I liked the Merckx AXM all right until I threw my leg over an Orbea Orca. Despite the fact the that 54 was too small, and the 57 too big, the Orca had a sitffer BB, livelier road feel and gave the sense of a stronger connection to the road than the Merckx did. Like the Scott CR1, the Merckx made me want to say a Hail Mary or two before cornering hard, from the sensation that the bike wasn't really underneath me.