Cheap road bike!
Discussion
All, looking for a cheap road bike for my 8 mile ride to work. Currently takes about 38 mins on my hardtail with knobby tyres.
I work flexitime so the earlier I can start work the earlier I can finish, so I would like to cut this down! I know i could get slicks for my moutainbike but I think id prefer to get a roadbike over compromising my weekend hooner.
Problem is.....I don't have much money at the moment! so I'd like to budget £300, I don't really mind if its new or used as long as its reliable!
Currently on my list is This
, this , this and this
I know you guys are used to discussing more expensive stuff, but some advice would be much appreciated, I've never had a road bike before.
I work flexitime so the earlier I can start work the earlier I can finish, so I would like to cut this down! I know i could get slicks for my moutainbike but I think id prefer to get a roadbike over compromising my weekend hooner.
Problem is.....I don't have much money at the moment! so I'd like to budget £300, I don't really mind if its new or used as long as its reliable!
Currently on my list is This
, this , this and this
I know you guys are used to discussing more expensive stuff, but some advice would be much appreciated, I've never had a road bike before.
I don't be tempted to go second hand or build up from parts. None of those bikes are bad bikes, but the savings are in thebbits you can't see, and if it's a daily commuter those are the bits that get a kicking and need replacing often.
I've just built up a new commuter from a 60s road frame, solid but heavy wheels, rack and guards. It's ugly but functional.
I've just built up a new commuter from a 60s road frame, solid but heavy wheels, rack and guards. It's ugly but functional.
The Mazani, Carrera are both good bikes for the price but I'd go for the Triban, mainly because the is a better range of sizes so you're much more likely to be on a bike that fits you properly, and to a lesser extent because I like the way it looks (personal preference). I would definitely not go for Roux - gears aren't as good.
IMO you're doing exactly the right thing by buying at this price point, especially as you're not sure at this stage how you'll get on with road cycling. This way you'll get a bike which you know is mechanically sound and that you can sell on at very little loss if you want to ditch it or upgrade.
IMO you're doing exactly the right thing by buying at this price point, especially as you're not sure at this stage how you'll get on with road cycling. This way you'll get a bike which you know is mechanically sound and that you can sell on at very little loss if you want to ditch it or upgrade.
I'd like to think I know a fair bit about mountain bikes, I just don't want to be faffing about with it on my commute to work else it will give me an excuse to hop in the car!
Like yours (think I've found it), most decent bikes I see on ebay are either too far away or only £50 off their RRP.
My mountain bike is a "premium" halfords number I bought 2nd hand, so I understand there are cheaper bearings and parts that go bad. (the pedals failed after 200 miles! the pedals I swapped over from my old 2002 Raleigh have no issues!)
I'll be sure to take a gander at the b'twin next time in Cov, I'm an odd size so need to ensure it wont shag my lower back!
Like yours (think I've found it), most decent bikes I see on ebay are either too far away or only £50 off their RRP.
My mountain bike is a "premium" halfords number I bought 2nd hand, so I understand there are cheaper bearings and parts that go bad. (the pedals failed after 200 miles! the pedals I swapped over from my old 2002 Raleigh have no issues!)
I'll be sure to take a gander at the b'twin next time in Cov, I'm an odd size so need to ensure it wont shag my lower back!
If you can hang on, then definitely try Gumtree or ebay and just keep looking regularly. I got the Mrs a Boardman Hybrid the other month, it's £500 in Halfords. Paid £325 for it and it came with £175 worth of accessories (lights, lock, tool kit, saddle bag, mudguards, service plan, bottle cage, bottle etc etc) that had been bought at the same time as the bike. We picked it up and paid for it in early May, the seller gave us the original Halfords receipt which had the bike and all the other stuff listed on it and they had only bought it 4 weeks earlier and she had decided to get a car for the commute after 1 journey on the bike. It just about fits me too, so even if the Mrs hadn't wanted it, I would have got it for myself to go with my other 2 bikes.
Pinkbike is more MTB-centric but does have some solid 2nd hand road bikes for sale - something like https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1805241/ looks pretty ok. As long as you have some knowledge of gears/brakes/maintainance, 2nd hand is going to get you a better bike. It can take patience though!
I want to start cycling and I'm in a similar position to you budget wise
I popped into my local Decathlon in MK last weekend and they recommended either:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bik... (which I think is the one you were looking at)
Or for slightly more money (but from memory - better front shocks, tyres and a few other little bits) - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-r...
I've just had confirmation of my bonus so i'm going to go for the later (the question is red or black!)
I popped into my local Decathlon in MK last weekend and they recommended either:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bik... (which I think is the one you were looking at)
Or for slightly more money (but from memory - better front shocks, tyres and a few other little bits) - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-r...
I've just had confirmation of my bonus so i'm going to go for the later (the question is red or black!)
Paraicj said:
Pinkbike is more MTB-centric but does have some solid 2nd hand road bikes for sale - something like https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1805241/ looks pretty ok. As long as you have some knowledge of gears/brakes/maintainance, 2nd hand is going to get you a better bike. It can take patience though!
Thanks for that, right location and bike, but wrong frame size! dammit!is this Fuji any good?
Edited by l354uge on Thursday 20th July 09:31
I'm a big fan of buying second hand. So far:-
- To try the whole road bike thing out, in 2014 I got a £200 2009 Specialized Allez with full tiagra from cyclechat classifieds including shoes, pump, TT bars, matching helmet and turbo trainer. I rode Le Mans on this bike and had it out round the surrey hills on it the other week. Still great with minimal maintenance a few thousand miles down the line.
- In 2015 I got another Allez (2013 I think) on ebay with Sora for £220 for my brother in law
- Later that year I bought a 2007 Bianchi C2C on gumtree with shimano 105 for a mate of mine for £230, I spent £85 on new shifters which I knew before buying were needed, this did lift the bike a bit giving it under bar tape shift cables. Lean't how to fit them on youtube
- in 2016 I bought a 2013 Colnago CLX 3.0 with shimano 105 for £680 on ebay which is my main road bike now and gots lots of complements.
I haven't included tons of kids bikes, the ebay £26 Giant MTB for my wife or the £56 gumtree Kona hybrid I commute about 25 miles on daily.
I think you just can't beat the value you get from a second hand bike because so many people sell them on after a year or two of them hanging around taking up space not being used. I like to search for the words "hardly" or "barely".
Mostly I haven't traveled too far, but I do need a bit of time to get zoned in on what's out there. Use google image searches to work out the year of the bike based on the colour scheme and check the geometry charts to see what size will fit. Ask questions then to work out the size of the frame. The worse the description of the bike the better in some ways as others will let it pass.
- To try the whole road bike thing out, in 2014 I got a £200 2009 Specialized Allez with full tiagra from cyclechat classifieds including shoes, pump, TT bars, matching helmet and turbo trainer. I rode Le Mans on this bike and had it out round the surrey hills on it the other week. Still great with minimal maintenance a few thousand miles down the line.
- In 2015 I got another Allez (2013 I think) on ebay with Sora for £220 for my brother in law
- Later that year I bought a 2007 Bianchi C2C on gumtree with shimano 105 for a mate of mine for £230, I spent £85 on new shifters which I knew before buying were needed, this did lift the bike a bit giving it under bar tape shift cables. Lean't how to fit them on youtube
- in 2016 I bought a 2013 Colnago CLX 3.0 with shimano 105 for £680 on ebay which is my main road bike now and gots lots of complements.
I haven't included tons of kids bikes, the ebay £26 Giant MTB for my wife or the £56 gumtree Kona hybrid I commute about 25 miles on daily.
I think you just can't beat the value you get from a second hand bike because so many people sell them on after a year or two of them hanging around taking up space not being used. I like to search for the words "hardly" or "barely".
Mostly I haven't traveled too far, but I do need a bit of time to get zoned in on what's out there. Use google image searches to work out the year of the bike based on the colour scheme and check the geometry charts to see what size will fit. Ask questions then to work out the size of the frame. The worse the description of the bike the better in some ways as others will let it pass.
Edited by idiotgap on Thursday 20th July 12:21
l354uge said:
Thanks for that, right location and bike, but wrong frame size! dammit!
is this Fuji any good?
That Fuji looks a bit of a step up from the new bikes you are looking at, and since it's a 2017, you'd assume its in good condition. It's still very much at the budget end of the road-bike spectrum, but would absolutely be fine for commutes and some longer rides. is this Fuji any good?
Edited by l354uge on Thursday 20th July 09:31
l354uge said:
Looking at This tomorrow, it needs some brake adjustment apparently and its not a great spec, but it should get me going and if its naff I can sell it on for £100..
That's pretty close spec to mine! You might want to change the pedals (do you clip in on your mountain bike?) but otherwise, it should get you going!It will be fine as a starter bike. Ive had a carrera in the past and it was fine but heavy.
Got a BTwin 500se off ebay a few years ago for 150 pounds, liked it a lot and recently upgraded to a s/hand Focus with full ultegra for 400 pounds. Secondhand is definitely the way to go for value .. I probably woudn't buy another bike new when you look at the bargains on ebay and gumtree.
Got a BTwin 500se off ebay a few years ago for 150 pounds, liked it a lot and recently upgraded to a s/hand Focus with full ultegra for 400 pounds. Secondhand is definitely the way to go for value .. I probably woudn't buy another bike new when you look at the bargains on ebay and gumtree.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff