New rider - recommended bikes? (Around £200 2nd hand)

TynoPrime
TynoPrime Posts: 4
edited December 2009 in Road beginners
As title, I'm new to Road bikes but have been riding a mountain bike for a fair while, after riding my friends Giant Defy 1 I really want a road bike. I'm looking to get one for around £200 2nd hand. And I'm 6.0 so would need a 58 or 60 frame.

What do you recommend? What kind of bikes would I be looking for?
Where's the best place to get one? Gumtree? Ebay?

Thanks in advance.

~Gordon

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Comments

  • A 60 cm would be too big for you - I'm 5'1" and us a 56cm - but the fnal decision must be based on body proportions (leg length v body length).
  • cathald
    cathald Posts: 105
    To be honest you will not get a great deal for £200 unless you are lucky so check you LBS for second hand stuff,free ads papers and the like

    I got myself an as new trek 1000 for €300 euro and that will do me until spring when I will buy new perhaps
    If you can wait a while say to your LBS you are looking for something 2nd hand and they will give you a ring if anything comes in,thats what I did

    Cathal

    edit B.T.W I am 6'1" and have a 58cm trek which is a great fit for me
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    You could probably pick up one of the following for £200 on Ebay, Gumtree or local ads.
    Dawes Giro
    Giant OCR
    Giant SCR
    Specialized Allez ( low end model )
    The problem is knowing if it is a good bike or a lemon, a bit of help from a cycling mate might be useful :D
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!
  • Ebay is the place, although to get something decent, you'd probably looking at an older bike (~10yrs old) in order to keep to your budget. £250 would definitely get you something nice, I guess £200 might be pushing it but possible if dedicated! Trick is to look at the stuff that's unpopular, and thus undervalued - don't be afraid of 8speed groupsets either, they're perfectly fine if starting out.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    blackhands wrote:
    A 60 cm would be too big for you - I'm 5'1" and us a 56cm - but the fnal decision must be based on body proportions (leg length v body length).

    You're 5'1" and use a 56!!! You sure? I'm 5'7" and only use a 52.
  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    For that price, go for the old good quality steel bikes (Reynolds 531; Columbus) with downshift gears. My best bike is an Italian Columbus Nivachrome steel that's 13 years old and it weights the same as my Trek 1.7.
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    My first bike was sourced off ebay for £156, a red Carrera Virtuoso. After upgrading to a Bianchi 928 it has been resigned to the garage as the turbo bike. That is until I sold it this week for £230!!

    You shouldn't have any problem, especially in the winter months finding someone with a nice bike for sale who'll gladly accept £200.
  • I got a Carrera Vanquish on eBay last weekend for £180. Current model, less than 6 months old. It had done just 30 miles from new - too small for the previous owner.

    Merida frame, Tiagra STIs, Halfords build! No good if you're a brand snob but hard to beat for value for a decent quality entry-level bike.

    I saw another one go for £200 recently.

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