Which Road bicycle should I get?

Question

I am in need of a road bike for the casual race now and then, commuting, and exercise. What seams to be the best bang for the buck?

The Dawes Lightning 1500 : http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1500.htm

or

Windsor Wellington 2.0

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/wellington2.htm

The components seem to be pretty similar.

Answer 1

Neither... if you are spending 400 bucks on a bike online, don't buy new especially from bikesdirect, they are crooks. Go buy something used on ebay or something.

Now you may wonder why I say they are crooks, I say it because two weeks ago I got my bike that I ordered from bikesdirect. A Windsor Wellington 3.0. When I got it, I had it professionally tuned at my LBS. I got it in the perfect size and everything but the bike is just garbage. It looks pretty nice... but it is sooooo bad. It is just fake as can be. Buy a trek or a specialized. DON'T give these crooks more money that they don't deserve especially from people, like myself, who want to get into the sport of cycling but don't know anything.

The overused phase, "don't judge a book by its cover" relates perfectly to my experience with bikesdirect.

I am soo unhappy with my choice. I wish I could just get it back.

I was allowed to ride my roommates 400 dollar used specialized allez that he just bought on ebay, and it was amazing. I am so sad that I bought from bikesdirect.

Answer 2

Google bikes direct reviews and the reviews on the bikes them self.