New road bikes for around £400 to £500

Gav888

Ive been looking around at what I can get for around £400 to £500 new, and below is what I have managed to come up with so far. I thought this post would be useful for anyone looking for a road bike for that sort of money.

There are cheaper new models but the spec's are not great, and there are better spec 2nd hand models to consider for the same sort of money. The prices are the cheapest I can find online.

Giant Defy 4 Bike (2009) £445


Orbea Enol Bike (2008) £380


Saracen Tour 3 Bike (2008) £520


Dawes Giro 400 Bike (2008) £360


Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Alu Sora Bike (2008) £420


Claud Butler Roubaix (2008) £410


Trek 1.2 Double (2008) £430


GT GTR Series 4 (2008) £400


Raleigh Airlite 300 (2007) £400

sicknote

Hi
I am a noob to but you have not said what size you are looking for you get get a good deal heretoo

Like to make it easy for you lol

Gav888

Der.... sorry, im looking for a 57/58/59 frame but this post is for general info.

zanes

I've been pretty happy with my saracen aravis

Mister W

They all look like reasonable bikes for the price so I'd suggest trying as many as you can and buying the one you prefer riding.

If you still want my opinion then I'd avoid the Bianchi. They're style over substance. Instead I'd pick a bike from a company that makes high end bikes as well as entry level as the technology and expertise filters down. That means Orbea, Giant or Trek.

Onan

Hello. Some of those prices makes me think you might have found them on winstanleysbikes. I can tell you for a start that they don't have the 2008 bianchi at that price anymore. I ordered one a week ago, and got an email a few days later to say it doesn't exist anymore.

Makes you wonder why they still have it on their website doesn't it? It's not technically bait and switch, because they never say they definitely can offer it at that price, but it's damned close.

I wouldn't be surprised if they no longer have any of their 2008 bikes at the price they have them listed at, but leave the ads up to bring in the traffic.

Onan

I'm getting a ribble, but i can't give you any advice on what they're like, since i don't have it yet. The price is right though.



Ribble also do a deferred credit arrangement if you're in employment.

Slow Downcp

Mister W wrote:

They all look like reasonable bikes for the price so I'd suggest trying as many as you can and buying the one you prefer riding.

If you still want my opinion then I'd avoid the Bianchi. They're style over substance. Instead I'd pick a bike from a company that makes high end bikes as well as entry level as the technology and expertise filters down. That means Orbea, Giant or Trek.

Bianchi also make high end bikes :? The Trek, Orbea, Giant etc on the list do not have any technology that has trickled down - they're entry level bikes (as is the Bianchi).

I had a Via Nirone (carbon back end, with Veloce) - great bike, only sold it to help make way for a Enigma Etape as the Bianchi doesn't have full guard clearance for winter.

avoidingmyphd

you might still get an orbea fleche rather than an enol for about your budget...

giant_man

You haven't included the best one for 400 quid, the Merida 880-24

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... 0-24-31955

Gav888

Onan, thanks for the info regarding winstanley, yep, alot of them were from there site...

Personally im going to follow my heart and go with the Saracen, I just love the look of the bike.

Giant mancp - I forgot about the Merida, but good spot. Are there anymore out there recommended for around £400 to £500?

Casbar

Hi Gav

I just love people like you..... You start a new thread..even include a poll. Ask peoples opinion, then against all their advice go and do what your " heart tells you " ( which is what you were probably going to do all along anyway ) :evil:

So my question is why? Do you simply like wasting peoples time or did you just want us all to know that you are buying a new bike.

Well done. Hope you enjoy your new bike

BTW...for what its worth I do agree that the Saracen is the best looking bike in your line up

JGS

Onan wrote:

I'm getting a ribble, but i can't give you any advice on what they're like, since i don't have it yet. The price is right though.



Ribble also do a deferred credit arrangement if you're in employment.

Took twice as long as quoted for mine to arrive, and then ParcelFarce screwed up the delivery (turned up a day late!). The gears needed a little tweak of the barrel adjusters to get them spot on, but other than that I love it. You get way more componentry than you pay for, but the initial set-up is a little under-par but nothing worringly bad. They even gave me a full carbon fork because they had run out of the alu/carbon ones when it came to my bike build.

Once you get the bike running though, they are amazing. Mine is the Winter Trainer / Audax with 105 groupset. I find it stiff enough without being backbreaking (aluminium frame), and the handling is snappy while being a comfortable bike for long distance rides.

Onan

JGS wrote:

Onan wrote:

I'm getting a ribble, but i can't give you any advice on what they're like, since i don't have it yet. The price is right though.



Ribble also do a deferred credit arrangement if you're in employment.

Took twice as long as quoted for mine to arrive, and then ParcelFarce screwed up the delivery (turned up a day late!). The gears needed a little tweak of the barrel adjusters to get them spot on, but other than that I love it. You get way more componentry than you pay for, but the initial set-up is a little under-par but nothing worringly bad. They even gave me a full carbon fork because they had run out of the alu/carbon ones when it came to my bike build.

Once you get the bike running though, they are amazing. Mine is the Winter Trainer / Audax with 105 groupset. I find it stiff enough without being backbreaking (aluminium frame), and the handling is snappy while being a comfortable bike for long distance rides.

I'm getting the winter trainer with the tiagra groupset. Even second hand, I couldn't get a bike as well specced out for the price, so i'm prepared to wait a little bit longer for delivery if i have to.

alanmck1971

Jake151 wrote:

Casbar wrote:

Hi Gav

I just love people like you..... You start a new thread..even include a poll. Ask peoples opinion, then against all their advice go and do what your " heart tells you " ( which is what you were probably going to do all along anyway ) :evil:

So my question is why? Do you simply like wasting peoples time or did you just want us all to know that you are buying a new bike.

Well done. Hope you enjoy your new bike

BTW...for what its worth I do agree that the Saracen is the best looking bike in your line up

he is hardly wasting peoples time he was looking for peoples opinions, I mean i ent been riding long but i love reading all of these as it gives me loads of information about different bikes group sets what you should look for and what not as they say knowledge is power, and many of the people that answer love the sport and are will to answer to beginners questions.

I agree with Jake. Good post. I am in the process for looking for my first road bike and this post has gave me some other ideas.
Thanks - Alan

Gav888

Just learnt how to post images correctly, so edited the first post. Also, bought the Saracen Tour 3.... just waiting for it to clear customs, its been nearly 3 weeks!! :evil:

kingrollo

Do you live anywhere near a decathlon ?

I paid £250 for a Sora\Decathlon \ Alu frame\ combination. a couple of years back - its a winter \ commuting bike. Its not the most exciting bike to ride - but if you live near a decathlon they may be worth a look.