Looking to buy road bike for £500 to £600 - suggestions?

[MHB]

I'm afraid this is another boring what bike question, I have a decent mountain bike but have been doing increasing road miles so have decided to take the plunge and buy a road bike. Budget will be £500 to £600, but unfortunately have no idea what are the decent brands, what specification to look out for or what to avoid.

Can any guidance be offered based on your experiences?

[Cupramax]

I think if I were you I'd go just over your budget and get an Allez

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...

[esuuv]

slightly OT but related - I know of that exact allez (the 2010) with a 54cm frame for sale at a very reasonable price - PM me if interested, or anyone else for that matter.

[castex]

I was in Halfords Bike Hut last weekend and they had Boardman road frames selling at £50. Not sure what frame exactly, but people do seem to like these bikes and you might be able to get it built up with some spiffy wheels for the right money.

[Garlick]

My Giant Defy was £500, and I'm very pleased with it.

See here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[okgo]

Cupramax said:

I think if I were you I'd go just over your budget and get an Allez

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...

From what I have seen in my bike buying exploits, Specialized are amongst the most expensive or each price range, but the wrost specced..

[Cupramax]

So critical of my post, yet offering nothing as an alternative to the OP... most usefull

[okgo]

Cupramax said:

So critical of my post, yet offering nothing as an alternative to the OP... most usefull

Just saying, I had 1k to spend so not sure, but if the 600 allez is anything like the 900 one then the same will ring true

[Roman]

Check this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Boardman (Halfords) and Decathlon both offer excellent roadbikes around this price.
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-3-54-57-728842...

[72twink]

With road bikes more than any other type of bike "fit" is the most important thing to consider over brand, better to go to a decent bike shop and look at and try all the bikes in your price range than go for any one particular brand. I ride a Ribble 7005 SL with Campag group, I was fortunate to be in the area as Ribble will cherry pick the parts to fit you once you've had a sit on their adjustable jig - but I'd still happily make the trek to them to get a proper fitting - the price was a very competitive £700 (3 years ago)

[MHB]

Many thanks for all the responses, certainly some food for thought there.

[anonymous-user]

the boardman cannot be faulted, the only issue some people have is the bulid quality. go to the shop, talk to the people selling the bike, if they talk like a cyclist and you trust them, get them to build it, if not, buy it boxed, take it home, build it yourself. they dont need much work to complete. just butting the bars on and checking everything is tight.

have a look at what b'twin sell at that price range. also the raleigh airlite range is pretty good.

brands like specialised, trek and giant all offer bikes at these sort of prices but i dont think they offer good value for money and trade on the name as people want the same bikes that lance et al ride....

if you can stretch the budget to £800 the orbea aqua gavia is a steal.

[cw42]

I got a specialized allez 16 a few months ago. Very happy with it. Just bought some crud road mudguards which make it a bit more comfortable on summer day downpours!
Highly recommended.
Can you get one on a bike to work scheme?

[whirlybird]

HI, just put one of my custom builds on ebay, go to bikes in cycling
and type CARRERA, SUNRACE, by YELO VELO, it may be of interest and well within your budget?
other builds also available.