Wow, that's a lot of riding! Since you're doing duathalons and tris, maybe you want a tri bike. But then again, that would just mean more shopping.

What didn't you like about the carbon Cannondale?

I'm also a little surprised that they don't have more frames in your size to test ride. I had assumed that you were short like me; I had to put a small deposit down to get the 47cm Trek in to test ride. Definitely worth it!

Anyway...the WSD is mainly about the top tube length. If you're feeling stretched out on the men's frame, then you should try the WSD version.

Have you looked at Bianchis? The Eros Donna looks like a steel frame (Reynolds 631) with mostly Campy Mirage. Retails for around $1300, so you could probably upgrade the components and stay within budget. I'm not sure how you'd like steel vs. carbon, but it might be worth a try.

How about Aegis? (I honestly don't know what the price range is, but they do make carbon frames.)

Another option is the Habanero. You can get a custom titanium frame for around $1200.

OK, since you asked...

Pros & Cons of the 5200:

Pros:
  1. Fits me like a glove
  2. Love the Ultegra components
  3. Carbon does a fine job of soaking up road vibration
  4. For me, the bike climbs and accelerates exceptionally well
  5. Trek has a lifetime warranty and stands behind their products
  6. I like the look of the 5200 vs the Pilot's compact geometry/sloping top tube


Cons:
  1. There's a lot of 5200's on the road, so if you want to be unique, you had better look for something else
  2. Some people think carbon feels "dead"
  3. Carbon doesn't bend, it breaks
  4. May be more $$ than some people want to spend
  5. You can never blame a bad riding performance on the bike


Happy shopping!

-- Melissa