Bike purchase - need info!

Loads of deals around currently - there was a buyer's guide to the sales on here a week or so ago.

Another option would be Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105. The 2013 models currently available for around £1300 - if you're the right size! The 2013 is a bit more upright than the Scott CR1 though, about 20mm more on the head tube for a similar size and slightly shorter top tube but not as exagerated as the Specialized Roubaix.

Canyon are great, I'm biased I have one, ultimate al SRAM force, carbon canyon are race machines and very stiff maybe too stiff for sportives, al canyons are great. They do a roadlite for very reasonable money, full 105 group set, aksium wheels, GP 4000s tyres, 8.3kg £950 delivered.

Used bike are great value for the right ones try bikeradar or eBay. Especially if you may not like road biking and end up selling it in x months, you will loose a lot if you sell a new bike, not so much if you re sell a used one.

Have fun.

The problem with canyon you have to buy online. if you do not like it than you would have to send it back and repeat the process . Go to the LBS and try for yourself. we can only give you what we know and everyone is different.
There is a couple of things you need to consider:

The bike is right for your type of riding ?
Does your Riding position suit your physical proportions ?
Dose anything hurt when riding (other than legs)?
How stable dose the bike feel?

Aluminium vs carbon. Rider preference.

That Canyon looks a lot of bike for the money and they are a very reputable make...

No one so far has said Defy Composite. Won lots of awards, certainly comfy. I've the Advanced version, which I got last October, reduced as last year's model. Worth a look.

This must be the cheapest bike ever with a full 2014 Ultegra 11-speed 6800 groupset:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3193#tab-reiter2

Sounds pretty good stuff for £1,129.

Meanwhile the Di2-equipped Ultimate AL 9.0 is now discounted to £1,735:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/series/ultimate-al.html

It's a good time of year to be looking for a new bike!

Apologies - limk here...

http://road.cc/content/forum/90090-fs-eddy-merckx-amx2

Not sure of size etc - but I have an Eddy Merckx AMX 2 for sale on this forum - hardly used - looking for offers circa £1100 Campagnolo Centaur carbon group set - lovely bike...

You could get an Ultegra or SRAM force Planet X with decent wheels for that money.

But I'd get the Ultegra Canyon Al if I were in your shoes.

For £1699 you can get a KTM Strada 4000, with Shimano 105 all around and a Ultegra rear derailleur. (Example: http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/rac_0008_kt/KTM/Strada-4000) they also do a Strada 3500 with all 105 for one hundred less..

Here's the BikeRadar review of the 2012 model: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-kt...

I have the Strada 5000 with Ultegra Triple, it's fantastic, with Cyclosport magazine (French) gave it top marks.

Aside from that, Merida, Focus and Canyon are making top-notch bicycles as well, without your paying for the brand name.

If it's your first bike, decide what you want to do, then swing your leg over / test as many bicycles as you can before making your choice...

the roubaix is the perfect bike for a new cyclist, second hand one though, the canyon are lovely bikes, and prob about 20% better value than most others.

1.6k send a bit high to spend on first bike, plus your buying late in the summer suggesting you will ride it through bad weather over the next six months so look for a bike that can have mudguards attached 105 groupset will do you for a couple of years before you start itching for an upgrade.

highly recommend spending on a bike fit, it will save you much pain in the future, costs in the region of 60 quid, if you buy your bike from a local bike shop try to get them to include that in the deal.

Eddy Merckx EMX-1.

High performance chassis, ofering the right amount of comfort. Aero bladed fork, Large diameter down-tube and oversized bottom bracket. comfortable bike for endurance riding. surefooted and stable a pro-level race machine. carbon construction for the frame, fork, and seat post also full 105 and the Merckx also come with a limited lifetime warranty.All under £1600. It can also take a beating haveing crashed

A little over budget but possibly worth a thought? Wiggle currently have 25% off the Colnage CLX3 and if you go though quidco.com you get another 3% cashback (£50+ pounds).

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/colnago-clx-30-105-2013/

I bought 1 last year at a big discount and I absolutely love it (just be careful of size, I'm normally 52cm and am 45cm in the Colnago CLX3). I find it extremely comfy on long rides as the geometry is slightly more relaxed and its also stable at speed and a bit of a mountain goat on the climbs

As with all of us on here, we all love our own bikes and would recommend them, so I am sure you will get many different suggests.

If you want slightly more relaxed ride I would also recommend the Specialized Roubaix.

Good luck on the searching and I am sure which ever you decide to buy you will love. There will some big discounts coming up soon if you are prepared to go for 2013 models rather than the latest 2014 on offer.

Me too, , looking at the same things.trek domane 4.3, ridley fenix, focus cayo, scott cr1 seem to be my front runners.just waiting for some reduction to the 2013 prices

If you're not racing, Boardman CX Pro with 25mm or 28mm slicks on. That is all.

Have a look at Canyon - canyon.com - their bikes are outstanding value for money and among the best there are around. At your price the Ultimate AL would be a sensible purchase - outstanding modern frame (Bike if the Year 2012) and you will get a full group set and quality wheels. The ultimate AL 9.0 with full Ultegra and Ksyrium Elite wheels is currently £1569, for example. You could get with Ultegra Di2 for just £1743.

Or shop around: eg I saw the Cube Agree GTC at Cycle Surgery yesterday with a partial Ultegra group (cheap cranks, FD, brakes) for £1,599 on special.

The problem with your Giants or your Spesh bikes is you'll only get a partial groupset and cheap wheels at this price range.

specialized Roubaix for me - shop around and pick up a bargain this time of year. Comfortable for longer distance rides and on questionable road surfaces. very happy with mine and if you live near a store it is useful for after sales service. I originally bought mine from a well known retailer and when the frame got totalled by a car that didn't want to stop at a roundabout, it was a specialized store that got me back on the road again (after several weeks of being messed around by the previous retailer). Just a thought.

Have you had a look at www.ribblecycles.co.uk?

I have the R872 with Campag Athena but you can spec any one of their frames in either Shimano, SRAM or Campag