Road bike recommendations

:-/

The prototype headbadge is pretty nasty. Otherwise they're alright IMO.

you are Ed Scoble AICMFP...

Ribble R872 with Athena and half decent kit for £999. Strong deal.

If you're buying Cervelo OTP you'll just about get 105 and low end wheels for 2500.
If you look to Canyon you'll get a whole world more goodness for 2000

Cannot beat Canyon on pricing - £639 for an Ultimate AL SLX frameset with stem and seatpost - even less if youre a BC member or other club member under their "sponsorship" deal (if they still do it, not checked if they do and if the AL is still on there as frameset only option but it was last year)

Had an Ultimate AL myself that i built up with DA, Rotor, Hed Ardennes and got down to 6.8kg without going mental weight weenie. Brilliant bike that i smashed all over Switzerland, Germany and France last Summer. Was nippy as hell and a great climber but just didn't compare on the flat and deal with speed as well as previous bikes - perhaps id just got fat and slow..

Going back to Carbon this season and hopefully gonna have my mucky little paws on an Emonda SL veeeeeery soon....

The Emonda SL is a pretty awesome bike, comfortable and stiff at the same time, though brake clearance is pretty tiny so not much choice of tyres size.

So long as I can fit my 25C Vittoria Corsa CX on there then I'm happy!

So excited about it now - only problem I've got is whether I go for Frameset only, as I've got most of the bits to put on, and suffer the shiny finish with white highlights of the SL8 model or go for an awesome matte black SL6 complete and just strip and sell the bits.
There's a £950 difference in list price, is that worth it for the matte finish.....

25mm will fit nicely.

I believed you already made up your mind about the black SL6, despite the SL8 being the more rational choice for the money.

The SL8 is really shiny in person which look a bit cheap unfortunately (even with a full DA groupset), the red SL6 look better in comparison.

Yeah - seen both in the flesh and taken the matte black SL6 out for a spin a few times and it really is very nice.... Not a red kinda guy though

No point in buying a bike you're not happy with imo. Though maybe you could give the SL8 to someone for a custom paintjob?

No point in buying a bike you're not happy with imo.

I was thinking that too, at first I thought "nah, it's just paint, it still ride great", but then again, it would be better to ride a bike that look great to you.

Yeah, I agree with both you ed, and tom - matte black is the future - however every time I think about it and see it the shiny black does grow on me somewhat... I think if I take a step back and consider both the cost and the simplicity of starting with just the frame, and the fun of the build which is always something I love, that almost overshadows the aesthetics. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the aesthetics, but it's not as if I dislike the shiny black one at all.... Just a small lean towards the matte... I think practicality and affordability may have to win through here, not as if it's going to change the way it rides!

On the plus side, the gloss might look better in the long run because it's not a pain in the ass to clean.

not as if it's going to change the way it rides!

this is always an interesting point to me, especially coming from an archery background where differences in equipment can be even more pointlessly miniscule than with bikes. While technically true, I believe being really satisfied with what you shoot/ride makes a tangible difference psychologically. The bike may not ride better than another but I certainly ride better (and put up better with minor annoyances) because I love my bike.

What you said is actually also equally true to food, if look very presentable, help make it taste better.

More here.

Much truth. Also good reminder to catch up on Masterchef

Well that's settled it - next time I have them both I my presence I'm going to lick them one at a time and see which tastes better.
The one with the most affable aftertaste that leaves my tastebuds tingling shall be the one.
If I'm in any doubt I'll employ Jilly Goolden as a decider.

This page...Jesus

Jilly Goolden is Divine to some....

Matte black paint jobs are a bit of an arse to keep looking nice in my experience. Gloss black on the other hand looks good even when its filthy.

Thanks @dan (and @TomvanHalen also mentioning it earlier) - im glad you also said that as I'd noticed the matte black in the shop is covered in fingerprints and generally looks quite dirty. From previous matte black bikes I've owned I also remember grease marks almost staining the paint and nigh impossible to get off.

Cannot beat Canyon on pricing

^ such this.

Looks like its going to be this beaut then

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Rose.

If you consider that a Specialized Allez Smartweld frame (not even the S-Works Allez) retails at somewhere between £700 and £800 (£750 i think) and for that you get frame only, wheras with the canyon you get a £100+ VCLS post and a Ritchey stem for the £639. Ive also just looked up the "Sponsoring Programme" prices for 2015 - £559.03 for the Ultimate AL SLX frameset.
Unbelievably good value!