Just wanted to drop a note, new IBEX models are due out in about 10-days (June 25th). These include our new Aprisa 4500 and 5600. These are both built on a new frame based on the design of our long running Aprisa Team frame, but without the carbon bits. The 4500 has Shimano's new Tiagra drivetrain, which is really quite nice. I'd say it easily matches up to older 9-speed 105, but at a lower price. The newer 10-speed 105 is on the Aprisa 5600 and performs beautifully.

While the cost of pushing the envelope has constantly been going up and up, in the mid-range I think you're getting more for less nowadays than ever before. Cutting edge technology may carry a heavy R&D and engineering penalty, but mid-range stuff is constantly refined without such a high development cost applied. They inherit that cutting edge R&D... sort of a "trickle-down" effect. So, you can really hit the "sweet spot" of performance versus cost in this area. Example? Our new Aprisa 4500 sells "direct" for about $700. It easily, easily beats anything you could have gotten for that kind of money ever in the past. The Aprisa 5600 sells for right at $1,000. I would venture to say that it's a much better bike than what you would have gotten for $2,500 just 5 or 10 years ago.

Regards,
Jack A.
IBEX Bicycles

I have a question... how come it looks like bikesdirect seems to have a better package at the same price points? I may be wrong, I come from the MTBR forums so I don't know much about good road components.

Can anyone point out the differences between:

Ibex Aprisa 4500
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/APR-4500-Details.html
Motobecane Vent Noir
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/ventnoir07.htm

Ibex Aprisa 5600
http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/APR-5600-Details.html

Mercier Serpens (it is 60 dollars more)
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/ltd20_wcs.htm

from my limited knowledge, it looks like Tiagra vs 105 and 105 vs Ultrega