Entry level road bike - which one?

[EventHorizon]

Having ridden a mtb for many years i am looking at getting into a bit of road riding as it's something i can do without having to travel to the trails before i start. I'd like to do some kind of event on it once my fitness levels are up.

Can someone advise on a decent entry level bike within my price range. (im quite tall if that makes any difference)

Bikes i am looking at:

1. Carrera Vanquish
2. Claude B Criterion
3. Btwin Triban
4. Coyote Route 66

Budget is about £200ish 2nd hand.

Also what types of events are there to take part in? I've heard of Sportive's & TT but dont really know what they involve. Apart from the TT being against the clock. Not looking for anything to serious to begin with, but i do have a competitive streak within.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

EventHorizon said:

Having ridden a mtb for many years i am looking at getting into a bit of road riding as it's something i can do without having to travel to the trails before i start. I'd like to do some kind of event on it once my fitness levels are up.

Can someone advise on a decent entry level bike within my price range. (im quite tall if that makes any difference)

Bikes i am looking at:

1. Carrera Vanquish
2. Claude B Criterion
3. Btwin Triban
4. Coyote Route 66

Budget is about £200ish 2nd hand.

Also what types of events are there to take part in? I've heard of Sportive's & TT but dont really know what they involve. Apart from the TT being against the clock. Not looking for anything to serious to begin with, but i do have a competitive streak within.

Thanks

If you are looking second hand, ignore the stuff you listed and search for things like a specialised allez, a trek 1.2 and or a giant defy. These are the common entry level road bikes usually starting at around £500 new so a 2010 bike should e within budget. There should be a few around. I can't tell you how much better adding just £50 to the budget will help. If you can stretch to £300, you should find a really nice second hand bike like this though be prepared to lose a few auctions first as the sun has come out and lots of people will be bidding!!

Sportives are mass participation events, usually varying distances up to 100 miles. Some will have shorter routes around 30 and 60 miles all starting and finishing at the same place. They are good fun and social.

Time trials are as you say against the clock. Most clubs run them, common distances are 10 and 25 miles with most finishers between 20-30 minutes and 55-70 respectively though it does depend on the course. It's a true test of ability.... Yes some people will be on professional standard bikes but most won't. Find your local club and get to a weekend ride. If they have a website it will have info on routes, distances and pace.

But really just enjoy it, use an online tool like www.strava.com to log your rides, become obsessed, convince yourself that you could justify £3000 on a bicycle and you will be like the rest of us!!!

[Some Gump]

+ 1 for strata.
Sportives are like big group rides with strangers - fun. It non competitive. 5% of entrants think sportives are races; it may or may not be coincidence that 5% of roadies are arsehiles.

Tt's are also brill fun, as it's you vs yourself. I've only done a few so far, on a normal road bike with mudguards, pump, lights, saddle bag etc. no negativity from anyone, including the serious lot with pointy hats and disc wheels.

Whatever you get, have fun!

[Accelebrate]

pablo said:

If you are looking second hand, ignore the stuff you listed and search for things like a specialised allez, a trek 1.2 and or a giant defy. These are the common entry level road bikes usually starting at around £500 new so a 2010 bike should e within budget.

I found that I had little luck bidding on entry level stuff from the big names. Everyone has heard of and wants an entry level Specialized or Trek and they often seem to go for north of £400, which doesn't make financial sense when you factor in the wear and tear from two or three years use, you might as well buy new.

I had more look searching for the smaller names, which was how I ended up with a Ribble with a mixture of Sora and Tiagra for £250.

[benny.c]

This Allez is for sale on another (non-bike) forum I use for £250. Although quite an old model it looks like a really nice bike and supposedly has only done around 300 dry miles.

[gingerpaul]

If you're near a big event with cycling in I'd recommend checking them out and seeing what the shops exhibiting have. I got my bike at the Windsor triathlon last year and got almost 40% off list on a current model bike after some negotiation.

[Potatoes]

I'll be selling my 2012 Specialized Allez Elite (Tiagra), size 54 for ~£500 on eBay shortly.

Was waiting for the sun to come out before putting it up!

[Matt_N]

Potatoes said:

I'll be selling my 2012 Specialized Allez Elite (Tiagra), size 54 for ~£500 on eBay shortly.

Was waiting for the sun to come out before putting it up!

I'm all for a bit of budget creep, but that's 2.5 times the OP's original budget!

Other entry level bikes to keep an eye out on Bike Radar and eBay are the Felt F95 and Boardman Sport.

[Potatoes]

Matt_N said:

Potatoes said:

I'll be selling my 2012 Specialized Allez Elite (Tiagra), size 54 for ~£500 on eBay shortly.

Was waiting for the sun to come out before putting it up!

I'm all for a bit of budget creep, but that's 2.5 times the OP's original budget!

Other entry level bikes to keep an eye out on Bike Radar and eBay are the Felt F95 and Boardman Sport.

Sorry!! Didn't read the post closely enough.

[EventHorizon]

benny.c said:

This Allez is for sale on another (non-bike) forum I use for £250. Although quite an old model it looks like a really nice bike and supposedly has only done around 300 dry miles.

Thanks benny. You have mail.

[EventHorizon]

gingerpaul said:

If you're near a big event with cycling in I'd recommend checking them out and seeing what the shops exhibiting have. I got my bike at the Windsor triathlon last year and got almost 40% off list on a current model bike after some negotiation.

Sounds like a good idea, do you know of any big events in the midlands?.

[EventHorizon]

I think ive picked the worst time to buy (although this weekend may of helped). Spotted a nice Trek 1200.
Is this good enough & is it worth £280?.

Edited by EventHorizon on Sunday 28th April 19:53

[944fan]

I also looking for my 1st Road bike in the same budget and I have found this is not a good time to buy. I need a big bike 61"+ frame, and they are not as common. Looking for a Spesh Allez and some on Ebay are going 2nd hand not far of what you can get them new for.

Think I may wait for the autumn.

[littleandy0410]

benny.c said:

This Allez is for sale on another (non-bike) forum I use for £250. Although quite an old model it looks like a really nice bike and supposedly has only done around 300 dry miles.

I have also sent you a PM, in case EventHorizon is not interested in this.

A friend is after a bike on a similar budget, and Decathlon have no stock of Triban3 bikes in his size.

[EventHorizon]

Had a scout around & based on slim pickings which would you choose out of these two:

Giant SCR 3 (upgraded wheels)
Trek 1.1

(no pm recieved re the allez?)

Edited by EventHorizon on Sunday 28th April 21:28

[benny.c]

The Allez is for a sale on a forum which has no access to the sales section unless you have more than 50 posts. The seller is a PH'er though and he is now aware of this thread. He's waiting for a mate to decide if he wants the bike but will send a pm to interested parties if it is available.

[anonymous-user]

benny.c said:

This Allez is for sale on another (non-bike) forum I use for £250. Although quite an old model it looks like a really nice bike and supposedly has only done around 300 dry miles.

I had one of those last winter, I sold it for the same price and it wasn't as nice as that one. Good bikes.

[littleandy0410]

benny.c said:

The Allez is for a sale on a forum which has no access to the sales section unless you have more than 50 posts. The seller is a PH'er though and he is now aware of this thread. He's waiting for a mate to decide if he wants the bike but will send a pm to interested parties if it is available.

Thank you!

[HereBeMonsters]

EventHorizon said:

Had a scout around & based on slim pickings which would you choose out of these two:

Giant SCR 3 (upgraded wheels)
Trek 1.1

(no pm recieved re the allez?)

Edited by EventHorizon on Sunday 28th April 21:28

The Giant.

The Trek is the most basic of basic. The 1.2 is a massive upgrade on the 1.1.

[anonymous-user]

I know a cat 2 who rides a Trek 1000, he won at Hog Hill last season.

Any known brand bike is 'good enough'