Kyle Bramblesglarb wrote:
I'm a tall beginner rider preparing to buy my 1st road bike. I've
begun training for a century ride on my Trek 5400 MTB while I shop for
something faster.

I'm considering a Trek 1-series and for 2010 they offer a 64cm frame
in the Trek 1.5 bike. I was wondering if anybody could let me know if
the 64cm would make a noticable difference over the 62cm frame. I may
not be able to justify the increased cost and may end up just getting
a Trek 1.1, but I'm concerned about comfort and getting sore on long
rides. If starting with a larger frame would make a big difference,
I'll try justifying the additional expense.

I'm also wondering how much better the Tigara shifters are over Sora
and 2300's. I know veteran riders can tell the difference, but my
last road bike was a Schwinn in 1989... would I be able to tell?

You're already doomed with the choices you've presented.

You should be getting something with a true 64 or 65 cm frame, i.e. like
something based on the Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen frame.

Alas, most of these large frame bicycles are going to cost you a
fortune. With the curse of compact frames, a 64 cm frame is not really a
64 cm frame anymore.

At least get a true 62 cm frame, like the Jamis Aurora. Also, in those
large frame sizes, you should think about steel, not aluminum. As others
in this thread have stated, you start to have frame cracking issues with
aluminum in bad places.

Ironically, there are some true 64cm bikes from Bikes Direct, in steel
or aluminum i.e.
"http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/mercier_serpensIX.htm"
"http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/sprint_x.htm"
"http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/mercier_corvus.htm"

Pretty damn sad when you have to go online to buy a new bicycle because
so many manufacturers are in a race to the bottom in terms of frame
sizes and geometry. These days, if you're not between 5'8" and 6'2"
you're often S.O.L..

Whatever you do, don't buy a frame that's way too small then try to "fix
it" with ridiculously long seat posts and steer-tube extenders.