Plenty of choices at every level of performance you could want, from $1000 to $10K+
Decide what's most important to you in a bike and visit your LBS (or two or three) to see what they have that meets your needs and is within your budget. Most every manufacturer these days has "performance-comfort" or ("relaxed geometry") oriented models in their lineup. Find a shop that does good fittings and see what bikes match your geometry.
Do you want the latest & newest or would you be fine with a 2009 or 2008 model in stock?
If Treks/Specialized/Cannondale are popular in your area, do you want to "go with the flow" or do you want something more unique? It's often easier to get deals on a brand stocked by multiple dealers in your area. An unusual or boutique brand may mean a smaller selection of sizes, models and colors. Warranty service might be harder for a unique brand.
Think about where you would be willing to make tradeoffs to meet your budget. Do you want a complete group of components from one manufacturer, or is it okay that your crankset might be from a different company than your brakes?
Everything on the bike can be upgraded/replaced later, at a cost, and you can always sell your bike and buy again.
Are you willing to purchase online or do you want customer service from a local dealer? Some brands don't allow online sales,
Good "comfortable" carbon bikes to look at in a range of prices include Cannondale Synapse, Trek Madone 3 & 4 series, Specialized Roubaix and the Felt Z series bikes. Fit, more than bike geometry, will determine how comfortable you are on a bike. A bike with aggressive, twitchy geometry for sprint criteriums can be more comfortable than an ill-fitting "comfort" or "endurance" bike.
Expect to pay around $1500-$2000 for entry-level carbon bikes (though cheaper deals can sometimes be found online). The sky's the limit after that.
Good luck and let us know how your search turns out.
Decide what's most important to you in a bike and visit your LBS (or two or three) to see what they have that meets your needs and is within your budget. Most every manufacturer these days has "performance-comfort" or ("relaxed geometry") oriented models in their lineup. Find a shop that does good fittings and see what bikes match your geometry.
Do you want the latest & newest or would you be fine with a 2009 or 2008 model in stock?
If Treks/Specialized/Cannondale are popular in your area, do you want to "go with the flow" or do you want something more unique? It's often easier to get deals on a brand stocked by multiple dealers in your area. An unusual or boutique brand may mean a smaller selection of sizes, models and colors. Warranty service might be harder for a unique brand.
Think about where you would be willing to make tradeoffs to meet your budget. Do you want a complete group of components from one manufacturer, or is it okay that your crankset might be from a different company than your brakes?
Everything on the bike can be upgraded/replaced later, at a cost, and you can always sell your bike and buy again.
Are you willing to purchase online or do you want customer service from a local dealer? Some brands don't allow online sales,
Good "comfortable" carbon bikes to look at in a range of prices include Cannondale Synapse, Trek Madone 3 & 4 series, Specialized Roubaix and the Felt Z series bikes. Fit, more than bike geometry, will determine how comfortable you are on a bike. A bike with aggressive, twitchy geometry for sprint criteriums can be more comfortable than an ill-fitting "comfort" or "endurance" bike.
Expect to pay around $1500-$2000 for entry-level carbon bikes (though cheaper deals can sometimes be found online). The sky's the limit after that.
Good luck and let us know how your search turns out.
