Road Bike Purchase, up to £1000

Cannondale CAAD 8 Tiagra
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad8-6-tia-2012-compact-road-bike-ec031475

Supposedly the best aluminium frame on the market. My mate has the 105 version and it's far more lovely than the Allez Sport it replaced. See if you can find a way to get the 105 for under £1000 or the CAAD 10, my mate managed it with a cunning Evans 10% off voucher

Alternatively, check out Ribble.

I have a Ribble Winter SRAM Apex picked up for <£700 and I didn't even bother with CTW. Ribble can't be beat from a price value perspective, check out the special offers if you're not too bothered by the brand name

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/special-edition-bikes/specialedition/1

Rose Bikes (of Germany) is also worth a look, no CTW but prices low enough that it really doesn't matter
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/

I'd always looked at Ribble but thought their prices looked too good to really be true. The alloy sportive is such a bargain if it's actually any good.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-ribble-sportive-7005-12-46015

Apparently I've become a Ribble advocate, the only negative is the build-time is very long at the moment around 4 weeks

Awesome. They do look really nice and I haven't read a bad review (except for their customer service). Preston is a long way to go though, and their prices keep tempting me to push the already stretched budget and go carbon.

Interest free monthly payments! I keep adding to the spec thinking 'its only 15 quid more a month'

Here's a low-res pic of the Ribble Winter SRAM Apex that arrived in the post this morning. I'll take some higher-res photos tomorrow morning (and fit the seatpost clamp.....) - £697 with ITM Aero 2.4s, not bad as a commuter / winter trainer

You can get a decent set-up for £999 in the clearance sales.

EG.
http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/bikes-c5/road-bikes-c18/giant-tcr-composite-3-105-compact-road-bike-2012-p205471

Dunno whats doable through C2W though.

Fwiw I've got the Ultegra version of that ^ and I like it a lot. Though I don't have much in the way of experience of modern frames to bench mark against, it feels fast, stiff and handles well. I'd also say it was smoother and more comfortable than my steel framed fixed gears.

I personnally like the Geo, and the stiffer ride (oh er). Might not be for everyone. But bang for buck it is.

This thread is relevant to my interests.

Evans has this Fuji, with 105 groupset:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/roubaix-10-2012-road-bike-ec031215

Thoughts?

If it's at Evans go try it out.

Based on a carbon fibre bias I'd choose the Giant posted above a bit less 105 bits, but they're still there where it counts.

Anybody got any experience with Forme bikes?