Please help

colin33

Afternoon

I will cut straight to the chance. I'm newish to road cycling (well aisde from the commute to work on my really rubbish, but quite good fun £50 tesco bike) I'm after a new road racing bike. I'm not looking to spend a huge amount, hopefully around 200-300. I know that the more you invest the better a bike you get. But being poor I'm limited to a budget. Are there any good entry level bikes out there at this kind of buget, or would I better off getting a 2nd decent bike at this sort of price.

I had seen this

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=37303

Not sure if it's going to be any good or not. I'm guessing that it's half decent, but there is no right up on it.

any advice is much appericated.

Bascially being a fan of 'carter the unstopable s*x machine' I need a nice bike to go with my brixton cycles race cap.

bobtbuilder

Personally, for your budget I think the best option is a decent second hand bike. Obviously, the frame is the most important bit, as you can upgrade anything else later if you wish.

rally200

Many people recomend Decathlon bikes at that price range - at least you can go and sit on one (if you've got a store nearby of course).

Buying blind off the net is a bit of a risk - especially where the supplier hasn't evn published the spec.

pickled

+1 for spending the money on a second hand bike.
But only if you already know it's the right size. i.e: If you've sat on the same model in a shop

Failing that make sure you can test ride it. You should be able to get a much better one year old bike for that money.

Headhuunter

That bike looks alright, it's similar in spec to my commuter, I ride a bog standard Appollo (Halfords) brand bike from a couple of years ago with similar componentry. It's nothing special but it gets me in and out of work and no one ever wants to nick it. Also when I get on my carbon Focus for club rides at the weekend it;s as if someone has removed a bag of bricks it's like I'm absolutely flying.

I've upgraded a few bits on the Appollo, the bottom bracket was crap as were the wheels - the spokes kept popping, but now it's fine. My dad bought it from a pawn shop for about £70 or 80 I think, so you shuold definitely have a look 2nd hand.