http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?show=4916

or

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p4324/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-CARBON-105-2012

About £100 between them but then the more expensive (Defy) has Ultegra over the Dale’s 105).

I’ve ridden a composite Defy – liked it, but never a Dale.

Personal experiences etc etc? Especially of the Giants wheelset? I wont be upgrading the wheels for a fair while.

I’d get the Synapse but that’s primarily because I’ve got the ultegra one and really like it. That said, my 105 bike felt a bit agricultural in comparison to the ultegra but it may have just been that the ultegra was assembled at the factory, the 105 in my kitchen.

The Synapse is really comfortable (relatively speaking) for crappy road surfaces and longer rides and so far has been pretty faultless. I’d buy another without hesitation if the time came.

I have a comp 1 and love it. i had an alu synapse before it- night and day.. 🙂

If you liked the Defy, I’d buy a Defy – but then I have one! The Synapse is more upright and you may not like that feel. The CAAD8 is closer in geometry (head tube length) to the Defy, believe it or not. Giant wheels have been much higher quality than Cannondale on our lower-end bikes (Avail and CAAD8). The Cannondale stock wheels were gash, if yor choice comes with Aksiums, that is a bonus, but Giant wheels are excellent (DT hubs and Giant make the alloy rims for DT).

Looking at all those options, the CAAD10 105 in a 58 is a bargain and the best alloy frame money can buy. Might be too big, and too low at the front, but it is an outstanding frame (from a paid up Giant fanbois). For your money I wouldn’t worry about groupset, but would go for carbon unless you know exactly what you want – you test rode a carbon Defy, If I recall?

My brother has recently been dithering over a similar decision, he’s much more pragmatic than me – plumped for the Defy Advanced 2 with 105 in the end and no regrets so far. I looked up a review when he was looking, and BikeRadar liked the wheels even though they’re “generic” Giant own brand. I’ve got a CAAD 8, which I picked because of the colour – therein lies one of the many differences between him and me. 🙂

Get the better groupset and wheels as you are likely to change the frame later anyway, I would have thought…

I’ve got a Defy 1 Mark, and the giant wheels have been fine over the last year even clattering over Sheffield’s best roads. Spokes on the rear could do with going over but this’ll be the first time.

Get the one that you like the look and ride of. They’re both good bikes.

bought this Giant (small)end of Jan; and other than a change to a Spesh saddle & GP4000s’s it’s done over 800 miles without a hitch. Lovely ride and feels fast compared to previous less fitted/capable bikes…

Being carbon it cleans with a wipe too. 🙂

you test rode a carbon Defy, If I recall?

Yep – I also rode a Orbea (Orca?) and a TCR Comp- didn’t like either of them at all- fronts very low and the TCR felt stiff?

The Defy felt playful(?)

The Synapse is really comfortable (relatively speaking) for crappy road surfaces and longer rides

Chappy on phone also echoed this – Says its more comfortable than the Defy. A bugger that I can’t test the Synapse before though.

Comfort is key- too rigid etc isn’t me. Thats why I didn’t like the TCR.

I’d have a Planet X but I’m not waiting a month from order.

Neither I’d get this

I don’t have £1700 spare plus it’d cost more than my car at that price 😯

My very max is £1300.

Comfort wise the Synapse & Defy are made for the same purpose and not miles apart like your guy suggests. Echoing the above, I have a Defy 3 for winter duty with flappy paddle sora. It’s comfy, the wheels are unbranded DT, the tyres unbranded conti’s.

It’s been brilliant.

it’d cost more than my car

and what exactly is wrong with that?

Nowt but at somepoint I want a AWD beast. 8)

That Trek looks nice, but isn’t that the older, 10 speed version of Ultegra Di2? Is that likely to be an issue?

ep – I also rode a Orbea (Orca?) and a TCR Comp- didn’t like either of them at all- fronts very low and the TCR felt stiff?

Sounds perfect for a road bike, who’d want a high front end flexy road bike?

Ah, it’s Hora 🙂

I’d go for this

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/road-track-bike/ribble-r872-105-shimano-equipped?part=SE14R872SHIMA105&sub=conf_SERC

Too stiff though. I’m entering no competitions- this is merely an aid/supplement to mountain bikes.

I am a big Cannondale fan, but I found the Synapse too upright, so instead went for a Bianchi InfinitoCV with ultegra

and yes my bike is worth more than my car 🙂

My Mrs has got a Synapse 105 and loves it. It’s a very nice bike.

it’d cost more than my car at that price

As it should do: rule #25

Either will be ace and from what I can gather the difference between 105 and Ultegra isn’t worth worrying about.

Buy the one you like the look of…buy the one you want.

Another option:
Canyon Roadlite AL7.0 comes in at under £1200 with full 2×11 Ultegra groupset and Mavic Aksium

I want it within days, finance and local backup for any breaks though.

After the Stw Cube story and previous grumbles about Canyon I wouldnt touch those micro’ brands

ora – Member
Too stiff though. I’m entering no competitions- this is merely an aid/supplement to mountain bikes.

Consider a hybrid if road bike are too “road bike”

Canyon is a micro brand?

Compared to all the big brands yes?

Direct model a la On One.

What about this:
http://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-giulia-ultegra-6800-di2-special-57854.html

Sorry to hijack, looking at this as my next road bike, any one have any thoughts?

7.4kg / 7.9kg full carbon + Ultegra Be0nes in stock at Merlin (local ish) for £1400 and £1200 respectively.

They bought up the bankrupt Beone stock but are offering 3yr warranty when my Mrs enquired on Monday.

Just get the Defy composite from Paul’s Cycles – you said you liked the ride.
If the wheels eventually develop problems then get a pair of lightly used 2nd hand ones off here – there are usually some in the classifieds

Comparing on one and canyon is laughable. Seen many Planet X bikes in the tdf?

That sensa? On your budget I’d get the Trek linked. No doubt.

Re Canyon. Its distance selling from another country. If I have a prob midsummer which bikeshop do I stand in to get a fast warranty decision?

On one here have been great to me on any issues but what if I was in (enter any European country) wanting a quick resolution/inspection?

Thats my angle.

CAAD10 105 in a 58 is a bargain and the best alloy frame money can buy.

I have one of these and bought it in preference to a SuperSix 105. The CAAD 10 frame is brilliant.

That Trek looks nice, but isn’t that the older, 10 speed version of Ultegra Di2? Is that likely to be an issue?

It seems to be the Ultegra Di2 6870 (according to the Q&A on the Evans website), which is the 2014 issue isn’t it?

Toxicsoks- really?? (Interested)

Comparing on one and canyon is laughable. Seen many Planet X bikes in the tdf?

Didn’t you see Valverde storming up the Mur de Huy on his Planet x today ? Oh hang on a bit…..

That caad10 in a 58 will probably be too big for you hora. My caad8 is a 56 and I’m probably a bit taller than you.

I’d love a caad10 though. Pretty much universally accepted as the best aluminum frame on the market.

And yes the cannondales wheels are pants (Maddux 3.0 in my case). I’ve just upgraded mine to some nice Ambrosio clinchers from Planet X and the difference is night and day.

Didn’t you see Valverde storming up the Mur de Huy on his Planet x today ?

He wants a pretend road bike though not a real one

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op (and others, I’m sure) also offer the aluminium Defy 0, brilliant looking spec and the aluminium Defy seems to pick up a lot of excellent reviews.

I’ve been torn between three similar bikes also, the top end CAAD8 (I loved my CAAD9 but want a slightly less committed position) the aluminium Defy 0 and the Synapse, I don’t like the look of the tall front end but rode a rental Spec Roubaix recently and it felt great on the descents.