I vote... Orbea.

But, then again, I'm partial. Below is a link to my roadie girl...
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ht=candy+sweet

I have been happy with my choice. My only regret is not getting the Diva (original plan). The stock got sold out long story short and for slightly heavier frame (and lighter price tag), the Onix was the ticket.

I got Candy primarily due to my old bike being the wrong frame size for me. But, I knew I did not want aluminum again. My aluminum bike did have a carbon fork, and carbon seat post w/Shimano 105 gruppo. So, good quality bike overall.

The aluminum with my roads were just not a comfortable combo. The nasty country chip and seal with the alum frame was like a tuning fork vibrating my teeth outta my skull. No more. Candy's carbon does exactly what it's suppose to in my op & expectation... suck the road right up... and keep it from beating ME up.

The Orbea Onix was just featured in one of the last few months Bicycling mags as great "bargain carbon" buys. It's the model you are looking at. My TDF was more w/the Ultegra sl gruppo. But, once you have the frame, you can always upgrade components later etc.

My next thing to do will be add a carbon bar and stem. Yea... more $ if crashed, but I'm so sold on carbon's cush, I'm willing to risk it for even more comfort.

FWIW.

Good luck shopping!
Miranda

p.s. It was Orbea's geometry that made me drive 5 hours round trip to test ride one after a local fit... after one ill fitting bike (my old alum bike), I did not want a brand that was another... Orbea's are just made for me (read: bike literally disappeared underneath me on parking lot test ride--a cycling 1st ever in my life--a happy thing).