Please help with my first road bike!

p0mpeyboy

Hi,
Having cycled for approx 6 years using a mountain bike, I would like to make the transition and buy a road bike. My reasons are that I don't really cycle off road and more recently I have started covering longer distances - 30 miles etc...

I need help because a lot of people have advised me that road bikes are uncomfortable and puncture easily. Having said that, they fly past me and I would like to cover longer distances in a shorter time.

Firstly, has anyone else had the same dilemma and made a successful transition?

Secondly, I don't want to buy a bike and within a few months want to upgrade. My budget is around the œ500.00 mark. Are the road bikes at this price good entry levels? I like the specialized and Bianchi entry levels, but have not yet looked at Giant or Trek.

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers P0mpeyboy!

father_jack

You don't need to upgrade a bike, around that price point (last years bikes) you'll get a good deal Look at OCR-2 at that range.

You won't get as high end components on Trek compared to Giant, afaik (due to Trek name being assoicated with Lance Armstrong)

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Giant OCR-1 2005 | 2 x Cateye HL EL-500 | Cateye HL-EL400 | 2x Cateye TL-1000 | Lizard Skin chainstay protector | Cateye micro wireless computer | Laseredge Bikelights | Electron 5W+10W </font id="size1">

Aidocp

The May issue of C+ done a quite review on bikes around the œ500 mark. The trek (SL1000), spesh (allez) and the Giant (SCR3) all got 9/10. The never revied a Bianchi. What ever you get I dont think you'll be disappointed.

If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?

Buggi

you'll get a decent bike for that. get some advice from your local bike shop but like Father Jack says, sometimes if it's a make like Trek it's more expensive because it's associated with someone like Lance, so go for something like a giant if you want better parts.

As for comfort, it's important you get sized/fitted properly for whichever bike you buy, as once you get your bike, you'll get the long distance bug, but you will be fine if you get fitted and you can buy a more comfy saddle etc. you do get more punctures that a mountain bike but it won't happen ALL the time, (i've been a year without one but i do pump my tyres to the max which i swear helps) (damn, propably just jinxed myself now) just carry a couple of spare inner tubes and a set of tyre levers and you'll be fine.

like you say, these bikes fly compared to mountain bikes, you'll love the difference and you won't reqret it just for the sake of a puncture. you can get gas cannisters which quickly pump the tyres up too, to make dealing with punctures a whole lot easier.

one thing you will find weird is going from chunky tyres to slicks. don't worry about the grip, it's a common misconception to newbies that mountain bike tyres have more grip, which isn't true. you might not trust them and be a bit nervous when you get them but there's more contact between the rubber and the tarmac when you have slicks; and less rolling resistance too, which will make your ride 10 times easier.

have fun!! you're gonna wonder why you never got one before!


_____________________________________________

To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia

blackhands

Also consider Focus bikes from Wiggle - not a well known brand (made in Germany, but good components and wheels:

eg http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ike%202007

grape72

I went from riding a mountain bike to a spesh allez. I went for the most basic one, just in case i didn't like it, that was 3 years ago and I haven't looked back. I think the allez is as good an entry bike as there is. If you can stretch a bit more money wise, I definitely would upgrade the wheels on it. (Mavic Askiums, bout œ100 would make a difference)

"Clarity, just confuses me"

Unknown

Hi, Pompeyboy,

Like you I started of with a MTB but used it mainly on roads. I then got a hybrid which I used for touring. I tend to do 30 - 40 mile road trips on weekends so I decided this year to get a road bike. Following advice on this forum I bought a Giant SCR 2.0 about 6 weeks ago and I love it. I still go on the same routes but enjoy it a lot more, mainly because I'm around 20% faster. It took me a few weeks to get used to the different ride position, bars, gears, and pedals with straps. One think I do find essential is padded shorts. My other bikes have wide tyres and sus seatposts, Giant don't!

I'm sure you'll love a road bike.

_____________________________________________________________________
Be nice to grumpy old men (or else)

DLB

Hi

i went from a hybrid to a road bike (edinburgh bike co's continental revolution) and really enjoy both the speed of the road bike and the versatility of the hybrid. i've never regretted either purchase and i'd be surprised if you did. All of the œ500 road bike mentioned above have good reputations.

*** Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right ***

Fab Foodie

Pompeyboy
Welcome to the fold!
Bikes from tghe big 4; Trek, Giant, Specialized and Bianchi at the œ500 mark will all be fairly (Alu frame and Carbon forks) similar with subtle variations in componantry. Giant do fairly well due to being the biggest brand. The Spesh Allez is probably the race-bike of choice, but the Trek 1000 and Giant SCR2 are more versitile being able to take mudguards (great in the winter) and a light rack but still be sporty. The Giant can be set-up in a less extreme riding position for all-day comfort if desired.
9 speed is preferable to 8 speed with more upgrade options.
The Giant SCR 2.0 with 9speed Tiagra is a well reviewed bike here, my pal has just returned to biking on one and loves it.
Most of all...get good sizing and set-up advice and try, try, try before you buy!

---

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

Rich Hcp

I'm doing the same and have ordered an Allez

Going for clipless pedals too[B)][:D]

Richard

Best thing I ever bought for a bike?
Padded shorts![:D]

in the wire

Once you get comfortable on a road bike, you'll subconsciously find yourself trying to ride with your hands sideways on the brakes when you get back on your MTB.

2191flint

Hi pOmpeyboy,

Have a look at my photo link below, that is an 06 allez, upgraded to the point where, I am moving it on in order to buy a Wilier Mortirolo carbon framed centaur groupset dream machine, if you are interested drop me a mail at <u><b>flintosaur9@aol.com</b></u> it's on your budget, and although I am biased, you'll be getting a lot of bike for your money[:D] and you wont need to upgrade anything.[8D]

A turkey is for Christmas, not life.


Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/

p0mpeyboy

Thanks for all the replies - really helpful. I think I will need to look into the Treks and Giants as an alternative to the Bianchi & Specialized. Particularly, if these could possibly be more comfortable.

I'll also take the advice and try before buying - made too many mistakes in the past with other things!!!!!

As a final point - there is a Giant SCR 1.0 2007 reduced on the internet to œ599.00 from œ850.00 - is that a pretty good deal?

Cheers jamie

velocitizen

Pompeyboy
Bit of a plug for my Decathlon 7.1 that I am selling on Cycling+ classifieds for œ135 at the moment, I know you want something that you won't have to upgrade, but this bike would get you out on the road and give you an alloy frame, Shimano Sora kit, similiar to those œ500 entry level bikes from Trek and Specialised, and save you œ365, which you could put in the bank until you want the PLANET-X pro-carbon. I am coming to Pompey/Dorset area next week and could deliver!

p0mpeyboy

Thanks for the offer mate, but I'm pretty sure that within a couple of months I'd be upgrading like you. If I really get into the road cycling,I'd keep my œ500.00 bike for all weathers and splash out on something special later. (If my wife read that - I'm a dead man!!!).

I'm also a Pompey boy living in central Scotland - so a pompey/dorset drop off would be worse than the midlands!!! Thanks for the offer all the same.

Cheers Jamie (Pompeyboy).

dave5ncp

Try Ribbble

<font color="purple"> <font size="1"><i>please pretend there's a horizontal line here. I couldnt work out how to put one in.</i></font id="size1"></font id="purple">
You stir my natural emotions

acorn_user

If you are new to this, you need to buy the shop. Ignore the brand. Most 500 pound bikes are very similar (alloy frame, carbon fork, no name bits + sora or xenon). The Trek pilot and Giant SCR will give you a more upright position than is normal for a race bike; start with the stem high and lots of spacers, since you can always move them down.

Giants around 500 pounds do have nice kit, but so do a lot of other makes. Some shops will custom build a bike around an inexpensive frame for 500 pounds too. This gets you away from the shoddy brakes fitted to most budget bikes. You should also look for a bike with Campagnolo Xenon or Mirage, and see how you like them.

Why Campagnolo? All the groups are 10 speed now, so upgrades are easier than from say, 8 speed sora. If upgrading is on the menu, you should consider that Or buy a bike with Tiagra, so you don't even think about it.

Let it Rip Big Boy

This may be your luck day!!!

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We'll be selling via EBay soon, deliver for mid July. I can send you the specifications via e-mail if you're interested. The Bikes are aluminium and naturally high specification. Aluminium is only a little heavier than carbon and doesn't shatter or split. Our bikes will be around 8 or 9 kg depending on the model. Carbon's are often 7.8 kg Our shop is called Let It Rip Big Boy!!!

I know what you must be thinking $$$!!! However Lambo' take a different view to bike manufacturing compared to cars. The bikes will be reasonably priced believe it or not!! In fact Lamborghini fully understand cost effective manufacturing systems and apply it to all their products. Of course there cars are so exclusive in quality even efficient manufacturing systems can't make them cheap!

Incidentally the bikes are branded Torino Lamborghini which is the separation between the Lamborghini family branding. The logo is the same bull.

I know this all sounds like a spoof, but time will prove we are serious. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you further details and proof of our rights to sell these puppies.

Take care and best of luck my friend!


Let it Rip!!