A road bike for £400

kant314

Hi,

A friend at work wants me to recommend a road bike for around the £400 mark.
Mainly used for fast commuting and weekend rides.

What would you guys recommend?

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

They could do worse than an Orbea Enol for £399. Absolutely fantastic frame for the money with a Carbon Fork and Shimano 2200. Alternative pay an extra £50 for the Fleche and get a mix of Sora and Tiagra instead of 2200.

In my view - and in terms of the overall package and 'feel' of a bike on the road - I reckon it's hard to beat Orbea. Love 'em.

Mettan

Other options include the:

Giant SCR 2 - (2007) - £424
Giant SCR 3 - (2007) - £350

Both are competent, leisurely Triples, that could comfortably cope with a weekend 75m or a 10m commute.

notsoracy rich

I would also recommend the Giant SCR range-I bought an SCR 3 a few weeks ago from here http://www.ashcycles.com/power/index.ph ... 20a&page=1
look at the prices!!

willbevan

having bought a BTwin (decathlon own)

I would reccomend one:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/road-raci ... s-3963881/

I bought the cheap Sport 2 16 (or LTD) for 169... would think the Sport 2 at 269 is better... compag xenon , so bottom of the range stuff but well...

The Sport 2 16s ive done 400 miles on so far, weights the same as the Giant SCR3 or 4, better kit than the 4, okay so its a steal frame, and alu forms... but still for the money...

Can get them to fit mudguards to it in store as well if you buy them there...

redddraggon

willbevan wrote:

The Sport 2 16s ive done 400 miles on so far, weights the same as the Giant SCR3 or 4, better kit than the 4, okay so its a steal frame, and alu forms... but still for the money...

Do you mean Steel Frame and Alu Forks? The 16S has an alloy frame and a cromoly (steel) fork.

Mine fell apart after less than 4 weeks.

3leggeddog

look around for bargains in last years colours.

I recntly picked up a felt z90 for 400, reduced from 550. Alu frame, relxed geometry, carbon forks, sora/tiagra mix.

Wife very happy with her new bike, I'm waiting to cash in brownie points

willbevan

redddraggon wrote:

willbevan wrote:

The Sport 2 16s ive done 400 miles on so far, weights the same as the Giant SCR3 or 4, better kit than the 4, okay so its a steal frame, and alu forms... but still for the money...

Do you mean Steel Frame and Alu Forks? The 16S has an alloy frame and a cromoly (steel) fork.

Mine fell apart after less than 4 weeks.

Yes sorry alu frame and steel forks.

Had mine for over 2 months, bought it start of October, only done about 400 miles on it mind you, havn't been looking after it very well either after each ride, well last couple i have. Only thing i've had is squeaks from the jokey wheels which a little oil has sorted

carlstone

One of these looks good value at £439.00, if you can bring yourself to buy from Halfords (personally that wouldn't put me off).

link:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yrn_33957#

redddraggon

carlstone wrote:

One of these looks good value at £439.00, if you can bring yourself to buy from Halfords (personally that wouldn't put me off).

It wouldn't put me off at that price either. There's nothing wrong with the bikes from Halfords, its just the occasional poor service you get from them that lets them down.

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

Having just tried... I mean really tried... to buy a Chistmas bike for my son there last weekend I can only concur with the service point. Miserable little f*cker behind the counter could not have been less interested if he tried:

Me: I'd like to buy this bike for my son - tried him on it myself as nobody seemed to want to help us.
Them: grunt. shuffle.
Me: well... can I?
Them: sighs audibly. I'll have to go and look out the back and see if we've got any'. Proceeds to answer phone and spend 10 minutes chatting. Colleagues all get on with their paper shuffling/banter/elastic band flicking at each other right in front of me. Finally goes 'out the back'. Returns 10 minutes later
Me. Well?
Them: Haven't got any.
Me: ok. Can I get the one on the shop floor?
Them. No. 'Fraid not.
Me: Any particular reason why?
Them: Health and safety.
Me: ok. Well, might some other local Halfords have one?
Them. Maybe.
Me. Well could you check?
THem. Sighs loudly this time and picks up the phone. Spends 5 minutes on the phone.
Them: can't get through.
Me: Ok. What about other local branches?
Them. Sighs. phones. out of stock too. Repeat three or four times, each time at my instigation.
Me: Finally throw hands in the air. Give up. Leave shop with hot tears of rage and frustration coursing down my cheeks. Go to LBS instead

Having said that, some of my friends with Carreras really like them once they actually get hold of them...

kant314

thanks for all your replies.
From what I can see, the halfords looks the best value for money.
A Tiagra equipped bike for 439 is good.

DavidBelcher

3leggeddog wrote:

look around for bargains in last years colours.

Or, indeed, 2nd-hand bargains in CW small ads and the like - probably a good time of year for going down that route with a good few people (myself excluded ) getting nice shiny new bikes for Christmas.

David