Buying first road bike

[KTF]

I am looking to buy my first road bike with the aim of commuting to/from work and the occasional long cycle at the weekends.

I realise the best deals are towards the end of the year when last years stock is cleared out but its sunny outside and I am fed up waiting for the traffic to clear in the evenings before I head home after work.

Ideally I would like to spend around 600 - 700 and have been suggested these so far:

A bundle deal with shoes and pedals included:
https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-pr7-rs-road-bi...

Being 5"10 with a 33" inside leg I think I would be a L Ribble but that isnt available (only M and XL) so this may be too small:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-ultralite-tia...

From what I understand, it seems Sora > Tiagra > 105 in terms of pecking order so the Merlin one is better spec?

Any opinions on the above or is there a 'default' entry level bike that is recommended? With the spec and sizing all different it doesnt seem the easiest thing to choose.

Edited by KTF on Monday 10th July 11:15

[TwistingMyMelon]

Any local shops to you?

If it was my first bike I would find a good shop locally tbh. Online buying is great if you know what you are doing , but its easy to get caught out and there will be a fair amount of adjustment and things to go wrong over first few months

[BoRED S2upid]

Personally at that price point I went for a Felt and couldn't fault it. Bikeradar suggests a Specialized Allez or BTwin Triban the latter gets some rave reviews as a great entry level road bike.

Don't be sucked into a bundle you can pick up shoes and pedals cheap enough.

[KTF]

BoRED S2upid said:

Personally at that price point I went for a Felt and couldn't fault it. Bikeradar suggests a Specialized Allez or BTwin Triban the latter gets some rave reviews as a great entry level road bike.

Don't be sucked into a bundle you can pick up shoes and pedals cheap enough.

'Free' items always make me suspicious as you are paying for them somewhere else but the spec of the bike seemed ok. There is a Decathlon near me and they have plenty of pedals and shoes in stock to try out so a bundle isnt a priority.

TwistingMyMelon said:

Any local shops to you?

If it was my first bike I would find a good shop locally tbh. Online buying is great if you know what you are doing , but its easy to get caught out and there will be a fair amount of adjustment and things to go wrong over first few months

There is a Giant shop near to me and I was planning to go there with someone who already has several road bikes so they can point out the differences.

There is also a Decathlon so looking at B-Twin the difference between these two seems to be the groupset (Sora V 105?)
https://www.btwin.com/en/road-bikes/sport-road-bik...

https://www.btwin.com/en/road-bikes/sport-road-bik...

I think I really need to go and sit on them first rather than buy blind online as the sizing seems different between each brand.

[BoRED S2upid]

You really want to be getting 105 or equivalent for that sort of money.

[KTF]

Ok, based on that, its the:

Merlin:

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-pr7-rs-road-bi...

Triban 540:

https://www.btwin.com/en/road-bikes/sport-road-bik...

On the list at the moment.

[TwilightJohnny]

I don't know the bike but the Merlin bundle looks to be a great deal.

[chris_c201]

I bought a triban 540 a couple of years ago and have put about 2000 miles onto it... One minor service and a couple of tyres have been the only costs.

After getting into cycling a bit more I then bought a carbon Cannondale Synapse and it's definitely a bit lighter and smoother but in my thoroughly novice opinion I think the triban isn't league's apart. I still regularly ride both and the only very noticeable difference is the brakes on the Cannondale are much better, that said I've never changed the pads on the triban and plan to change them to something decent which may bridge the gap.

I spend far too much time and money in decathlon but it's only because (in my opinion) the value for money is excellent and from cheap purchases (socks) to expensive (bike) I've always been happy.

All that said sure the merlin and ribble equivalents are perfectly capable.

Cheers,
Chris

Edited by chris_c201 on Monday 10th July 21:59

[Mr Ted]

Riding to work and a longer ride at the weekend: I would suggest you look at an adventure bike or hybrid something with less of a race geometry and tyres wider than 23mm. They tend to have more lugs on the frame as well which can be useful for adding mudguards, rack for your sandwiches etc!!

[KTF]

I did consider the hybrid option as Decathlon also sell the 540 with a cheaper groupset but a flat bar option:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-flat-bar-ro...

With a laptop and a change of clothes to deal with I would be realistically be looking at a rack and panniers.

The 540 I was originally looking at is now out of stock of all sizes apart from small so thats gone

But then if its main use is going to be commuting then you can get something like this:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-7005-winter/

Looks a bit rubbish on a Sunday morning cycling around with an empty rack and mudguards on though... I can see why you soon end up with a garage full of bikes

Edited by KTF on Tuesday 11th July 09:46

[KTF]

Or, on the basis that it is going to get used and abused on the commute, something cheap and cheerful like this:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bik...

+ mudguards + a rack.

Gets a good review here: http://road.cc/content/review/116333-btwin-triban-...

Or for a bit more:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-ro...

Review here: http://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/hybrid-bikes/...

Edited by KTF on Tuesday 11th July 14:37

[lauda]

I know that it's likely to be contentious on here but this got a rave review in Cycling Weekly recently in an entry-level road bike group test:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

Halfords often have discount weekends where you could probably get another 10% of that and I think there are also discounts available for British Cycling members.

[Johnnybee]

Halfords are doing 20% off bikes later today, I think between 8-10pm but check if counting on it.

[KTF]

A friend who has a garage full of bikes and spares has a new suggestion:

One of these: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXRTFBBK/planet-x-r...

Then a few of his spares plus whatever he doesn't have ordered on top.

Seems to be the best option yet as it will be under budget and better spec.

[BoRED S2upid]

KTF said:

A friend who has a garage full of bikes and spares has a new suggestion:

One of these: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXRTFBBK/planet-x-r...

Then a few of his spares plus whatever he doesn't have ordered on top.

Seems to be the best option yet as it will be under budget and better spec.

Who's going to build it?

[KTF]

He is (with me as apprentice). He likes nothing more than taking his bikes apart, cleaning everything and rebuilding them again on a Sunday afternoon.

[BoRED S2upid]

That's fair enough then £450 for a Tiagra Plenet X and some basic bike skills is a good deal IMO. I'm doing something similar with a load of spares and a mate at the moment but single speed so even cheaper.

[Shatner'sBassoon]

TwilightJohnny said:

I don't know the bike but the Merlin bundle looks to be a great deal.

Bought this bundle, or contemporary equivalent, a couple of years ago for a similar price in a Merlin sale and its great as an entry point / getting back into road riding bike. Have racked up increasing mileage on it in the last 18 months or so and it's been superb. It's not the lightest, and the shoes aren't the most comfortable but at this price level I have no major complaints at all.

[flight147z]

BoRED S2upid said:

That's fair enough then £450 for a Tiagra Plenet X and some basic bike skills is a good deal IMO. I'm doing something similar with a load of spares and a mate at the moment but single speed so even cheaper.

I've put just over 5k miles on my RT-58 since November 2014 - very happy with it as a first bike and won't look to upgrade for at least another year

The new graphics are a lot nice than mine too as is the newer tiagra groupset

I would advise Tiagra as a minimum it's the first "proper" Shimano groupset in a way

[ambuletz]

BoRED S2upid said:

.......r BTwin Triban the latter gets some rave reviews as a great entry level road bike.

Don't be sucked into a bundle you can pick up shoes and pedals cheap enough.

I bought a red triban3 4-5 years back (i forget how long). it's my only bike and I love it. It cost £300 and like it more then the £500+ carrera kraken I had before it (that got stolen). I bought that off the strength of the reviews, its price point and that it was lighter with carbon front forks then anything else similarly priced with steel ones.


All ive done to the bike is replace the wheels (someone tried to steal it and bent them in the process), brake pads and tyres.