getting a new bike..the right way

K girls here's the scoop. A year ago I bought a 2010 Trek 1.5, rode it for a while, then sold it cause I was missing some money to get a new car. I loved my bike and I know Trek is a great brand but when I bought it I never test drove it or compared other ones. I was as newb blind as you can get! Fast forward to now (3 other bikes later lol) and I've learned a bit so I'm looking for a new aluminum road bike. I wasn't fully comfortable on the Trek..I felt really stretched out and just didn't feel right. Not sure how to explain it but it could've just been me. BTW I'm 5'7"..weigh 120lb. and have a long torso, arms, and legs. I wear men's jerseys cause women's are too short lol.

I'm really liking the Cannondale Synapse Alloy 5 105 and noticed quite a few of you have them the Synapse model. Can anyone give their opinion why they chose carbon over aluminum?

Any brands you think I should look at considering geometry? My budget is about $1,500..I know it's not much but I'm a college student and am seriously considering moving to Orlando before the year ends after a few things not working out here in Miami. I want to start fresh and there's more opportunity up there for my future career. (and train for a century at the Mount Dora Festival!)

I'm open to any and all suggestions ;)

carbon is lighter than aluminum. That's why people will pay the price for it. I don't think the weight difference is important unless you are a racer.

They (being the bike manufacturers, dealers, etc) say that carbon absorbs and dampens more of the road buzz/shock. I ride an all-carbon Cannondale Synapse and frankly, many of the roads in my area are in such bad condition...that I really can't tell much of a difference between my carbon bike and my aluminum back-up bike.

$1,500 is more than I've spent on any of my bikes in my entire life. You can get a very nice bike with that budget.

Is there a reason you are not interested in steel or titanium?

I'm in the same boat you are as far as proportions and height. "Regular" bikes fit me much better than "women's" bikes, and cyclocross geometry (or on bikes from the 1970's-80's "sport touring" geometry) seems to fit me beautifully.

From a geometry standpoint, are you willing to try riding a steel Surly Cross Check (size 52 or so) just to feel the proportions? http://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check_complete/

okay, can't resist

"steel is real"

-.- I just wrote a reply and pressed a button on the keyboard by mistake and it disappeared lol. So here's a summary of what I wrote.

I hear ya about riding steel frames..I love them too! I have two of them..an ice pink Schwinn Prelude fixie (that needs a new saddle asap..ouch!) that I built from the frame up and a Bianchi Eros (just like Tri Girl's!) that I'm building as a touring bike. So for this reason I'm looking for a sportier aluminum frame bike that I can do events like MS150 or a century ride. I checked out Surly's site but there are no dealers within 100 miles from me 0_0

Other than that one..which else would you recommend? Now I really like the idea of a cross bike cause it's a little bit of everything. I didn't know they make bikes out of titanium 0_o I'm curious...there's a store here that offers to convert a road bike to a cross bike for a cyclocross event coming up. What would they be changing other than tires? I know the brakes are different too.

@KnottedYet: What do you like better about a cross frame's geometry? I'm usually a 54 cm. If I can spend less than $1,500 that would be great!