Hi folks,

I’m struggling with choice. I have a £2.5k bike to work voucher and looking to get a road bike for commuting, getting fit and maybe aiming for etap Caledonia or Loch Ness next year.

5’8″ 82kg and 29inch inside leg

I’ve got a dilemma. I have set the budget at £2,500.

Was looking circa £2,200 for the bike and some accessories.

I have three options:

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/defy-advanced-1

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/defy-advanced-pro-3-2016 but can get the carbon wheelset upgrade Giant PSLR for £500

Or

http://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=7ad43adf-0545-4ed9-87d1-c8b2f2776bc7&parentid=undefined

What would you go for. Given that I’m 5’8 and 29inch inside leg I would go for the 51 in the cannondale and 54 in trek after throwing my leg over.

What do you reckon? Any other bikes I should consider? Overall voucher is £2,500.

Thanks

Alan

dont think youd go wrong with either – id go giant personally at that budget

defy Pro 0 (disc, dura ace) at Paul’s Cycles for around that much. Super Six Evo Ultegra for 1500.

My wife’s got a Synapse 105 and it’s a great bike. It’s not on your list but I”ve got a Scott Solace, and really rate that too.

Defy is the raciest of your list. I’d go for the carbon wheels, as realistically that is why you want discs on a road bike in the first place. You want a medium.

I went for a Defy for my first road bike in 30 years and I love it. I wouldn’t though really call it an ideal commuter. The new Race Blade XLs do work very well on it and it’s less than a minute to take them off or put them on but for a commuter I’d prefer to have mudguard fittings and of course a rack does make commuting more pleasant than using a backpack.