A more "relaxed" road bike?

[MrGrumpy]

You do have a point, as you say more likely on higher end bikes or custom builds from Dolan, Ribble etc. As recent convert once its setup its not bad.

 

[Venod]

My campag Veloce is much of a muchness when compared to my 105; my veloce is from the era when it was the middle campag groupset, however. Personally, I prefer campag for climbing (I use my pinky to flip up gear, whilst still on the flat of the bar) but I prefer 105 for shifting up in a sprint. Of mine, overall I prefer campag because its more precise but that probably because its on my best bike with internally routed cables. Its also IMO a nicer presentation of cables (gear cables routed up the bar rather than out of the side of the hoods).

!05 now has bar routed cables, not sure about other Shimano, Ultegra & Dura ace probably, Tiagra & below ?

 

[steveindenmark]

I ride TREK Lexa SL. It is designed for women and feels a little shorter in the crossbar which sits you up a bit.

It's a lovely bike and well worth a look at.

http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bik...int/en/bikes/road/endurance_race/lexa/lexa_sl

Steve

 

[HLaB]

!05 now has bar routed cables, not sure about other Shimano, Ultegra & Dura ace probably, Tiagra & below ?

Just changing my 105 to some Ultegra shifters I got 2nd hand; they are Internally routed :-)

 

[MetalPig]

Any thoughts on this? Tried one on for size today and felt pretty good, has 105 for £899, just don't know much about the brand

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/focus-culebro-sl-20-road-bike-id81892.html

I actually went in to try out a defy1 but they didn't have my size....

 

[HLaB]

Any thoughts on this? Tried one on for size today and felt pretty good, has 105 for £899, just don't know much about the brand

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/focus-culebro-sl-20-road-bike-id81892.html

I actually went in to try out a defy1 but they didn't have my size....

Focus are well respected, a German company making great value for money bikes and FWIW they are good enough for some pro riders ;-)
http://www.focus-bikes.com/

 

[MetalPig]

So I've narrowed it down to a shortlist of three:

Planet X RT58 Tiagra. Very good fit and a fair bit cheaper than the other two

Cannondale Synapse 2014 Tiagra, had a test ride today and liked it a lot - favourite up to now.

Giant Defy 1. Yet to find my size in stock anywhere! Waiting for local shop to get one in, will try it out then.

 

[MetalPig]

Well i was all set for the Defy 1 having tried a friend's bike for size but then came across a second-hand Defy 0 purely by chance. Wheels changed for shimanos and new seat put on. Decent price and local too so i couldn't really say no Just ridden it the 24Km home through some stunning countryside and it rides like a dream, one happy bunny here