Scott Contessa Speedster and asking for discounts?

[artifactos]

I disagree with everyone telling you that you should spend less money on your first road bike. If you know what you want, like the bike over less expensive options, and can afford it (don't forget the cost of the accessories you will need to get set up to ride - helmet, shorts, gloves, pedals, computer, lights, bag & emergency repair kit, etc.), I say go for it! I bought my first road bike in September (Trek 2.1) and spent about $2,000 on it within the first two months getting set up, and I've spent more since then since I've been exploring different saddles. That said, I'm VERY happy I didn't get a less expensive bike - this one handles very well, is quite speedy, and is going to be great for me in triathlons. The components are high-quality so my LBS has had an easy time of making any adjustments and they are happier to see me as a result.

Edit: You also won't have a less expensive bike sitting around when you want to upgrade, and if you NEED the money from selling the first bike to buy the second, you may be bike-less for a while. I spent less on a mountain bike because I knew I'd be using it on college campuses where its chances of getting stolen are a lot higher than my road bike hanging out in a locked garage and only coming out for rides.

[zoom-zoom]

I disagree with everyone telling you that you should spend less money on your first road bike. If you know what you want, like the bike over less expensive options, and can afford it (don't forget the cost of the accessories you will need to get set up to ride - helmet, shorts, gloves, pedals, computer, lights, bag & emergency repair kit, etc.), I say go for it! I bought my first road bike in September (Trek 2.1) and spent about $2,000 on it within the first two months getting set up, and I've spent more since then since I've been exploring different saddles. That said, I'm VERY happy I didn't get a less expensive bike - this one handles very well, is quite speedy, and is going to be great for me in triathlons. The components are high-quality so my LBS has had an easy time of making any adjustments and they are happier to see me as a result.

I can ditto this. My bike was about $1400 and I'm guessing I've spent about $2k when all the necessities were factored in. I would have been happier with a less expensive bike, but my hubby encouraged me to go with nothing less than Shimano 105 components for long-term happiness with my ride.

I think another thing to consider is your personality, esp. regarding athletic endeavors. Are you likely to not keep at it long-term? Do you have a spouse/SO who rides? In my case I'm married to an uber bike geek and our son definitely seems eager to get on a bike of his own once he's a bit older. It's been kind of a natural transition for me to go from running a lot of miles/week to running fewer miles and substituting biking, since it's something I can share with my family a lot easier. My bike is definitely not at any risk of ending up covered in cobwebs.