In 2014 I took a longtime rider friend looking for a new bike. (She had no car.) We hit every nearby LBS and she tested every available brand. The last dealer had a Synapse in her size. I made no attempt to convince her on a bike, but I did tell her "I've never heard anyone say anything bad about a synapse." She decided to test it, and disappeared riding around LA for 35 minutes. The sales guy and I ran out of bicycle conversation while waiting! Her response to the test, "I am one with this bike". Buy what you like, but remember the ride is more than the price, and components can always be changed.