'Proper' road bike - Advice requested please!

RoB, have you looked on Bikeradar's classifed section? Loads of good stuff there.

Actually, he's got a point. If you're a tall lad, bashthebox's bike is awesome. The wheels on the Condor are fab as well, whereas with most new bikes, the wheel spec is a. the thing they skimp on first, and b. makes the most difference to the bike's feel and performance.

Have you considered second hand? I'm not just saying this because I'm trying to flog one of my bikes.
For your budget you can get something wonderful. (like a carbon Condor, just plucking an example out of the air).
No but seriously - unless I'm earning funny money, I very much doubt I'll ever buy a complete bike new again.

Which bike 'felt right'. You could get a quality bike but if it doesn't feel right then you won't enjoy it. Also looking to the future you can always upgrade components rathe than buying a new bike. When I got my Cannondale. As soon as I sat on the saddle I smiled and knew this is the one! Probably many on the forum will have had the same experience. As for the torque wrench. Many components now need tightened to a spcecic torque as over tightening will damage the component/frame/bearings. Is a very good investment

Well carbon is a precision material, so it's best to only tighten stuff as far as the stated torque rating. Where steel might just bend a bit (then you could bend it back) carbon would be damaged, so a torque wrench is recommended to prevent over-tightening. That said, I don't have one- I think they become more important if you use carbon bits that secured by bolts (bars/stem/seatpost) or need to affix cleats to carbon-soled shoes. I only have my frame in carbon so i don't worry about it.

Road buzz is the vibration you feel through the saddle/bars from less-than-great road surfaces, and alu tends to transmit this more than carbon, hence me thinking that maybe you meant the roubaix felt more plush/comfortable. Either way, it's a lovely bike.

Here's a question - is the LBS sorting a bike fit? That will make a big difference regardless of which bike you choose. It might also account for you feeling more at home on one particular bike, if they weren't all set up the same.

If you fancy it, and can afford it, go for the merc! Just don't blame us when you spend nearly as much again on kit!

First thing's first. You are about to receive an avalanche of replies suggesting that you should buy something else. Planet-X, Ribble, Cervelo, Canyon and a few others will probably be mentioned. Yes, maybe you could have more bike for less cash. However, you've got a decent shortlist, and an LBS that (by the sounds of it) you're happy with and that let you ride their bikes. That's a great start, so I reckon stick with that.

I think any of these would be a good purchase. When you say that the carbon bike feels better quality, can you explain what you mean? Is it the handling, components, or that the feeling of road buzz is muted on the Roubaix?

Chris is correct above that good alloy can be more satisfying than cheap carbon, and that the Roubaix isn't cheap carbon - it's a quality bike.

If you buy the alu, are you the kind of person (like me) who will be hankering after the Roubaix in a couple of years anyway? Will the extra cost hurt your pocket? Only you can decide on whether that's justified really.

Bear in mind though that if you start going out on Sunday mornings as well, and trying to up your speed, before long you'll be hankering after other bits as well - "hmmm, I'll go faster with a good pedalling technique mated to clipless pedals - I'll need shoes as well" - "hmmm, that commuting jacket isn't so handy once the weather has warmed up - I need something more compact that I can put in a pocket" - "hmmm, these shorts are great for a 10-mile run to work, but they chafe by the time I'm halfway through a 40-mile run on a Sunday - time for some new ones!" - "am I going any faster? I need a computer!"

Good luck!

Three nice bikes.
I agree you shouldn't get hung up on carbon, as a good alloy frame can perform better than poorly made carbon one.
The Roubaix, however, is a well made carbon frame that will out-perform the Secteur in every respect except the price, so if you can really afford it then why not spend the extra cash and get the better bike?
Carbon is different, but don't panic about it. Look after your bike in the normal way, with regular careful cleaning when it gets dirty or wet, and if there are any cracks or notches you'll spot them, same as with an alloy or steel frame. No need for professional inspection, unless you actually find a crack or the bike has had a severe impact like in a crash.
Do budget for a torque wrench though...