New bike - Felt / Bianchi / Cannondale

ramsus

I'm looking for a new bike around the 900 pound or less mark - frame size is a 58. My only other main demands are that it has to have is at least Tiagra shifters as I find having to use thumbs to operate the Sora's quite irritating.

ive done quite a lot of research and narrowed it down to the following :
does anyone have any experience to recomend or discount any of these ?
Many thanks in advance

Cannondale CAAD8 105 - for 900 (10% off at the moment)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad-8-105-compact-2010-road-bike-ec020232

Cannondale CAAD9 tiagra - for 900 (10% off at the moment)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad-9-tiagra-compact-2010-road-bike-ec020238

Bianchi nirone 105 - for 900 (10% off at the moment)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/via-nirone-7-105-2010-road-bike-ec021255

Felt Z45 tiagra but cardon frame - 880
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Felt_Z45_2009/5360038954/

pianoman

Where is the Bianchi?

Is it this one, due in at the end of January:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bia ... e-ec021256

Would probably go for either that or the black Cannondale, purely on looks, there isn't much to choose between them really. Then again, the '09 Cannondale has 105 groupset, which would be more future proof for 10 speed.

Looks or function - the choice is yours........

Anonymous

One of the Cannondales. Defo.

The CAAD8 if it's more for leisure riding / sportives or the CAAD9 if it's for racing...

pianoman

Looks like I've got you thinking Bianchi here........post got edited :P

That's a good choice, alloy frame with 105 and a nice cushy carbon post? Can't be bad, you're not going to get much better this year for that money unless you're willing to take a gamble by buying "direct" a la Ribble/Planet X.

ramsus

I meant to include the bianchi from the start but got a bit over excited

No recomendations for the Felt ? I was thinking maybe it was the best frame and i could upgrade the other bits later on if need be.

ceeque

I could`nt "recommend" the Felt but it is certainly the one that I would want and am sorely tempted by that very offer!
For an "all day in the saddle" kind of bike and its comfort set up it seems to suit me perfectly ... but then again I`m an `ol git and seems right for me!

Porta105

Also on wiggle, although not your initally listed brands;

Focus Cayo http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus_Cayo_105_2009/5360037591/

Raleigh Avanti http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Raleigh_Avanti_Carbon_Comp_2009/5360045523/

Robi45

Bianchi surely? Its got the best (Ambrosio) rims too.

Runoutofgears

I like the Bianchi, but I'm biased!

If you want a racey bike, the CAAD 9 seems to get a lot of good feed back, frame looks well made, but I still bought a Bianchi.

JesseD

Bianchi looks the prettiest, but the best riding frame will be one of the Cannondales. I honestly believe that they offer the best bang for your buck at that price point.

Then again I am a massive canondale fan (but don't take my word for it read the reviews)