Road bike recommendations

Going for the setup that allows future tweaks is the way. In this case that sounds like the 56.

Did you remove the conical spacer?

Yes, the Synapse probably have a very big headtube and a fairly shorter reach than your commuter.

Commuto-X -
S: 381
R: 385

Synapse 56cm -
S: 597
R: 384

You can even go for a 54cm and gain similar stack to the Commuto-X yet 10mm shorter.

56cm have stock 110mm (AFAIK).

You might actually have to swap to 100mm (give or take) if you slammed it.

my lynskey is the large. reach 39.9 stack 58.5 from here http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/6018/products/lynskey-cooper-cx-ti-cyclocross-frame-industrial-mill.aspx

Stem isn't slammed on commuto x but could drop a cm or 2 but need to see how my back recovers from disc problems.

Am also thinking the synapse would be a much more comfortable ride than the lynskey.

we checked the stock stem, it was 100mm

In that cause, go for the 56cm instead, it fit you as well as the Commuto-X slammed but with a longer stem (moar comfort).

It will be a more comfortable ride with the 25.4 seatpost long enough to reduced vibration.

Looks like madone is getting an update: http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/events/bear_witness/

Any dirt @edscoble ?

New shop doesn't sell bicycle I'm afraid.

I imagine it will be more aeroz while remaining laterally stiff and vertically compliant. Can't see the weight coming down: that's what they have the e. honda for now.

defintely more focused on aero considering the other two line up aren't.

Yeah I imagine; my 5 series madone isn't light by WW standards but its under a kilo for 'Aero bike'. It does everything I throw at it comfortably; 100 milers, fast stuff (laps, chaingang). BB is mega stiff and the seatstays without brake bridge really make it comfy. I imagine the new one will only be better. Tour debut it seems. The only bike I'd love to have is Emonda H1 fit with direct mount brakes.

Planet X now doing a Di2 bike for under £2k.

Not sure why it's taken them so long to go electric.

probably waiting for the chinese to come up with a cheap enough di2 open mould frame to paint up?

They've been around for years. Why waste time on r&d? :-)

I think PX preffer to spec their bikes with Campag and SRAM. There was talk of ditching Shimano entirely for 2015.

https://www.canyon.com/en/outlet/list.html#category=road-bikes&id=A1048561

I did notice that, possibly due to distribution problem.

Or just Sram and Campagnolo both realizing they need to get their groups on factory spec bikes, Raleigh have now ditched shimano and going with Sram too

Not sure I get your point. If you're pointing me towards sub-£2k Di2 bikes, I know because I got my Rose for £1950.

I was saying I'm surprised it's taken Planet X this long to do a Di2 bike.

I'd have got a Canyon but the wait was too long.

I thought they'd already dropped Shimano. Seems crazy to me to not spec the most popular groupsets.

http://www.matosvelo.fr/index.php?post/1521/trek-madone-9-2016-sous-toutes-les-coutures

My point was thats the cheapest Di2 bike you can get with a pro tour frame to boot. And its from stock i.e. no wait. My mate ordered and got his last week. He's chuffed; the only minor setback is that the battery is external.

my dad wants to get a road bike but only wants to spend £300. I guess thats fair enough to find out if you like cycling..

I imagine he will want to be able to fit large tyres.

What are good options OTP or what should I be looking out for second hand, allez? etc.

Ridgeback Motion.

Or Btwin road bike with a extra £35 to get a basic service on it by a reputable bike shop.

Hope it's no longer called the Madone spit.

I couldn't open the link before. Sub-£2k for Di2 on a Canyon is great value, particularly as they spec decent wheels as standard.

as @edscoble mentioned, the btwin triban se 500 was road cc's budget bike of the year 2014 > http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/143748-12-best-road-bike-bargains-under-500