$5k is the budget. What bike do I need to have?
Right now I'm riding a Bianchi 1885 with Campy Veloce. It's a nice bike, but I'd like something a bit lighter and that is more comfortable over the long haul. The 1885 is fast, but the aluminum/carbon blend is rough over bumps and it's a twitchy bastard. Kinda rides like a crit bike. Sprints and climbs well. Takes a lot of focus to descend on. Never wants to go straight.
I was thinking of a bike with Campy Chorus or Shimano Ultegra. I've never ridden a bike with SRAM. I'm sure it's worth a look.
I'm kinda digging the Merlin Ultralight:
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...omplete%20Bike
What says the WW cyclists?