Lowest price road bike suggestions?

litwardle

Hi All,

My employer is part of the cycle to work scheme so I shall be scouring the bike shops for a new roadie. I do need to spend as little as possible as I can't afford much to come off my ages. I've been riding MTB's for years but have no clue when it comes to road. I have seen a few Claud Butler bikes for not much but what am I sacrificing at those prices? Are they're any particular bikes that would be suitable for general fitness/commute in the £400 price range?

Regards

Lee

awallace

Giant Defy!

awallace

Giant Defy!

ademort

Ijust bought the Giant Defy 4. I am going to use it for work only. It is an excellent bike for the price. Maybe worth a look, it,s easy to upgrade also should you wish to do so.
Ademort

Westerberg

Boardman Comp

Marcosplace

Claude Butler is a fine bike. I had the roubaix. But the Giant Defy will be better for not much more.

litwardle

Hi All,

Thank you for those replies. Giants Defy seems to be coming up a lot! I havn't heard of the Boardman but I'll give it a google. I know these wuestions have probably been answered in many posts but what am I missing at these prices? I take it that it's a spec VS Frame battle and one is compromised? The only thing that really worries me (coming from an MTB background) is the chainsets/BB. I have learned that tapered BB's die very quickly on an MTB so I have always gone for Isis/splined etc or hollow tech. How does a tapered BB stand up on a road bike?

Kind regards

Lee

willbevan

i bought a very cheap 170 quid road bike from decathlon as my winter hack, lasted two winters of being hammered before I needed to change the BB, mind you it was bad by then

Never had any trouble though that would make me want to go for antyhing else, I dont have squared tapered on the TT or summer bike mind you, but they just came with something else

litwardle

Ok, thats what I thought. There is an Orbea at our local bike shop(not sure what model but it's blue!......). It's been there for a couple of years and is now 425 quid (sorry, pound sign isn't working) . Any good?

Lee

paul kimmings@ntlworld.co

there are also some great offers at 0% finance, i got a trek 1.2 last year from all terrain cycles financed through black horse at 0%apr £19 per month over 18months with just over £100 deposit ,dont just buy the cheapest bike you see remember that you get what you pay for..
happy searching

awallace

The same rules apply to road as mtb really. Start at a good frame, then look to swap components as you go. If nothing else its great buying something shiny to whack on your bike.

Frames will always cost a bit to upgrade (although a whole groupset can/will cost more you can piece buy!), An area nearly always lacking is wheels. You wont get a whole lot at the lower budget end but again is a great bit to upgrade.

Avanti Roman

litwardle wrote:

Ok, thats what I thought. There is an Orbea at our local bike shop(not sure what model but it's blue!......). It's been there for a couple of years and is now 425 quid (sorry, pound sign isn't working) . Any good?

Lee

Orbea make some very nice frames. If you can find one for that price it sounds like a good buy as most are over £1k. Well worth looking into.

I wonder if it is an Aqua?:
http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Orbea_Aqua.html

litwardle

No, not an Aqua, it's older than that. It's a really hideous blue and yellow, seriously not good looking. It has a load of SR Suntour kit on it though which i woldn't have even walked past when buying for my MTB....I wonder if road stuff is better?

Lee

ademort

litwardle wrote:

No, not an Aqua, it's older than that. It's a really hideous blue and yellow, seriously not good looking.
It sounds like my former Mother-In -Law
Ademort

litwardle

Oh I don't know....You'd ride the Orbea.....

litwardle

This is the Orbea. It's a training bike aparently. I found this on eBay. Anygood? [/img]

litwardle

Loking at the defy 3.5. I rode a 4 today but didn't like it very much. It felt wierd!

Lee

litwardle

I did a bit of maths and with the cyclescheme gave myself a bit of extra budget and went for a Trek 1.2c (09) in the end. I tried the Giants including a defy 3 but didn't get on with them. Just waiting for my voucher now!

Thanks for all the advice!

Lee