New road bike recommendations

willb1983

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new road bike as I'm taking part in the London to Cambridge this year. Currently I have a Dawes Reddle mountain bike, but this really isn't suitable! I've been thoroughly impressed with it which has steered me in the general direction of the Dawes Giro 300. Has anyone any views on this bike or could point out an alternative for no more than £350-£400. A friend of mine recently bought a Viking which a better spec (more gears) despite being quite a bit less than the Dawes...

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Will

weapons

More gears doesn't mean better spec!

teagar

I did the London-Cambridge ride about 4 years ago.

Back then, you'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful on actual full road bikes riding. I doubt it's too much different now.

I'd probably recomend a second hand deal on a proper road bike for £350-400.

alfablue

What about this s/h Boardman comp, should be a good bike! £250 less than new price.

STEFANOS4784

Yeh quickly snap the boardman up (if it suits your size) before someone else does 8)

willb1983

Thanks for the replies. I know more gears doesn't mean better, but it did seem a little odd that his has 24 and all the bikes the next price bracket up are 14 or 16.

The Boardman looks like a decent spec, have to see if it is still available on pay day. I can do the ride to work scheme through work also which is why I was looking at new? No views on the Dawes?

Cheers

willb1983

Thanks for the replies. I know more gears doesn't mean better, but it did seem a little odd that his has 24 and all the bikes the next price bracket up are 14 or 16.

The Boardman looks like a decent spec, have to see if it is still available on pay day. I can do the ride to work scheme through work also which is why I was looking at new? No views on the Dawes?

Cheers

alfablue

If you can do the ride to work scheme, I would suggest you up your spend to around 500-600, this will get you into decent budget road bike territory. The Dawes is okay I suppose, but it is rather heavy and has low-rent components that won't be great. If the road bike bug bites, you will be planning the upgrade from this in a very short time! (I am not anti-Dawes, I have a Giro 700 Audax, but that is a different kettle of fish).

The reason the cheaper bike has 24 gears is because it has a triple chainset (three rings at the front) whilst the others with 14 or 16 have a double chainset. The triple will give a range of gears that go lower, this might be a benefit if you ride lots of hills and / or are not very fit as yet.

If it has 14 gears that means it has a 7 speed setup (7 sprockets at the rear wheel, 2 chainrings = 14), 16 or 24 implies an 8 speed setup (8 sprockets at the back, 2 or 3 chain rings). Many bikes these days are 9 or 10 speed. I would avoid a 7 speed one as upgrades can be tricky.

Bikes I would look at, Trek 1.2, Specialized Allez, Boardman Comp, Giant Defy 3 etc. These are budget road bikes. (The boardman is probably better specced for the money).

If you can stretch the budget go for one with Tiagra rather than Sora shifters. Also consider if you want triple, compact or double chain ring setup.

Have a look at the Which Road Bike thread.

willb1983

Great, thank you for a detailed reply. I'll certainly check out those bikes. I never thought to check if my friend had a triple chainset. No real advantage if it's only really low range I'll be missing. I have the mountain biking bug at the moment, so no doubt the road bike bug will bite also! Another expensive hobby to add to my ever expanding collection!

Thank you again, most helpful.