Road bike recommendations

Carbon dropouts are pretty. They're good! Carbon is so strong.

Last year's 105 but a good deal: http://www.merlincycles.com/felt-f75-road-bike-2014-71825.html

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXRT58ALUAPEX/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-sram-apex-road-bike

Also seems good for £500

blimey

Carbon dropouts? German engineering has never hurt anybody.

might be a mistake as it's also on their website for £699. but if you take that deal, add the 20% off discount code (not sure if it's still valid) then that's a hell of a lot of bike for under £400!

yup, code still works (UKSTAFFSTW20) so makes that RT58 £399

"No Bezzin, I expect you to dieeeeee"

is that code, um, free to use? if so, that is a mega bargainz.

yep its a code for anyone.

The code doesn't work any more.

Went and tried the Focus from the previous page. Pretty bike, and awesome spec.

Didn't fit :(

Apparently I have a short torso for my leg length (I'm a tad over 6ft) and the sales guy suggested that the best fit bikes for me will always be the more endurance geo ones. Thinking about it, it kind of makes sense given that every bike I've got onto I've had to raise the saddle and add spacers. I guess that means I'm looking at the Synapse and the Canyon Endurace again... Any other suggestions?

There's also the Defy... My LBS is a Giant dealer, but I'm not sure I'm up for discs (given I have a 10.5kg steel bike I'd like to keep this as light as possible on a budget) and the rear triangle gives me the sads.

If you don't need a UCI compliant bike, discs hydraulic every day.

Buy the Focus 56. Do 30 planks each day. Ride. Repeat.

Trek Madone/Emonda come in a H2 fit for shorter reach too.

I'm leaning toward the endurace just in terms of value at the mo, but the lack of being able to get hands on does put me off a bit

Endurance geo. What a fucking con.

What do think riders did before these product lines existed?

(the answer is they left a few spacers under the stem and felt no shame. If they upped their riding and stretched they had the option to go lower)

Skinny makes a fair point. Unless you're after a (ehem) focused race bike the Icalzo is probably overkill. The Cayo disc seems tasty and isn't quite an actual hybrid...

To be fair to the guy he actually suggested that I buy a cheaper bike that was out of stock so I don't think he was out to sell. It also just felt wrong as soon as I got on (it was set up on a turbo) despite the spacer tower that was already there.

If a bigger HT means fewer spacers, I can get behind that from an aesthetic POV.

The Cayo disc has same geo as the Cayo and its aggressive.

Also totally open to discs and have used them before, but just think they aren't the most elegant lookers

Although that cayo actually looks quite tasty. Maybe a bit pricey for me though

It come in a bit higher than your cannondales (or the Icalzo) though no?

I was being a dick with the hybrid comment. They look great.

No stack is small. A bit smaller than cannonndale of same top tube.