Sorry KDDD been out all day and didn't see your reply.

What you will often see is a bike with an average frame 'sexed up' with half-decent componentry but a price tag way above the value of the frame if that makes sense. But what you can buy instead is a bike with a good frame and ordinary components and thats where I think you should go IMHO. It depends on what you can stretch to budget wise but try to go for an all-carbon frame (although this will be ?1K plus) and if not then go for carbon main tubes and forks (the rest would be alloy). But speak to Alex and get his advice because him and Tim are superb and know far more than I ever will. All I know is that I have five Specialized bikes and they're all superb and on a day like today there really is little to beat riding a beautiful bike around Norfolk.

Posted By: Chopper, Mar 11, 18:05:36