First Road Bike Advice - Not a clue.... £800 - £1000

chrism_scotland

Looking for some road bike advice, I have just received my £1000 Cyclescheme Voucher and I had all but settled on a Giant XTC Hardtail, but in thinking about it its going to be 99% road use and I can always rent an MTB for a day if I go to Glentress.

I'm completely new to road bikes, its years since I've had one, I have had recommendation of the Cotic Roadrat over on the Commuting forum but I've been also taking a half look at more "Roady" bikes like the Giant Defy or Specialized Allez, I really want the bike to improve my fitness and I would prefer something that would be capable of longer rides, something I'm not so sure the Roadrat is designed for
Just looking for a little advice, I don;t really know where to start with road bikes, but I know that an MTB is just wrong for being on-road 100% of the time.

LazyLoki

For road bikes around the £1000 mark a lot of people often advise the Cannondale CAAD9 but there have been big supply problems with Cannondale in Europe this year so I doubt you'd be able to source one.

Specialized Allez is a good choice for a first road bike. Nice frame with not-too-aggressive-not-too-relaxed geometry. Not sure where you can use cyclescheme vouchers but the Chris Boardman bikes sold by Halfords are also pretty good for the money. IIRC they do a carbon SRAM rival bike for £1000.

If you want something a little bit more relaxed and comfortable on longer rides but still a road bike then Bianchi do the Via Norone 7 with Shimano 105 for about the same money.

chrism_scotland

Thankyou! I did notice the Cannondale CAAD9 seemed to be popular on here, not sure where I'd source one locally with my Cyclescheme voucher sadly.

If I could get Boardman I would!!! I know that they are meant to be cracking bikes.

Would anyone reccommend a Genesis Croix de Fer? I like the look of the bike and disc brakes would be good with the usual rubbish weather here in Scotland!!

unixnerd

I have a Cannondale CAAD5 and love it, wonderful bike. Got it second hand (almost unused) for 400 quid. Only comes out on nice days (so not often in Aviemore).

But if this bike is going to be used for commuting in Scotland you need something you can stick mudguards on, preferably a luggage rack for panniers too. As you're in Edinburgh go and see the Edinburgh Bicycle Shop, I have one of their own brand tourers and it's been a great all rounder. Took if over Drumochter today :-)

You need to decide if this is an every day all weather commuter or a nice days in the sun bike.

One other thing, if you can get Shimano 105 instead of the cheaper Sora. I have have both and whilst Sora is a very reliable setup 105 works soooo much nicer.

rake

theres a lot of people leaped in and got boardmans and dont use them. i got mine second hand (with receipt and manual) for £800 with 0 miles. its a very good bike and at what i paid its untouchable price wise. with any bike though look well over it . any blemishes at all (baring a few stone chips if its been used) just walk away and find a better one. one area to look at is the braking surface, its easy to see if its new or slight use. something to think about winter seems far off now but its harsh on a decent bike so you may want to get an old gate to ride about on the grit roads.

chrism_scotland

Cheers guys, it going to have to be new and not a Boardman due to having Cyclescheme voucher.

It's unlikely to be used everyday, I work in London Mon to Thur so I will probably commute the Friday but its more for weekend riding.

I would consider a cheap commuter later in the year for over the winter riding to protect my main bike.

chrism_scotland

Can someone explain to me the sizing on a road bike?

I'm used to mtb's being measure in inches for example I had an 17" frame on a mountain bike, how does it work with road bikes?

I see that they measure in CM rather than inches but what exactly is that cm measuring?

chrism_scotland

Well I popped into Cycle Surgery near my work last night and they were very helpful, explained the different types of bike and showed me how drop bars worked, etc.

I had a shot on a Specialized Allez Sport the ones that £600 and was very impressed with it, and the guy did say that for the extra £100 over the base model Allez you were getting much better kit,
My question on the Allez though is the Allez Elite worth the extra £200 over the Allez Sport???
I'm planning to have a try on a Giant Defy 2 at £825 although the spec doesn't seem as good as the Allez Elite, (Sora Brakes on the Defy)

Also I have ruled out the Trek 2.1 due to cost but how does the Trek 1.2 compare to the Allez and Defy?

Is there anything else I should take a look at for the price? most of the other bikes suggested such as the Trek 2.1, Secteur Elite or Bianchi Via Norone are closer to £1000 and I think I would be better off splitting my £1000 voucher between around £800 for the bike and £200 for kit.


Thanks guys all your help has been great!