First road bike advice

deloco7

Hi folks,
I'm new to road bikes after having various MTB for the past 20 years. I'd like some advice and opinions. I realize I wont get a definitive answer but hopefully any replies will help sway me in my decisions.
I'm looking for a first road bike - not for racing but certainly for long-ish rides 15-20 miles plus (is that a long ride these days???). It needs to be reasonably comfortable and suit a 6'3", 15 stone 40 year old.
I've kind of narrowed my choice down to 4 possibles but I'm open to any other suggestions. I live in an area of the UK with only 1 LBS and unfortunately choice is very limited (as in the fact that none of the bikes I've picked are available there) - I need to go elsewhere - North of Scotland mainland or online.
Here's my shortlist Trek 1.2, Cannondale Synapse Tiagra, Specialized Allez Sport or Giant Defy 2. They are all about the £800 mark and I don't know the difference between most of the specs or components. Any advice gratefully appreciated.
Thanks, Del.

Wrath Rob

They are all good bikes so you won't go too far wrong with any of them. However, if you can take them out for a test ride, make sure that you do. Differences in the bike geometries (angles of the tubes to each other and lengths of the tubes) can mean that one bike will be very aggressive/fast and less comfortable than an outwardly similar bike that is much more relaxed/comfortable.

As for components, I can't comment on Campagnolo but for Shimano you'd be wanting at least Tiagra if not 105 at that price point.

Alternatively go for an ever popular Ribble. Play around with their Bike Builder and and you can get a 7005 with Shimano 105 group set for less than £800

jonbristol

Get a good frame that will last you, go to a bike shop that will do a bike fit with your purchase - for free.

Possibly look at other bike manufactuers too because several of those you mentioned are made in the same factory so you are likely to get the same bike with different stickers.

Also, try as many as you can. Some will feel good, some bad. Spend time getting the right one for you and you will get the most out of it for years to come.

deloco7

Cheers guys,
I've done most of my browsing online so picked these 4 bikes on the basis of reviews for good first bikes and the fact that I've heard of all the makes through my MTB interest. There's a lot of manufacturers in the road bike scene I've never heard of so at the moment it's a bit bewildering. I know Shimano are highly rated but I've not really done any homework on the differences between Tiagra and 105's for example, or whether carbon forks are worth the premium over alloy etc.
Never heard of Ribble but will check them out online. Like I said earlier, my location is against me in regards to choice of bikes but will definitely try to get a test of as many as I can when the chance allows.

jonbristol

To be fair, if you spend £500 or more expect carbon forks as standard so that should answer your query there. Good time of year to buy at the mo as 2011 bikes are silly cheap.

Jackal79

I'm a beginner to road biking and I brought the Giant Defy 2 a few weeks back, I can't stay off it. If you shop around online I'm sure you can pick this one up for between £500-£600 at the moment. From all of the research I did at the time, all of the bikes you've listed are good.