Which Comfort Road bike for £800

Hi everyone,
I have recently got back on my back after a few years out and have started commuting. I am currently trying to persuade my employers to set up a Cycle2Work scheme and have begun researching in the hope that they say yes. I have decided on a road bike, but one which is a bit more comfortable than an all out racing bike. My budget for bike is around £800 (leaving me enough to buy shoes, pedals, lights etc).
I think I have narrowed it down to 3 bikes:
Specialized Allez Elite
Trek 1.7
Felt Z70
My questions are:
a) Is there anything, other than personal preferences that separates these bikes?
b) Is there a better value/better specced bike out there that I have missed?
This will be my first ever road bike after nearly 18 years of mountain biking, touring and commuting on a Rigid Saracen MTB. Is there anything I desparately need to know about this style of riding? (I don't even know how to change the gears on a road bike!)
I have recently got back on my back after a few years out and have started commuting. I am currently trying to persuade my employers to set up a Cycle2Work scheme and have begun researching in the hope that they say yes. I have decided on a road bike, but one which is a bit more comfortable than an all out racing bike. My budget for bike is around £800 (leaving me enough to buy shoes, pedals, lights etc).
I think I have narrowed it down to 3 bikes:
Specialized Allez Elite
Trek 1.7
Felt Z70
My questions are:
a) Is there anything, other than personal preferences that separates these bikes?
b) Is there a better value/better specced bike out there that I have missed?
This will be my first ever road bike after nearly 18 years of mountain biking, touring and commuting on a Rigid Saracen MTB. Is there anything I desparately need to know about this style of riding? (I don't even know how to change the gears on a road bike!)
0
Posts
+ cheap road/commuting bike
I tried the Giant SR2 at my LBS and didn't like it very much, I'm 5'10" and tried a M frame size, and found it a bit to short. Maybe a longer stem would help.
I also tried a Trek Pilot 2.1 which was great, except it was £1100 and the staff knew my budget was £6-700. grrrr. I believe that the Pilot is a 'comfort' road bike, and a bit of research has thrown up the Focus Ergoride ST and the Specialized Sequoia as being similar layouts.
I'm going to try and find some to test ride, but I'm down in Devon and there aren't a whole lot of bike shops to go to.
Lots of acceleration, but at the price of ride quality.
I'd look for a bike that's designed as a sports tourer. For £800, with your priorities, I'd look at a Surly Crosscheck or LHT. The Spec Tricross is worth a look too - tougher, better stopping and more versatile than an Allez; just change the tyres to road only.
Oh - big hint: make sure what ever bike you get can take decently wide tyres! Good 38mm tyres like Marathon Supremes can be fast and give excellent ride quality.
It wins as a commuter or light touring bike because unlike most £800 road bikes it's designed to take a rack. They'll fit one for you at a discount rate if you buy it with the bike.
I have an Agio Tiagra and I'm very happy with it.
test rode all the bikes you did, and have no regrest whatsoever in my Felt Z70. Completed 100 mile rid eon it last weekend and could not have asked for a better bike. Spec for price is better than both the allez elite and Trek, and it is oh so comfy geometry. Would recommend it to anyone, at least test it