Buying a bike - Anyone have any experience with these...

I'm looking to buy my first road bike (well, first anything bike). A cycling friend of mine is helping me find one, looking primarily on ebay. I was wondering if anyone had any experience on any of these bikes to help me make my final decision...

1. Giant TCR Expert (1999)
2. Giant OCR 1 and Touring
3. Specialized Dolce Sport
4. Specialized Allez

I don't want to bore you with the details -- just want to know people's general impressions. I'm a complete newbie to this, but want a decent bike that I won't grow out of too fast. This will be primarily to comute to work (30 mi/RT) and general training. I'm 5'3" with a 29" (75cm) inseam -- longer limbs, short torso.

Any other tips and hints to get me started are also appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
lek

I have a giant ocr1 & ohhh it's wonderful...I've not dealt with specialized as I'm not a roadie...
(mtn biker on a scott scale 40)
I can't compare road bikes as i just recenlty acquired mine. (This is my first experience using a road bike as well.)


c

Specialized Dolce Vita here (not one of the ones you listed, but...) and am the same height and very similar proportions as you. Long legs for my height, very short torso, fairly flexible in the hips due to short torso and shortish arms. I had to buy a WSD frame (48 or 49 I think, can't remember which), couldn't get myself out of that feeling like I was on one of those old stretching torture devices when I was on a Unisex bike. The compact frames on the Specialized worked wonders, I lurrrrve it.

Do yourself a favor and get a fitting at a reputable bike shop no matter which bike you pick.

K.