Help me spend my tax rebate & the Mr Rudd $900 stimulus cheque

[crazycanuck]

I am suffering from bike envy & found out today that I get a tax rebate plus the $900 stimulus cheque. (If Mr Rudd wants me to spend some dough at a retailer, i'll support a bike shop )

So, I have to decide if it'll be a mtn bike frame or a roadie. I'd transfer my components over so i'd just need a frame & forks. I have an 06 44cm Giant OCR1 as my roadie at the moment but want to go up in the world by a smidgen. Problem is I have no idea what is one step up from a Giant OCR1 (I'd also like to move up in the MTB world but can't decide...)

I know there's a 44cm Specialized Ruby WSD frame available from a shop here but am not sure if that's a step up or just the same thing.

Bianchi? *drool* Merckx?

Help me?

Tanks
C

[Mr. Bloom]

how about a worthwhile charity?

[Aggie_Ama]

She is one.

Is the OCR1 carbon? I am too lazy to look. If you can get Merckx that has coolness built in. I just don't see very many so they always look kind of neat and exotic.

[indysteel]

What do you want to get out of the new bike? Lighter? Stiffer? Different frame material? Different handling? Different geometry? More "wow" factor?

[crazycanuck]

I'd like something that's a bit lighter & adds that extra "ahhh" feeling when riding.

[indysteel]

I'm a metal girl--ti and steel--so I don't know much about carbon bikes. I do like the look of Look bikes (pun intended). I have no idea of their pricepoint, but I have some friends that really love 'em.