jaxgtr

No clue about Canyon, sorry, I was just referencing your statement on taking the Canyon to your LBS and asking them to work on it. That's all.

N2deep

I think two of the best are the Domane SLRs and the Diverge Carbons. Both designs mitigate road chatter which I find essential for consideration due to the condition of our roads and it also helps if you elect to do a little gravel. Another consideration should be tire width. Disk brakes typically allow for a little wider tires, this too helps reduce the chatter and opens up other possibilities like gravel,rides.

have fun

cj3209

I'm only using Canyon as an example of an online-only bike company. There are others such as Lauf. You'll find that an online bike company's pricing is what sets it apart from other bike companies with local dealers; they are less expensive with similar components to Trek, etc. You look at the bike frame's geometry and top tube height and use their general recommendations for sizing. Adjustments can be made in the seat posts and handlebar/stem height. Unless you have very unusual physical dimensions, with all online return policies, it is very convenient to order a bike online, especially with the LBS supply constraints. Most bikes can be assembled in 30 minutes or less, usually front wheel, seat post, and handlebar/stem installation, which is relatively easy. Admittedly, returns are a bit of a PITA but it's not too bad as they will usually provide a return label.

Hope this helps as an option for you to get the bike you want!

PeteHski

Canyon are top quality bikes at a competitive price (cutting out the retailer margin). No better than Specialized, Trek, Giant, Cannondale, etc, etc, but just as good. In general you tend to get a level up on component spec for a given price point.
Fit is only really an issue if you are between frame sizes, otherwise you simply pick the frame size based on your current bike and preferences.

To be honest I find most shops harder to deal with and these days they rarely carry much inventory anyway. Demos seem a lot harder to arrange too. So even if I was buying a bike from a local shop I would probably end up ordering the bike from them online to get the mandatory 30 day return policy. I just had this exact discussion with a local shop when enquiring about a demo ride on a Bianchi Infinito. They have no plans to get any demo bikes for 2022 but they do have a 30 day ride and return policy if you buy online (but not if you buy in shop!). They don't have any bikes to even sit on in the shop. It was all very different 20 years ago when you could simply borrow a demo bike for the weekend from almost any shop.

dmanthree

That part about physical dimensions, well, I'm an outlier. I'm 5' 9" tall with a 34" inseam. So I always need to swap parts, like the stem, or flip it, or substitute bars with something "upswept." Just me, of course, but that's my reality. My current ride, a 2017 Roubaix, is as close to a stock bike as I've ever owned. All I had to do is flip the stem since it already had upswept bars and a more relaxed geometry. So I'll keep it for a while.