Road bike - how much to spend

[john_p]

I've given up on getting a hybrid, I don't think I'll get enough benefit over my MTB-with-slicks.
So now I'm turning my attention to road bikes (albeit never having ridden one!)

How much should I spend? I was thinking about £500, new or second hand (if I can find something on Gumtree that's not nicked). I can't get on CycleScheme etc.

That said, I'd rather get good value than spend a specific amount. e.g. the Raleigh 100 for £300 seems a good deal, but if it's worth stretching a few hundred more I'm happy to do so. I don't mind upgrading with better bits as I get the use from it!

Edited by john_p on Wednesday 14th July 22:25

[s.m.h.]

I went out and bought a hybrid, now have bought a road bike!(Hybrid is on Ebay!)
TBH it just doesnt have enough gears for the journey I do and found myself coasting down fast hills and walking up steep ones! Hills that my old GT mtb easily coped with.

Similar budget to you, I was looking at the 200/300 for a little more but was recommended a Fuji Roubaix 3 which I got price matched at Evans for £550.

The Specialized Allez (£499) gets good write ups but from the chat I had with a guy at a bike shop, they tend to have a lower spec than others in that price range.

[JPJ]

At £500 there are a few bikes around - one of the magazines is doing a review of that price point this month (green cover - sorry can't remember the title) so that might be worth a look. For that money you will be looking at low level components, but these can be replaced over time as they wear out, as long as you have a good frame in the first place.

The other option is to go second hand from the more reputable sites such as BikeRadar, RoadCC etc. I will also add that there are classifieds for bikes on Pistonheads (I may even have something for sale advertised at that sort of price but I'm not pushing that particular bike to you).

Good luck.

[alfa pint]

Claud Butler do some pretty reasonable road bikes that are good value for money. San Remo for £300 odd isn't bad at all.

[john_p]

Looks like the 2011 Specialized Allez is about to come out, does this mean that 2010 bikes will get reduced by any significant amount?

[boolay]

£525... on a Giant Defy 3.5

[option click]

john_p said:

Looks like the 2011 Specialized Allez is about to come out, does this mean that 2010 bikes will get reduced by any significant amount?

You can get some really good deals on end-of-season stock, but you need to be quick/lucky as the popular sizes all sell out very quickly.

I bagged my mountain bike in an end of season sale - £1500 off!

[NUEZ]

Recently bought a Specialized Allez. To be fair it is my first road bike, but extremly happy with it after 1000 or so miles.

I was weighing up hybrid vs road for a few months and so glad I went for the road option

[john_p]

I tried an Allez Sport today and felt a bit stretched, but the Secteur Sport felt fine. Both had horrible saddles though. Didn't ride them, just tried in the shop. Will need to return for a test-ride! I think the Allez would have been better if I'd moved the saddle forward a bit, but it was hard to be sure as there were no pedals on..

Triple vs compact double, I'm reasonably fit but live in a hilly area, is a triple worth the extra?

Edited by john_p on Friday 16th July 16:00

[PH5121]

I recently bought my first road bike since childhood.
I had a budget of £500 but ended up going slightly over and got a Giant Defy 3.
I like it, it is a triple, has mountings for mudguards, is okay spec wise (but not great), but the main thing was I liked how it felt comfort wise, and there are two local bike shops who are Giant agents.

[Session]

Bear in mind that £500 is entry level for a proper quality road bike. Most big brands do bikes from around £500 to £7000 so at this price point you're getting a basic bike although a decent quality one.

The Raleigh's are the best budget ones I've seen so wworth a look. I'd rather increase my budget and get something from a big brand liek Trek, Specialized, Giant etc or go 2nd hand.

[Dunk76]

john_p said:

I tried an Allez Sport today and felt a bit stretched, but the Secteur Sport felt fine.

Triple vs compact double, I'm reasonably fit but live in a hilly area, is a triple worth the extra?

I preferred the Secteur over the Allez - the geometry on the Secteur just suited me better, didn't feel like it was trying to get away from me all the time. Apparently it was designed with MTB riders in mind, i.e. people not used to razor sharp responses

It's worth pointing out that a decent bike shop will (or should) get you to ride around outside under the gaze of the advisor; Theoretically the 60cm frame is plenty big enough for me, but as I've got a reasonably long back for my height, I ended up too far over the front of the thing - so they recommended the 62cm. They could have sent me home on the 60, as I wouldn't have known the difference.

[Superhoop]

I got a 2009 Trek 1.2 compact a couple of months ago for £440 - It seemed pretty welll priced to me, as the 2010 bike is almost identical except for colour, and retails at £675

It came from a shop called Bike+ in Croydon. They seem to be primarily a Trek dealer, but worth a look - When I was looking, they had the Trek 1.5c at abround £500, with this years bike retailing at abouy £800

http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/

[john_p]

I might keep an eye on the 2011 range and see if they discount the 2010s at that time. Specialized dealer offered 10% off straightaway so I think that might be a deal. I have to book a "test ride" though, with a week's notice.. it was easier buying an M3

Edited by john_p on Saturday 17th July 20:40

[waheikedawn]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Ex...

[Sarkmeister]

waheikedawn said:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Ex...

I noticed that the other day, it's an incredibly good deal.

[Daveyraveygravey]

NUEZ said:

I was weighing up hybrid vs road for a few months and so glad I went for the road option

I really think hybrids are for people who aren't that into cycling. I'm not trying to offend anyone who has just bought one, but it is the jack of all trades, master of none thing. I would rather get two 2nd hand bikes than one that didn't really do it in either situation, but that is just my opinion.

I am looking for a £500 ish road bike to replace my ancient specialised. Saw an ad for Forme bikes that looked quite good, but haven't read any opinions or reviews on them.

You can get some amazing deals on ebay, but you have to be quick and patient, and you could get seriously mugged.

[princeperch]

Superhoop said:

I got a 2009 Trek 1.2 compact a couple of months ago for £440 - It seemed pretty welll priced to me, as the 2010 bike is almost identical except for colour, and retails at £675

It came from a shop called Bike+ in Croydon. They seem to be primarily a Trek dealer, but worth a look - When I was looking, they had the Trek 1.5c at abround £500, with this years bike retailing at abouy £800

http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/

I might get a Trek 1.2 with a triple myself. Looks a very good deal for the money.

[john_p]

waheikedawn said:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Ex...

I like that. Any idea whether it's closer geometry-wise to an Spec Allez or a Spec Secteur ?

[princeperch]

princeperch said:

Superhoop said:

I got a 2009 Trek 1.2 compact a couple of months ago for £440 - It seemed pretty welll priced to me, as the 2010 bike is almost identical except for colour, and retails at £675

It came from a shop called Bike+ in Croydon. They seem to be primarily a Trek dealer, but worth a look - When I was looking, they had the Trek 1.5c at abround £500, with this years bike retailing at abouy £800

http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/

I might get a Trek 1.2 with a triple myself. Looks a very good deal for the money.

Well the Trek is sold out in my size. This http://www.fudgescyclestore.com/index.php?p=112482... looks pretty good VFM...