First road bike

[DazBock]

Hi

So I'm looking to buy my first road bike. I don't want to spend more than about £600 and seeing as I don't have a great idea of what I'm looking at I thought it best to stick with brands I know, I like the look of the specialized allez but have also seen Giant's and Treks in this budget. So does anyone have any advice?

Cheers

[GALLARDOGUY]

Get yourself on bike radar and buy nearly new at that price point.

[Jimbo.]

DazBock said:

Hi

So I'm looking to buy my first road bike. I don't want to spend more than about £600 and seeing as I don't have a great idea of what I'm looking at I thought it best to stick with brands I know, I like the look of the specialized allez but have also seen Giant's and Treks in this budget. So does anyone have any advice?

Cheers

Allez is fine, as are most things from most - if not all - brands at this price point Try as many as you can and go by what fits you and is available. Don't get too tied up on spec: they're all similar-ish at this level.

[jamiebae]

Shimano 2300 shifters are horrid, so try and find something with Sora or Tiagra bits instead if possible. Get a decent brand, rather than a Carrera wih nice bits attached, maybe haggle a bit and a Giant Defy 3 would be in budget which is what I would have got if I wasn't a tart who went for the pretty mint green paint of my Genesis Volant

[944fan]

I wanted a Spesh allez but they were all sold old in my size. Went for a Trek 1.1 in the end.

It is light and well built. The groupset is bottom of the range though. As mentioned above the 2300 shifters are not to everyone's taste. The main reason being that it is hard to shift when on the drops. I have big hands so it is less of an issue for me. What I have found difficult is the 8 speed set up. Some hills burn more than they should but I find I am spinning out at about 34 mph on downhills. Now looking to upgrade to Sora/Tiagra gear but that is not cost effective after the fact.

Wiggle have a few bikes in your budget with Sora and some Tiagra parts. I went for the brand and a good frame but wish I had gone for a less well known brand and a better groupset. Its not that I am unhappy with bike, but got my priorites wrong I think.

[jamiebae]

944fan said:

I wanted a Spesh allez but they were all sold old in my size. Went for a Trek 1.1 in the end.

It is light and well built. The groupset is bottom of the range though. As mentioned above the 2300 shifters are not to everyone's taste. The main reason being that it is hard to shift when on the drops. I have big hands so it is less of an issue for me. What I have found difficult is the 8 speed set up. Some hills burn more than they should but I find I am spinning out at about 34 mph on downhills. Now looking to upgrade to Sora/Tiagra gear but that is not cost effective after the fact.

Wiggle have a few bikes in your budget with Sora and some Tiagra parts. I went for the brand and a good frame but wish I had gone for a less well known brand and a better groupset. Its not that I am unhappy with bike, but got my priorites wrong I think.

I'm surprised you're spinning out at 34mph, my best so far on the same groupset is 49mph down the hill to my house, but can do 45mph easily enough, it's usually my balls, a corner or the shonky road surface that slows me down!

[944fan]

jamiebae said:

I'm surprised you're spinning out at 34mph, my best so far on the same groupset is 49mph down the hill to my house, but can do 45mph easily enough, it's usually my balls, a corner or the shonky road surface that slows me down!

To be honest I ride the brakes till I am round the corners and then go balls out. Certainly by the time I reach the flats I am spinning to much to go any faster. I think I will st myself if I reach 45 mph down hill. I prefer to get the speed from legs than gravity, because I am odd.

[MiseryStreak]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bikes-/177831/i.html?_dc...

Sooooo much choice. £600 will get you a great second hand nearly new road bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/ventura-...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/sportif-1...

And a half decent new road bike too.

The secret is to test ride it before you buy, and make sure it's set up properly for you or it will feel horrible.

[greggers]

Budget another £150 - £300 for shoes, cleats, shorts, pedals, helmet, computer etc. You'll get a discount on all this stuff if you buy it at the same time as the bike.

I did exactly what you're looking to do two weeks ago. Picked up a barely used 2013 Felt F85 with SPD SL pedals, computer, bottle carriers and bag for £500 but then went out and spent another £350 on other gear.

ETA: The chap I go out riding with has an Allez and he's spinning in top gear at about 30mph whilst I still have plenty left. The Felt has Tiagra which I believe is one up from 2300.

If you're going to go second hand, I'd look at the smaller brands, everyone knows what a Specialized/Trek/Giant is.

Edited by greggers on Tuesday 18th June 15:29

[DazBock]

Hi

Thanks everyone this is helpful stuff. I'm going to try and steer clear of the 2300s though I hear the Sora is a little better for not much more money. That Fuji is looking pretty good!

I already have everything else including cleats and pedals so no worries there.

Thanks

Daz

[DazBock]

Hi

Thanks everyone this is helpful stuff. I'm going to try and steer clear of the 2300s though I hear the Sora is a little better for not much more money. That Fuji is looking pretty good!

I already have everything else including cleats and pedals so no worries there.

Thanks

Daz

[Mave]

Yep, it goes 2300 < Sora < Tiagra.
IIRC the 2012 Sora uses the same gear change arrangement as the 2300; whereas the 2013 Sora is the same as Tiagra.
PS, can you do cycle2work? Might save you some £££ if you end up buying new........

[DazBock]

Mave said:

Yep, it goes 2300 < Sora < Tiagra.
IIRC the 2012 Sora uses the same gear change arrangement as the 2300; whereas the 2013 Sora is the same as Tiagra.
PS, can you do cycle2work? Might save you some £££ if you end up buying new........

Yep can do cycle2work does save a fair bit of cash so is worth considering, restricted to Evans though!