Sub £500 road bike recommendations

Lowride

I know practically nothing about road bikes, I`m in the market for one in the region of £500. I want it for commuting to work (15 mile round trip) a couple of times a week and rides in the 30-40 mile region at the wkends

I`m a mountain biker who began road riding in the winter to keep my fitness up. I`ve really taken to it and now do both

Any recommendations appreciated

Russell Smith

Low Ride try

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/orbea.htm

£429 Nice specially in Silver and Black

redddraggon

Have you thought of building your own?

I've just built this, and it came to just under £500.



Obviously it takes a bit of looking around for cheaper (read 06 or 07) components, but a better quality bike can be built up for the same price as a shop built bike.

Russell Smith wrote:

Low Ride try

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/orbea.htm

£429 Nice specially in Silver and Black

Ahh...Sora nasty......nice bike otherwise[/img]

CodeMonkey

Look used - I got my road bike for around £350 (06 Focus Variado expert) and it whups anything you can buy new for that money. 10-speed Ultegra and pretty decent kit all round. Looked like the seller had hardly ridden it. Plenty of other good bikes under £500 used too.

acorn_user

Just make sure the bike can take mudguards if it is for commuting. Even if it is not raining, if the road is wet, so will you be!

choppertron

I have one of these Giant SCR 2 £420 (although I have seen it for as little as £380 in not my size) it takes mudguards, It's really comfy when doing a lot of miles. it has Tiagra rather than Sora, the Tiagra shifters out perform the Sora on my commuter by Miles! I cannot reccomend NOT having Sora enough in my experience!

Totally agree with acorn_user about the mudguards, not only do they prevent you from getting wet from the roads they protect your components from all the stuff thrown up off the road.

daniel_b

I saw this bike on another thread where the chap bought it, I posted it on another thread in a 'bike wanted' post and the chap duly bought one too!

49 cm frame, but compact geometry, so equates to a 54 - that's all they have left though.
Carbon forks and rear stays, 105 throughout.

http://www.holcroscycles.com/productdetail/23/621/BH-R1-Race-One-C-105-


Don't know about mudguard compatibility though, though presumably raceblades would fit?

Bargain of the year as far as I can see, and am sorely tempted myself, but grudgingly would admit that another alu/carbon road bike isn't really required..... :roll:

Dan

Skindog

Yep, it was me who bought the bike and I can HIGHLY recommend it..

Whether mudguards would for it another story, there does not seem to be a lot of room. Here's a close up of the back..

Alibran

Skindog wrote:

Yep, it was me who bought the bike and I can HIGHLY recommend it..

Whether mudguards would for it another story, there does not seem to be a lot of room. Here's a close up of the back..

Race blades would fit, since they just "clip" on and don't require any clearance, but in my experience they don't give you the protection full mudguards do. (I'm using race blades at the moment when it's wet, but will probably fit full mudguards on my bike in the winter.)

sicrow

For under £500 the Specialised Allez has had alot of good reviews

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... e-07-16668

sem69

I've got the Giant SCR2 (08 model for £490), and I'd highly recommend it for commuting and some longer weekend riding. Mudguard and rack compatible, tiagra groupset, comfortable riding position and slightly more upright so good for riding in traffic.
I also considered the Specialized Allez, although to get Tiagra you have to get the Allez Sport which is £699 new, although you might get an older model cheaper.
Or the Cube Aerial, which got a good review in C+ a while ago, £550 I think...
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... p-08-22989

Van_Heerden

Agree with Sem69. Not a huge following on the forums but for frame quality and good spec for cheaper than the other major manufactuers, definately check out Giant. No-one who has had one seems to regret it. Frame is good from basic SCR up to top one and then with the money saved you can get the extra stuff you need. Only manufacturer I would leave Giant for is Bianchi, but everyone seems to love Bianchi!

winoneday

Another vote for Giant's, I love mine. A very comfortable ride and good spec for the money you pay, regardless of which one you go for.

simon_e

Van_Heerden wrote:

Agree with Sem69. Not a huge following on the forums but for frame quality and good spec for cheaper than the other major manufactuers, definately check out Giant.

They may not have the cachet of Bianchi but there are loads of happy Giant SCR owners, me included.

The obvious alternative in this price range is Specialized Allez. Don't rule out the Carrera road bikes from Halfrauds, they're a little heavier but have good enough components (which can always be upgraded later anyway). Try to get a test ride, they are all different and one man's meat etc....

If you're on a tight budget I'd recommend looking secondhand. But if you can get a new bike with the spec you like within your budget then all's well.