For the last couple of years I've had a Dawes Horizon touring bike which has been very reliable on longer rides and pretty easygoing around town. http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/da/dawes-horizon-2006-bike.jpg

I'm looking now for a road bike though with a budget of about £1,000. I'm leaning towards the Giant Defy 1 but what do the cycling people think of Boardman/Specialised/Ribble and any others?

To open up the thread a little, what's your best moment on a bike? It was on a mountain bike for me, going up a off-road mountain track on an island off the Brazilian coast and then descending like a madman to the beach on the other side of the island. Then the way back was torture but altogether the ride had the perfect mix of pain, stupidity and beautiful scenery.