First road bike: Cannondale R500 or Bianchi Via Nirone 7 xenon?

[ptolemy]

I have the choice between these two bikes:

Cannondale R500 (http://www.cannondale.se/bikes/05/ce/model-5RR5D.html)

Bianchi Via Nirone 7 aluminium xenon MIX 9 Compact (http://se.bianchi.com//php/gamma_2005.php?id=2013&lang=uk&menu=40&menuitem=2205)

Based on the specifications, wich one is a better buy. I can get the Cannondale for ~$1100 and the Bianchi for ~$900 here in Sweden.
Which one would you recomend?

I like the price of the Bianchi, but the Cannondale is better looking. I'm a bit worried about the wheels of the cannondale though. They look more fragile than the Bianchi wheels.

[artmichalek]

The wheels on the Cannondale are plenty strong. Price aside, the only real differences between the bikes are compact vs. regular geometry and Campy vs. Shimano components. Ask a hundred people which combination is better and you're highly unlikely to get a straight answer. Have you test ridden them?

[boudreaux]

The wheels on the Cannondale are plenty strong. Price aside, the only real differences between the bikes are compact vs. regular geometry and Campy vs. Shimano components. Ask a hundred people which combination is better and you're highly unlikely to get a straight answer. Have you test ridden them?Well, either could do with a wheel upgrade,and even tho it's campy, xenon is still bottom of the barrel.

[artmichalek]

Well, either could do with a wheel upgrade,and even tho it's campy, xenon is still bottom of the barrel.
It can't all be Record, and Tiagra isn't exactly top of the line either. Only 99 more non-answers to go.:)