I'm a beginner I've been riding a mtb for years and finally going to switch to road. I'm cite to ride the NYC 5 borough bike tour with a road bike. I'm trying to train this coming April with a road bike. I can't decide whether to purchase a Trek 1500, Trek 2100, Cannondale R700 or Specialized Allez Elite. I'm a agressive rider and I want a bike that is responsive with good components. I'm close on purchasing the Trek 2100, mainly the frame is ZR Alloy and has carbon seat stay for less vibration when riding. Before purchasing I want the experts decide on my decision........

I'm no expert, but from what I am told, you should go ahead and test ride all of these at LBS.

For what it's worth, the 2100 is the only American made frame of the bunch. Don't get me wrong - excellent stuff is coming out of Asia.

I can't speak for the C-dale or Specialized (we sell Trek's), but in my opinion, the 2100 has a noticeably nicer ride than the all-aluminum 1500-1600 with the same spec and wheels. Worth the extra bucks in my mind.

I rode the 1500 and 2100 before getting my Felt F5C full carbon for a cheaper price. You can get a really good ride with same components in the felt with full carbon instead of paying the Trek markup. I was warned away by the LBS about the carbon seat stays on an aluminum bike. They had sent back 3 bikes to Trek because the glue that bonds the seat stay into the seat tube had came undone. That changed my mind really quick on the 2100. The 1500 was a nice ride, but lower components than the ultegra that I got with the Felt. Just some observations after my turn in the market last fall.