...your cheapest & nastiest Alu frame will be better than even a really good MTB on the road...weight, tyres etc....& as you noticed, fit. The Orbeas look ok to me. Don't forget, the quoted price is the 'asking'.....sometimes you can spec them up for only a little more...y'know, "I'll pay the asking on the bike, but how much extra to put THAT seat on" "what about if I buy THAT lid & this jersey"etc etc. Thers not huge nmargins on bikes (especially at the lower end), but the margins on 'after market' stuff are huge. They'll generally be able to do a lot better if you're looking at the 'whole shabang'......so when are ya doing it?...we want piccys!

hitchy