It was after VAT at the time, but admittedly, it was on big sale at the German retailer.
Feel your pain re open doors - I used to have a wee woodwork side business in addition to my day job that I ended up closing because keeping the door open ended up costing 4 times more than before brexit. I know we're buggered, but knowing it doesn't mean that I wholeheartedly agree with it
"Cough cough"
Taps gavel on mahogany tabletop
"Ladies and gentlemen - may I bring this meeting back to the matter in hand"
My bike here, affectionately known as the TiBride, started life as a dawes discovery 601 hybrid , supplied new in 2004 due to my beautiful longstaff having been eaten by a car.
(I was spat out, but spent some time recovering a serious brain injury)
I bought in the dawes because it had touring geometry and IS disc mounts, so I could fit drop bars, 105 stis and avid bb7 calipers.
I don't really like aluminium frames beyond their function and weight, so I designed a frame using this and galaxy angles and lengths, but dropped the bb a couple of extra cm and adjusted tube length slightly to my own preference.
And a little extra tyre clearance.
I then got the frame made in 3/2.5 titanium alloy by XACD in China. A story in itself - but the workmanship is fantastic.
It now carries a hydro 105 compact 11 speed groupset with slx 11-40 cassette and hope road 4pot calipers.
Oh and Purple Pandas, as you can see.
The perfect bike