First road bike suggestions (~ £500 budget)

jf22901

Hi all.

I will be moving to Milton Keynes in October to begin a PhD, and will be cycling to and from uni most days (only around a 6 mile return journey), and for longer rides around MK during the weekend (around 30 miles).

I have been mountain biking for many years, but don't want to take my mountain bike with me (Santa Cruz Chameleon) as it is rather expensive, and I don't want it getting nicked! As such, I am wanting to buy a road bike.

The bike will be locked in a shed at night, and will be locked in a secure bike shed at uni, but I still don't want a really expensive one just in case. As such, I am thinking of something around the £500 mark, although if there's something brilliant for slightly more (or much less!) then I would consider it.

I've never bought a road bike before, so really have no idea what to look for. Any help will be much appreciated!

Cheers.

Rich Hcp

Specialized Allez.

But in your position I'd get a used one for as cheap as possible, older the better.

Pocket the rest of the money and enjoy yourself

anto164

If your uni is anything like the one i went to, if you're a PHd student, you get your own office. So keep your bike in your office when you're in uni, and keep your bike in your flat when at home. Much safer that way.

As for a bike, cheaper the better i'm afraid for uni (especially if youre keeping it locked up outside).. Unless you're keeping it in your flat/office.

Super Domestique

Given the circumstances of locking it up, etc. I would go with a Carrera TDF. I think they are outstanding VFM imho. You can get them discounted further instore from the £300 on halfords site (my dad paid £255 for eg).

I have an Allez and they are great bikes, especially for the money, but I would not like to leave one locked up in a shed at Uni. If I were doing that I'd buy a second hand 'beater' tbh.

If you want to spend a bit more than the Carrera then the Raleigh Airlite 100 is a good bike, it has an rrp of £499 but can be found online for £325.

Suffolkwheels

Check out the Giant Rapid 3. Road bike frame/speed but flat handlebars with bar ends; good for commuiting but equally good for longer rides. I got mine for £550. Although personally, I'd look at something cheaper as noted above due to the risk of studentish thievery. Alternatively chain an enormous alsation to your bike. Not great for aerodynamics but could double up as a huskie as required.

STEFANOS4784

Well i tell you, i recently saw a Raleigh Airlite 100 (also the 200 and 300) at GOOUTDOORS (Bristol) and was surprised at the quality, granted maybe not the lightest thing around but the gear changes felt good and the paint job was quite nice too, together with a carbon fork and a price tag sub 300 quid (shop around) i think this is a very good buy and excellent starter bike.

This then gives dosh for other things such as lycra and also Raleigh, as a brand, wont be quite as appealing to thieves as say Specialized or Cannondale or Trek etc IMO

Stu T

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165710

fastbatard

I have the Secialized Allez and love it but before that I had the B'Twin Sport 1 from Decathlon which was a great bike and fantastic value at £270. Well worth a look for commuting and even longer rides.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-1-54-57-69567468/

jf22901

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

After mulling it over for a while, I decided against buying a new bike, just in case it got nicked. Instead, I upgraded my dad's old steel-framed Kona mountain bike (which is about 20 years old!) with some new tyres, brakes and shifters.

Now I just need some lights, some bar ends... and maybe a bell.


Road Bike by jf22901, on Flickr

saintdracula

Carrera Vanquish, now under 500 quid, I bought one yesterday - reserve it from Halfords

Mine came with 105 shifters lol

fastbatard

jf22901 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

After mulling it over for a while, I decided against buying a new bike, just in case it got nicked. Instead, I upgraded my dad's old steel-framed Kona mountain bike (which is about 20 years old!) with some new tyres, brakes and shifters.

Now I just need some lights, some bar ends... and maybe a bell.


Road Bike by jf22901, on Flickr

Nice looking bike. For commuting I would consider some mudguards too, nothing worse than a soggy backside!