My wife and I recently got into cycling. She is VERY cheap. I took here to several bike shops to test rides bike. She starts looking at $450 bikes. I have her ride the same frames but better group to get her thoughts. Long story short, she buys a Giant Defy Advance carbon with 105, I get a Scott CR1 Team. You can definitly tell the difference in a quality bike and my wife hasnt ridden in 25yrs. She has ridden EVERY day since she has gotten the bike. We went for a 20 mile ride today, not bad considering she got her bike 3 weeks ago.