Road bike recommendations

just noticed play in the forks, which would explain how twitchy the bike was descending, something I initially attributed to a nasty cross wind it means a trip to the lbs for some advice and the appropriate tools. I've never adjusted a threaded headset before, should be fun

It's a very simple job and worth buying a pair of headset spanners so you can do it yourself.

I'd recommend a good maintenance book, such as Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, as it'll save you a fortune in the longer term.