Next year, I should have my ass ready (metaphorically speaking. I don't give monkey about the size of my actual ass) for racing, but I'm going to buy a 'proper' racing bike for the purpose. Currently, I have a Trek 1000 (2004). Some people are instantly going to say that it's the engine that matters, not the bike. True, but with the trek 1k, I have a couple of issues.
1)In climbing, or any particular point where I 'push it', the rear chain stay vibrates. In addition, I don't feel ALL my energy is being used. It feels a bit soft.
2) Its a triple. The front chain rings are noisy and I don't need the granny gear if I was being frank.
3)There are lighter bikes out there.
So. The question is. What bike? Here the question becomes moot because a lot of people have their preferences. Some like colnago, some pinarello, some trek, some giant.. whatever, the point is Ill get a lot of recommendations, but If I was to say to you, the bottom of the range 'performance' bike as advertised by trek, what would you think?
I'd like to go trek for 2 reasons. The first is just because I know them now. But the second is that in my local shop, there's a guy who's sponsored by pinarello and they've given him a 6000 gbp bike. That's a lot of moolah, but he still recommends trek bikes.