First road bike advice

Wipster

Hey all,
As the title suggests I am after my first road bike and could do with a bit of advice from some experts.
My price range is in the 1-1.2k marker, using the cycle to work scheme and I am after a bike for commuting during the week and training at the weekend to supplement my rowing.
At the recommendation of a friend, I have taken measurements for the competitive cyclist bike fit calculator and come up with the following sizes:

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam:                84.5
Trunk:                 92.5
Forearm:               33
Arm:                   59.5
Thigh:                 61
Lower Leg:             53
Sternal Notch:         145
Total Body Height:     178


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c:   54.7 - 55.2
Seat tube range c-t:   56.4 - 56.9
Top tube length:       58.7 - 59.1
Stem Length:           12.2 - 12.8
BB-Saddle Position:    72.4 - 74.4
Saddle-Handlebar:      59.0 - 59.6
Saddle Setback:        6.6 - 7.0


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c:   55.9 - 56.4
Seat tube range c-t:   57.6 - 58.1
Top tube length:       58.7 - 59.1
Stem Length:           11.1 - 11.7
BB-Saddle Position:    71.6 - 73.6
Saddle-Handlebar:      59.8 - 60.4
Saddle Setback:        7.8 - 8.2


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c:   57.6 - 58.1
Seat tube range c-t:   59.3 - 59.8
Top tube length:       59.9 - 60.3
Stem Length:           11.3 - 11.9
BB-Saddle Position:    69.9 - 71.9
Saddle-Handlebar:      61.5 - 62.1
Saddle Setback:        7.3 - 7.7

A friend who works at Evans suggested the CAAD10 5 105, at size 56 as he said it comes up long. But looking at the cannondale frame size charts the top tube isn't in the suggested range even at the 58 frame. I have read this value is very important but as the calculator seems a quite long in comparison to others of my height, I thought best check.
I shall hopefully get some time to get down in the week to try some out

banditvic

Top Sugestion on bike, but you need to try for size.

Wipster

Well tried it on and a few others and it felt good in the 56 frame, the fitter at evans reconed because I had longer arms it was throwing the calc a bit.
And interestingly enough the CAAD10 in the showroom had the Shimano 105 brakes not the tektro ones, win.
Even managed to get an extra 10% off the sale price on the frame which was good

d3anharper

Are they giving you the 10% discount as well as cyclescheme? If so..... RESULT

Wipster

Yep, I know
Even tho its not on the list they will price match to discountcyclesdirect, if pushed heh. Which happened in this case to be an extra 10% off

crashmaster

went through the same processes recently -
i suggest you get fitted by a reputable shop - i've got slightly long arms, and they worked me around on that for 90mins.
my pre-buy research led to the specialized 2012 allez sports as head and shoulders in its class, with the cannondale a distant 2nd of 9 bikes tested. i test rode both after getting fitted for both, and the allez came up (for me, at least) as feeling sharper and more grunt on acceleration. both around the same price. and the allez has the 105 set - i'd go that set over the sora any day, worth the extra money, regardless of what bike (tried both sets, no contest). i'd also load up the (free) strava app on your phone - that'll keep you riding for glory happy days whatever you get

smidsy

crashmaster wrote:

went through the same processes recently - my pre-buy research led to the specialized 2012 allez sports as head and shoulders in its class, with the cannondale a distant 2nd of 9 bikes tested.

Wrong answer. I bet if you test drove a Ferrari and a Skoda you would prefer the Skoda