agree with super-d that the superprodigy is cool,too.
Kestrel Talon, $1899 for full ultegra at www.bicycledoctor.net. You have to e-mail them or call them for this price.
I agree that the best advice so far was “the one that fits you best.” No sense in riding something for sex-appeal if you’re just going to end up with back problems or other poor-fit injuries. That said, I’d recommend that you take a look at the trek 5000 model for this year as well as 2x00 models. The 5000 is a 105/ultegra mix with the same oclv 120 frame used in the 5200 and 5500. At $2k, you should have a pretty good selection of manufacturers to choose between. Take them for some test rides and see what you like best. I was looking at a really awesome deal on Klein had my heart set on it until I took it for a ride. I was too stretched on it and the handling was way too twitchy for me. Then I got on a Trek 5200 which I was biased against because “everyone has one” and ended up absolutely loving it. After test-riding lots of other bikes (orbea, cervelo, specialized, QR, klein), in the end, I became one of the “everyone” because I kept going back to the one that felt the best to me. Good luck and have fun picking one out!
I got my bike, a Trek 2300 w/ Ultegra. While it’s a great bike, knowing what I know now I would have looked a lot harder at a Soloist, even with 105.
What do you mean? I got my Trek 2300 for $1950. So far I love it. Can I look forward to problems or do you think the Soloist is simply a better bike?
I’ve had a really hard time with twitchiness using clip-on aerobars. Part (most?) of the problem is my own newbie-ness but I remember someone (Tom D maybe) saying that Trek road bikes are hard to control when using clip-on aerobars. It was bad enough that I raced in the drops since I was worried about bailing and taking out other riders. I’m hoping that after a good fitting and some more miles on the road that will improve.
I like the idea of the Soloist due to its aero tubing and adjustable geometry but have no personal experience with one.
jhc
That’s interesting. I’m getting fit for a pair of clip-ons within a week or two. I’ve never ridden with aeros before so I’ll see how it goes. The dealer I bought the bike from wouldn’t put clip-ons on right away. He told me to get a few hundred miles under my belt then come back. Maybe that was a smart move.
Probably was a smart move… not to mention getting professionally fit. I did neither and probably paid the price for it.