500 quid on a road bike (don't laugh)

acr

Hi Folks,

Any suggestions for a decent road bike for 500 or less ? Alas I can't get a greater spend than that past the wife, 500 is bad enough. I know you'll suggest getting something second hand on eBay, but at 6'4" with 34/35 inside leg my sort of frame sizes don't come up on eBay. I have a Claud Butler hybrid which is great, so am thinking of a CB road bike - San Remo/Echelon/Roubaix, also Dawes Giro range maybe. But are they any good ? Ta for responses.

alfablue

The Carrera Virtuoso got a great review in C+ this month, it was up against more expensive rivals from Dawes and others (I can't remember). It was the best equipped bike yet was by far the cheapest. They also made the point that all the rest were overgeared for beginners bikes. The Carrera Vanquish looks similar but has a better Tiagra groupset and is still under £500. Over £500 and then its probably Trek 1.2, Spesh Allez etc, but these will have Sora not the better Tiagra.

SpinningJenny

Yep, I can second that about the Carrera Virtuoso write-up. And unlike me, with your height you should find one to fit you!

mattbass789

If you can streatch another 40quid, a Specialized Allez, compact a great choice.
I being a student also strapped for cash, live by the moral and lance armstrong book "It's not about the bike" but these days 500quid is enough to get a decent machine by the looks of things.

I was looknig at an allez in my LBS and a guy even walked in the shop nudge me as i was talking to the owner about it, and said "great bike, you can't go wrong"
Though i was looking about 2 weeks ago, and the owner of my LBS said that due to recession etc specialized got their numbers wrong and didnt realise how popular it was going to be, and its getting increasingly harder to find them, but he also said the 2010 model should be out by june which may be better spec'd.

It's an idea.

brownbosh

Specialized langster

acr

Thanks all, good advice. Hadn't considered Carrera - thats Halfords then ?

Good call re: Langster, have looked at 'em. Not sure if I'm ready for the single speed lark, though I am a commuter, am not planning on being a budding Lance Armstrong, but then I am 41.

t0ny

I am selling an Allez Sport Double (07 model purchased last summer and used little) is in excellent condition.

It is it 58 frame.
Spec here: http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2007&spid=21891
PM me if this is of interest.

guilliano

Giant Defy 4 in XL..... shame it doesn't have the Tiagra gearing of the Carrera Vanquish, but it has a decent frame and fork and is very upgradeable in future

Gav888

I posted this in November - http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

Ended up getting the Saracen Tour 3, lovely looking bike and ive covered alot of fault free miles so far... love it.

Starwasp

I bought a 2008 Claud Butler Milano from my LBS for £400, and have done c1,000 miles on it. Haven't changed much except for the tyres, conversion of a racing Sora double (39/53) into a triple cos I'm old and couldn't hack it, and a new saddle, stem and seatpost, but only because I was swapping out black kit for white kit given that the frame is white. Oh, and the saddle was bloody uncomfortable.

Nice frame. Did I say it was white!

Seriously, the bike had a racing set up with a 12-23 cassette and a 39/53 chain ring, and it was just too hard to go up hills. Reading the recent cycling plus article on entry level bikes, this seems to be a common feature at this level. Not sure why, as the logic must be that keen racers get more expensive bikes, and therefore cheap bikes are for training / getting into the sport and should have more forgiving gearing.

Am currently looking to upgrade to something lighter and more sexy but not because I can't live with the Claud Butler.

Marcosplace

I am currently selling my CB Roubaix...I loveit. I have no room for it....but its a great entry level bike.

Go with a roubaix...althought look at the GIANT Defy 4.....if you have the extra money.

bomberharris72

What on earth's wrong with spending £500. Might not get you the bike you dream about but plenty around to keep you more than happy. Been looking at the Specialized Allez meself.

acr

Starwasp how on earth did you manage a Milano for 400 quid, I'll go for that, best price I can find for that is 479 with www.mailordercycles.co.uk

fraz167

You can get a lot of bike for £500 these days.

Ebay or classifieds, be patient something will come up.

Or new how about a Trek 1.2...its £550 but its a cracking bike for the money.

kingrollo

If you live near a decathlon store - they do a great road bike for £499 - otherwise anything by specailzed gets good reviews at this price point.

fraz167

How about this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LEMOND-BUENOS-AIR ... 1|294%3A50

I had one of these and they are great bikes and this looks mint.

Cheers
Fraser

salsarider79

+Langster. Quit using your age as an excuse, I've a friend who is 67 riding singlespeed
Any mods have been for upgrade purposes only.

p.s. 6000miles+ to a drivetrain, beat that geared boys....

Longwaydown

Just collected my 09 Allez double yesterday - just fantastic for the money. My LBS said they could have sold it 3 times over that day, they won't see any more stock for this model though.

Like the OP, my budget is limited, so I spent ages agonising over all the bikes in this bracket. The Allez got it based on spec (it does use a Tiagra rear mech), look and feel.

I'd watched countless bikes on eBay and decided to go to my LBS as they have a great reputation and the fitting and peace of mind made it worth spending the bit extra. I also came away with new shoes and pedals and the ride home put a big grin on my face!

woodford2barbican

acr wrote:

Thanks all, good advice. Hadn't considered Carrera - thats Halfords then ?

Good call re: Langster, have looked at 'em. Not sure if I'm ready for the single speed lark, though I am a commuter, am not planning on being a budding Lance Armstrong, but then I am 41.

If it is a flattish commute just get a single speed - you can get gears later - a £500 single speed is a lot more bike than £500 for one with gears.

Check this link out....http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9085.html

dinsdale81

Everyone seems to be saying it and i can only agree, You can't go far wrong with a Specialized Allez.

I've got the 09 Allez Double and it's a fantastic bike to ride. I oringinally got it for the commute to work but i enjoyed riding it so much i have bought a specialized Langster for the commute and saved the Allez fore Sunny Sunday rides when i can really enjoy it.

I would love to spend £2000 on a Bianchi (Gorgeous dream bike) but we have to be realistic and with a young family, i think the missus wouldn have something to say. Just because you spend £500 on a bike doesn't make you any less a cyclist than someone who spends £5000.

landofbo

fraz167 wrote:

You can get a lot of bike for £500 these days.

Ebay or classifieds, be patient something will come up.

Or new how about a Trek 1.2...its £550 but its a cracking bike for the money.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, I just got one of these and LOVE it.

fossyant

Second hand....

A colleague has just got a very nice Bianchi Via Nirrone (Liquigas special) in alloy/carbon fork for £500..... hardly used...... probably a £1k bike ?

jonmack

fossyant wrote:

Second hand....

A colleague has just got a very nice Bianchi Via Nirrone (Liquigas special) in alloy/carbon fork for £500..... hardly used...... probably a £1k bike ?

I'm going to test ride a 2008 Via Nirrone Alu Xenon tomorrow, he wants £280 for it which I think is a pretty fair price. So this time tomorrow I may well have done my first road ride!!