All round £500

Anyone know anything about each – which is best VFM?

Know nothing of either, but if you up your budget by £50..

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/36397/Genesis_Aether_20_Bike_2011

Although that one from Merlin does look nice mind…

Marlins lead time is 3 wks

Oh and got to be able to get it (i.e. at my house) by Friday

Triban 5 is a great bike for the money. The frame has carbon rear stays if I remember correctly which is unheard of for £500 and worth upgrading later

thats the main SP for me on that one

Colleague at work has a btwin, cheapest they do and is a very nice bike for the money. Not particulary a heavy bike either.Seems to keep up with more expensive machinery, easily.

Spanner in the works is a year old cannondale caad sora 8 for £350! Would need a better chainset but thats only £50 on top

Have a read of this.
It’s the review of the £300 version of the Btwin, they seem to like it a lot 😀

If it was me I’d take the cannondale for that price. Good bike. Merlin sell a full 10 speed tiagra group for £300. Buy that and sell the old stuff on eBay (£150). £500 spent for a great frame with a brand new 10 speed tiagra group

Thats my current thinking

Caad bought and paid for