Cheap Road Bike

mudslinger

I'm on the lookout for a cheap road bike i.e. £350 max. I know 2nd hand would give me more options but I don't know anything about road bikes. Also I'm self employed so I'll be buying it through my non official cycle to work scheme i.e. my company will buy me what I want.

The bikes I'm considering are the following:

Claud Butler Criterium
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/criterium-2009-road-bike-ec018832
Cheapest I've seen this is £263.99

Giant SCR 4.0
http://www.nationalcycles.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=38381
Cheapest I've seen for this is £319.99 for a 2008 (I think)

Carrera Virtuso
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_272625_langId_-1_categoryId_165710
Halfords £325

Vitus Razor
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=37303
CRC £325
I've never heard of Vitus before & CRC haven't put the details up yet. Looks nice but I'm wary of this.

Some have steel forks whereas others have composite - is there any preference? I've seen some bikes have 2 chainrings whereas others have 3 - what are the pros & cons of 2 vs 3 on a roadie?

I've not ridden a drop bar bike for 20 years so I'm hoping to borrow a neighbours old bike to see how I get on with it. If I don't like it then I'll consider a flat bar bike such as the Giant FCR 3.

I'd welcome views on the above or any other bikes.

morrisje

There was a review of bikes in your price bracket in Cycling Plus a couple of months ago. I think this was the one they rated highest.

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

It's the Meridia 880

If you are looking at this price range because you haven't extra funds then fair enough but if you can afford more then it would be worth while. A bike that won't disapoint and you won't want to replace starts at about £700

mudslinger

Cheers, I 'll look into that Merida.

The reason I don't want to spend more than £350 is that I've got 2 MTBs so spend most of my time MTBing. So I want a road bike for evening fitness training rides & possible occasional outings with roadie friends. Saying that I'll probably really enjoy road riding & will then want a better bike!

keef66

The last C+ had an article called 'Outride Recession' looking at new sub £500 bikes. Their winner was a Carrera from Halfords!

sicknote

The one you have on your list

STEFANOS4784

mudslinger wrote:

Some have steel forks whereas others have steel - is there any preference?

Hard choice but i'd be tempted by the steel......

mudslinger

Some have steel forks whereas others have steel - is there any preference?

Thanks for pointing that out!

Any other views on those bikes or any others to consider?

flubbub

i was looking at the Viking Giro D Italia road bike 2009, and i want to know if it is any good?! i have a budget of £250, i know, not enough. but if it is any good, can somebody please tell me if i can change the gears to those gears under the brakes ( sorry forgoten the name! ) because they are a lot easier to use!!!

Thanks

me

flubbub

if not i have just seen the Viking Roma, any views?!

thanks

me again

ohlala!

I've used Viking Monza which I was quite pleased with. Components are Shimano 2200 shifters sora mech ang prowheel chainset. Frame is a little heavy but not too penalising. Now I've built myself a road bike for £350 using Sora mech, Graham Weigh carbon alu frame, aluminium fork, Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels.

flubbub

thanks, but do you know what type of gears they are, they look like twisters, are they good?

flubbub

do you know, by chanse, what the best road bike/racing bike i can get for about £200-£250 is, putting in mind the extras (clothing, pedals, tryes, shoes, ect.)

thanks

me

sicknote

flubbub wrote:

do you know, by chanse, what the best road bike/racing bike i can get for about £200-£250 is, putting in mind the extras (clothing, pedals, tryes, shoes, ect.)

thanks

me

I would say for that money you would be better looking at second hand.

Ebay or Gumtree.

Someone else might have some better ideas.

flubbub

ok, but what if i live in france, and i need postage?

and there have been some bad stories about ebay bikes!

sicknote

flubbub wrote:

ok, but what if i live in france, and i need postage?

and there have been some bad stories about ebay bikes!

I would not know where to start then.
Do you know someone that could have a look at one for you?

flubbub

no, i dont know any road bikers in england. but here i know a lady who used to cycle for australia!!! im borrowing her old bike!

mudslinger

Back to the original post & not flub's ramblings - any views on the bikes in my list or any other to consider?

flubbub

i like the Claud Butler Criterium 2009 Road Bike, and the saracen tour 1