Sorry for this topic, I know it's probably covered every 5 days with varying degrees of budget. However, I am now in the market for a new road bike. In fact, my first ever road bike.

I've ridden hybrids and mountain bikes all my life, but now want something to go to work on and to keep up with fellow riders without exerting too much effort like I did on my hybrid.

My budget ranges really. I've got £300 from selling my old bike, can add another £200. So £500 before we're into finance, which isn't ideal.

Bikes I've looked at and am interested in are:

B'twin Triban 500SE - TRIBAN 500 SE Road Bike, Black B'TWIN - All Bikes Cycling...
Cannondale CAAD8 Claris (2014) Cannondale CAAD8 8 Claris 2014 Road Bike | Evans Cycles
Scott Speedster 6 - Buy Scott Speedster 60 2015 - Road Bike at Tredz Bikes. £499.00 with free UK delivery

Like most people, I'd like to get the very best bike I can for the lowest possible cost. I am not really that interested in 2nd hand bikes, mainly because I don't want to rely on the owners word for condition, and like new things!

I'm obviously open to other bikes, so feel free to add them!

I'm 186cm tall and 32.5inch inside leg. So I *think* I am 56cm frame.

Cheers for any help!

Hard to go wrong with a Cannondale for quality, I also like Scott bikes and they will usually give you a little more bang for your buck compared to the big names. Here are a few others that come to mind all of which are about equal. At the price point you're shopping there's nothing that stands out. Here are some others in your price range.

Specialized Bicycle Components
Raleigh Bicycles - Revenio 3
1.1 - Trek Bicycle
Z100 - Felt Bicycles

I had the 2014 caad8 claris. I really liked it. Obviously the claris group isnt the smoothest thing in the world and the wheels suck but otherwise the bike really taught me a lot. I ended up selling it for a good price too

The Cannondale is the best bike of those three, IMHO. The other two have pretty junky gearing on them (Microshift for the B'Twin, low end Shimano Tourney for the Scott). Shimano Claris on the Cannondale isn't the greatest, but it works well, and is uses the same style shifters (levers rather than thumb buttons) as higher end Shimano groups. The Cannondale is the best deal and the best bike I think.

Trek 1.1 or Cannondale. Can't go wrong with either, but if you are really splitting hairs go with Cannondale

I'd give it to the C'dale as the Trek 1.1 has aluminum forks, C'dale has carbon.

EDIT: OK I'm out of date, a new 1.1 has carbon forks too.

Might want to try some bikes at the shop but you should be between a 56-58cm. I'm 185cm and a 56 fit me pretty well but I felt like a little more reach would be nice. I ended up buying a 57, my brother is the same height and rides a 56. Not exactly a huge deal but possibly saved me some cash from wanting a slightly longer stem at some point.

If you can afford it they make the Caad8 with better groups as well

C'dale...no contest! (Although, you could get a lot more bike for your budget if you were to buy used)

Brilliant thanks for your help.

I went to my local bike shop and they wouldn't even let me swing a leg unless I paid a deposit as they wanted to do a full setup using a computer type system. I did however see a 58cm caad 8 and it was absolutely huge. 56cm looks better, which is around the M/L Giant I also looked at.

How do places like that stay in business/ They'd make used car salesmen look good! LOL! That is about my experience with most LBS's...they just want to take your money. The bigger the show they want to put-on, the more they want to take. How absurd!

Time for a new bike shop. Haha I think you must be exaggerating or the deposit was to ensure that you returned from your test ride.

Is it refundable? I would go elsewhere but there are dozens of Bike Shops within 30 miles of my home so it isn't a big deal form me to move on. I understand them wanting to do a basic fit, but I don't see the point of putting a deposit when you are deciding between so many models.

Well, I kinda knew it was going to happen. The snobbery seems exclusive within both my bike shops. All I wanted to do was have a sit on one and see if it felt ok. I can adjust a bike myself, I really don't need or want to shave 0.001 off of my PB by having the perfect fit, as I don't have a PB and don't care.

Next few bikes to add to the list for consideration:

Merlin Performance PR7 Road Bike | Merlin Cycles
Felt F95 Road Bike - 2014 | Merlin Cycles
Buy Specialized Allez 2015 - Road Bike at Tredz Bikes. £480.00 with free UK delivery

Bought a specialized allez sport in a 56cm frame in the end!

Pic?

It's being delivered some time next week. 2014 model, saved a few pennies.

Good choice man good choice