Please Help me

lfc_westy

hey guys names dan, im 14 years old with big ambitions. i need a road bike. badly. but the problem is i am on a tight budjet. i want a good bike as new as possible with the brake and gear levers combindee drop handlebars and the light frame.

ANY IDEAS ... its killing me now because everday i see someone in full lycra on a road bike and i want to be in thier position badly.. and yeah sounds like a long shot but i want to do tour d france or the olympics !

Please help me, thanks Dan :!:

lfc_westy

sorry i forgot to say the budjet is around £350 - £450 [£500 pushing it]

Anonymous

Dan, there's loads out there second hand, just have a look at ebay. What I suggest you do though is speak to try some bikes out for size first.

I'd then look at joining a local club.

t0ny

HI Dan,

Latest Cycling Plus has an article called 'Entry tickets to ride'. It pits four bikes under £400 against each other, which might help you out. The Carrera Virtuoso won, which you can check out at Halfords.

Heading up to £500 you start to improve your gears and bits and if you are lucky you can find a 2007/2008 model and get an even better spec for you money.

Great age to get in cycling mate, I wish I had done! Once you get your bike try to join a local club it will improve your cycling no end. We have a 15yr old in the club I ride with and he is very very good!

Good luck it is an excellent sport!!!

zedders

it's just my opinion but why not get a second hand bike off ebay or somewhere similar to start with? See if you like it first? Or go into your Local Bike shop and get some advice from them?
You have already mentioned lycra etc, so have you set aside funds for a helmet, shorts, gloves, shoes etc? You'll need some basic kit after few rides if you want to be safe & comfortable on the bike? When I first started out I almost spent as much on other kit as I did on a bike.
I would also guess if you growing at a rapid rate, you'll be wanting to change the frame size as you grow, so is geting a new one a good idea?
Finally (again its only my opinion) but look for something with a sora groupset. It may be a basic (lower end) groupset, but I have used it for nearly two years and never had a problem, and think its a great gruoppo to start out on! That will mean more money left for frame, wheels etc.
best of luck.

lfc_westy

okay thanks guys ill pop down to my cycle shop later and talk to him about bikes kit and a club ect and ill get looking on ebay thanks very much

lfc_westy

hey im about to go to my local halfords and buy the carrera virtuoso but do i get a medium or large.. my inside leg measurement is 32 inches and if it helps im 6ft tall [ yeah tall for a 14 year old :P]

zedders

Go to a proper bike shop! You might end up being seen to by some lad not much other than you who knows jack!

t0ny

Hi Dan, the guys are right about sizing. I THINK you would be very lucky to get some good advice at Halfords,

Go to this site to measure up for your frame:

http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Spot_Part1

Ram the book right up there because I wear 32inch trousers, but using the measuring on this site I am a 33 inside leg!

I know you are keen, I am terrible like that but take some time to get the right bike size because it is the one thing you can't change easily!!!

The recommendation of a second hand bike is good advice. For example I am selling a mint condition large Specialized Allez Sport 07 model, which was £700 and I am selling for £450. Not trying to sell it to you, as I think my mate wants it, but that is a much better bike than the Carrera for only £50 more!

Worth looking around and even more important get the right size!!!!

Infamous

The virtuoso is £300 t0ny. And for that price, you'd struggle to find any bike with STI's.

as for the size, get the large. I had a large and 6 foot is spot on for it.

t0ny

Ahh sorry just assumed it was £400! (It did get a good review)

Sizing is not down to height alone as torso and leg length vary a great deal between people.

Sizing is important.

lfc_westy

hey erm well i went into the shop today, unfourtunatley they didnt have one in stocks..well they did put it was in peices as they needed spares to repair another persons but because i reserved they are getting one in from hull [im in grimsby] around tuesday next week. but the bike had STI shifters and low profile tires and the other standard stuff... it seems a good bike and the reviews on there website are good from customers... i did order large and i looked at that website t0ny and your right i said did the bike have a shimano sour grouppo and he froze. and said it erm has the basic black one. but the vanquish had a sora but it was £700 odd quid so i get my new bike next week. also ill get some plain matching lycra blue and black.... do any of you recconmend i ask around for sponsorship ??? thanks

Infamous

maybe win a few races before considering sponsorship.... or even wait until you've ridden a bike first.

peanut1978

Have you cycled much before?

Giant step going for sponsorship

lfc_westy

aah yeah lols thanks. good point maybe in a year or two :P

gabriel959

if you want some cool team kit go to http://www.prendas.co.uk

lfc_westy

hey thanks for all the advice guys i got my new virtuouso today for £300. went out on a easy 10mile ish ride and its fantastic and rides great ! thank you soo much guys !

SpinningJenny

I wish I'd done this when I was 14! Good luck, Dan. We'll watch out for you in the TdF/Olympics!