Well I'm just sick of looking (not that I've done that much). Be buggered if I can find these mythical cheap prices, and no place seems to have any floor stock over about $1200. So I'm just going to cop a decent bike from one of the locals for a (hopefully only slightly) inflated price.

So basically we have the local shop here (Bathurst) who'll do me a Cannondale R900 for 3.2 (they wont negotiate on price). Were talking about an Avanti Corsa for $2900 until they couldn't get any until next year. Top priced model is the Giant TCR Composite 2 for about $3400. Would consider it but I'd get bagged to much by Hitchy so she's out.

I've got to talk with the Orange shop tomorrow. They will haggle on price so I expect them to get down to some other joints prices. Which from them will have a Trek 2000 for $3k, or the above mentioned Lemond for $2.7. The Lemond is basically comparable to the Trek, except with Carbon chainstay in addition to the seat stay of the Trek. Also has the Bontrager Race wheelset instead of the Select on the Trek. Plus other odds and ends means it's a lot better value. Last thing I'll be talking with the Orange shop is whether they can do my a funky Orbea for around the price. That could be a dark horse. Would have talked to them about a Felt around the price, but nobody I've talked to claims they have any clue about getting bikes off Felt.

I'd like the Cannondale, but just to scared that it would bash me up to bad riding out here (I know you're wondering how a dude can bush bash a suspensionless mluntainbike for so many years and worry about being bashed up. I'm not gettng any younger though. ). Not sure of the wheelset plus I know the brakes are crappy on them. Probably overpriced. Lemond seems to be the best value of all so far.