advice on next roadbike purchase

[BayAreaWheeler]

Looking to buy a carbon roadbike, not sure which one to get. Ive always wanted a carbon bike and suddenly found myself in a good position to pick one up.

this bike will be my weekend warrior or race bike and will only be ridden on those special occasions such as a weekend of riding in Napa, occasional race and shite like that.

my commuter beater will be my Merlin-

been reading up on the trek madone 5.9 and kestrel evoke, seem like nice bikes any other bikes out there I should consider?

TIA
kj

[Traveller]

My tastes run to the Italian side, I'd never have anything but a steel road bike, but I rode a friend's Calfee Dragonfly and I was impressed. It was feather light, had a nice feel on the road, and was reasonably strong when sprinted.

For rough and tumble riding (our group rides see at least two crashes every weekend) I wouldn't recommend carbon, it doesn't hold up well when hit by another bike or a falling rider. My local shop has some broken carbon frames hanging in the back, they aren't pretty.

After all is said and done though, I wouldn't mind a Colnago C40. A couple of guys I ride with ride them, and one has been hit a couple times with no ill effects to the frame. I've been tempted on Ebay a few times to by a C40, but I'm saving my change for a Pegoretti.