I have another thread out there for upgrading or replacing my Trek 7300 - (e.g., making it a lighter commuter bike, while buying a 'real' road bike for weekend and longer rides).
The bike shouldn't beat me up. I suffered a fractured L2 in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago, and have two rods/4 screws holding me together.
That being said, I'm in pretty reasonable shape (considering). I'm 45, and have gotten my weight down from 240 to 197. I still need to get about 17 more off to feel like I'm "done."
I'm not looking for a "comfort" bike. I've got one. It's damn slow - although I've gotten a lot faster on it. My commute ride (one way) has gone from an average speed of 13.2 mph to 16. (I can top 30MPH on several of the downhill sections). The only people who pass me on the W&OD trail are all on road bikes. The Trek has been a great bike, and I'm grateful for its forgiving ride while I got better. When I started riding again, it was perfect for me, but it's time to look for something with a bit more performance.
I've been putting about 75-100 miles a week on my 7300 between 2-3 rides. I commute once or twice a week (43 mile round trip), and do a 30-50 mile ride on the weekend. The more I'm reading, the more I think that I'm beating myself up unnecessarily by trying to push this bike that far. So, I'm convinced I need a decent road bike, but I'm trying to narrow down my choices....
Here's my checklist of things I'm looking for:
1) The bike has got to be lighter than my 7300 (pretty easy to do).
2) I'm looking for better speed and handling, but I'm not looking for a TT bike.
3) I don't plan to race at all.
4) The bike should be comfortable enough to do a century, but I'm not looking for a "comfort" bike. (see above).
5) Shimano 105 or better for compnents. Ultegra would be nice, but not a requirement.
6) "Twitchy" should not be a description of this bike.
7) While my normal rides aren't that tough (other than distance), the bike should be able to climb and descend well.
8) This bike will commute and do long weekend rides, but I'm not looking for a fully loaded touring bike.
9) This bike should be able to ride fast and long, but I'm not looking to sprint. I enjoy catching up to riders as much as the next guy, but I'm not out to race anyone.
10) Technology is good, but durability is better. I don't want the latest frame made from carbon or 'unobtanium' only to have it self-destruct spectacularly while descending a hill towards a busy intersection...
Anyway, that's the story. Bikes I've looked at that could be possibilities are:
Trek Pilot 2.1, Cannondale Synapse, K2 Mod 3.0, Trek 1500-2100, Giant OCR/TCR
Should I be looking for a "relaxed" geometry? Will that feel great initially, only to disappoint as I get to be a better rider? Any advice would be welcome.