Recommendation for road bike.

[GrzesznyPL]

I am looking to buy new road bike in price range $600-700 if possible but will spend little more for something special. I was able to find few deals in the price range but I am not much familiar with brands and components. Here they are:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/aquila_al3.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/motobecane_grand_record05.htm
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13453-018_KHSF34-3-Parts-47-Bikes/KHS-Flite-300-Road-Bike-offerIN040YS1.htm
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?base_no=66009&mscssid=29D9CAC8100F473CB6B5CE56D24BFB11
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18362#

Now I wonder if anyone has any experience with those.
As competitive runner I want to use it as supplementary training to my running but also for recreational rides so top notch components are not mandatory. But just in case I wander into triathlon territory I'd like to have bike that could preform decently.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[graf zeppelin]

Hard to say at that price point, but I'd say go look for something used or raise what you can spend a bit. Aim minimum 105-level (or Centaur) components imho and be sure you're properly fit to it.

[gruppo]

So I assume you plan to buy online as opposed to from a LBS where you can actually try the bike to see if you like it?

If so, that may be your biggest mistake, but you do what you gotta do.

[Triodelover]

So I assume you plan to buy online as opposed to from a LBS where you can actually try the bike to see if you like it?

If so, that may be your biggest mistake, but you do what you gotta do. In theory, I don't disagree with you. But unless you live in or near a major metropolitan area, your choices may be limited locally. Of three LBSs here, only one had a frame that I was interested in (read "could get excited about"). And that's the LBS that let me wander around for half an hour wothout a single person asking to help me. It's not that the other shops didn't have technically good bikes, but they didn't have anything that made me want to plunk down the 3 large I was prepared to spend.

I suppose I could have blown the bike budget on travel to various cities to ride evertything before buying, but then I couldn't buy. So I paid a LBS for a fitting, mined the knowledge of two long-time cyclists friends as well as these forums and elsewhere on the 'Net, and bought on-line what appeared to be the best "fit" physically, emotionally and financially. I'm prepared to tweak it after delivery, but I'm comfortable that I've purchased a good "canvas" with which to work (Pegoretti steel frame, Campy Chorus gruppo).

Would I preferred to be able to have test ridden a dozen or more frames in my price range? Well, yeah. But what I wanted and what was here didn't mesh. So you have to make do. It's not optimal, but it's not wrong, either.

[gruppo]

...Would I preferred to be able to have test ridden a dozen or more frames in my price range? Well, yeah. But what I wanted and what was here didn't mesh. So you have to make do. It's not optimal, but it's not wrong, either.

I understand! That's why I ended with "do what you gotta do". We don't all have the luxury of living within driving distance of high-end bike shops. I hope it works out well for you.