Need Help Buying My First Road Bike... Choices,Choices

SunnyBiker

hi i am new to this forum and i have a few queries in regards to purchasing my first road bike.

i will be using this road bike for exercise and my budget is around 300 to 500 pounds and i am stuck between the following road bikes:

Specialized Allez 16 or 24 2010

CANNONDALE CAAD 8 Sora

Kona 2010 Zing

GT 2010 GTR Series 4 Road

Trek 2010 1.1 Road

my only requirements about the bike is that it must be lightweight, very good build quality, very good quality components,smooth ride etc.

some brands i have heard of like specialized and cannondale but the others i have not heard about so please if its possible please help me choose a road bike out of the models above.

you help would be most appreciated

thank you

p.s also all these bikes i have seen under 500 pounds online so would it also be ok by purchasing the bike online?

thank you

MikeWW

The most important thing is getting one the right size for you and it would be far better to go to your local bike shop who should be able to do this and point you in the right direction bike wise
Bear in mind that your budget will only get you a bottom end bike but should be fine for what you describe
Not much difference between the big makes-down to personal preference

1stGenRex

yeah, at that price point, you're not paying for quality of build (as the Spesh and Cannondale are both decently built) you're more paying for components.

I was looking at those 2 and ended up going with the Cannondale for 2 reasons.
1 being that the Spesh I was looking at had Sora shifters, and I didn't want those (The Cannondale had Tiagra shifters) and I didn't want a red bike (even though everyone knows red bikes are faster) :P

As Mike mentione, Bike fit is VERY important. Also, I would suggest seeing if any of your local shops have 2010 model year bikes left, as you should be able to get a great deal on them over the 2011's

arnie1000

Hi

I brought a Specialized Allez 16 in August last year when it was £500 - think you can now get the 2010 model for under £400 online.

I read lots of reviews on it and for an 'entry level' road bike it was highly thought of. I am now 6 months down the road and about 1200 miles in and I have to say, I find the bike really very good indeed, in fact I love it. I am able to knock along at decent speeds and climb all hills I encouter. As well as social riding I use it to commute 23 miles each way to work twice a week as I am training for a hilly 200km ride in June.

I have updated 2 things on this bike since buying it. I had SPD pedals fitted when I brought it and after about 400 miles I changed the tyres as I was getting quite a few punctures, but since had none (probably cursed it now!!)

My overall assessment is that it was great value for money at £500 so to get it for under £400 would be a steal.

1stGenRex

Buying online is fine, if you're 100% sure you know what size you need. I was told I needed a 58, but then I rode a 56, and was told the 56 would be a better fit...but this is also dependent on the bike, as a 56 in one bike COULD be too small, or too big, depending on the frame geometry. Only way to know for sure is to go to a local bike shop and see what size they recommend.

Ron Stuart

Hi Sunny,
God I wish it was at the moment my friend.
My advise is a little like MikeWW's that is, get along to a good shop where they know about bikes and don't just think they know.
I don't know what part of the world you reside in but here is a bike and an outfit that will do you proud, bikes have gone up in price in the last 18 months and although you may find a bike being advertised at the price range you have quoted, I feel you need to wait till you know more about road bikes in general and also have a better idea of exactly what you are after.
Try this outfit I know them personally and have referred quite a few others to them.... http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Genesis_Aether.html the bike indicated sounds ideal for a beginner and would be a great all year round bike with proper mudguard clearances so you could add proper rigid thermoplastic mudguards for the winter roads and not these crudracers which you are continually having to adjust and any sticky mud around and they are rubbing on the tyres.
Epics do a proper bike fit and they spend plenty of time with you so you will get the exact right size and set-up right from the start.
They won't just sell you what they have in stock. The bike fit costs £75 but it can take hours to sort you out and then you can have the money back if and when you place an order.
The Genesis is pricier than your budget but its a classier act with that year round use bonus.
There shop is in a nice part of the world for a weekend away.
Oh and you can test ride as well.

Frag75

I have the 2010 Allez Sport, which is very similar to the Allez you mentioned. It's done me proud for many miles, including a few months when I worked in Scotland and so spent a lot of time going up and down hills!

I think the bikes you mentioned are all of a similar standard, so as has been said already it will most likely come down to what feels right to ride. So my advice would be to try them out and see what's going to give you the most enjoyment for your money and if necessary either up your budget or lower your spec so you can buy from a shop rather than online.

wall17

I have just started aswell and i got a trek 1.2 it is the 2010 model.

do you have a local bike shop? if so go in there and ask if they price match because mine do so i went online and found the 1.2 for £540 and in the shop it was £650 and they matched so thats the first thing saving your money when you can.

When i was buying my first nike i bought a magazine called cycling active and they have reviews for almost every bike and how much it is so thats worth a look.

the trek 1.2 they rated as the best starting out road bike with the giant defy.

Your great news is that you are getting a bike at the start of the year and all the 2010 bike are loads cheaper and practically exact to the new ones.
which i would say is the best way.

hope this helped out

cheers

Ron Stuart

wall17 wrote:

I have just started aswell and i got a trek 1.2 it is the 2010 model.

do you have a local bike shop? if so go in there and ask if they price match because mine do so i went online and found the 1.2 for £540 and in the shop it was £650 and they matched so thats the first thing saving your money when you can.

When i was buying my first nike i bought a magazine called cycling active and they have reviews for almost every bike and how much it is so thats worth a look.

the trek 1.2 they rated as the best starting out road bike with the giant defy.

Your great news is that you are getting a bike at the start of the year and all the 2010 bike are loads cheaper and practically exact to the new ones.
which i would say is the best way.

hope this helped out

cheers

This is all well and good but are you sure the bike that was sold to you properly fits you?

What type of measurements were taken from you by the staff to determine that the bike was a good fit for you?

What was your expected use of the new bike?

When new to a particular sport or type of bicycle it essential to avoid anatomical injuries through ill fitting equipment. This advice can only come from proper expert advice carried out thoroughly and not just grabbing hold of the first bargain basement deal that seems possibly to do the job.

Just remember and this is a fact that doesn't just apply to bikes either, that reviews can be subject to rivals input (purposely negative) and are at best someone’s personal opinion.
Read as many reviews as possible and see if there is a pattern emerging as to what seems to come out on top. Also as I said previously a good idea is to get a proper professional bike fit undertaken at a recommended outlet. This information can be kept and used time and time again when purchasing other bikes in the future
.

joshvoulters

OP- I have experience with the Cannondale, Trek and Specialized. All good solid bikes- I ended up buying the CAAD8 Tiagra, but only because it fit me the best of the three.

You can't really go wrong. Go to a shop or two, and find what fits you best. If all else is equal, then look at components- if this is your first road bike, then you'll invariably get used to whatever hardware is on the bike. It's inevitable that you'll start lusting after more expensive/ exotic frames and groupsets in the near future anyway, so stick to your budget and find out what works for you.

Ron Stuart

joshvoulters wrote:

OP- I have experience with the Cannondale, Trek and Specialized. All good solid bikes- I ended up buying the CAAD8 Tiagra, but only because it fit me the best of the three.

You can't really go wrong. Go to a shop or two, and find what fits you best. If all else is equal, then look at components- if this is your first road bike, then you'll invariably get used to whatever hardware is on the bike. It's inevitable that you'll start lusting after more expensive/ exotic frames and groupsets in the near future anyway, so stick to your budget and find out what works for you.

The penny isn't dropping :!:
A beginner to road bikes cannot themselves know whether in the confines of a 'shop or two' a bike is going to be in constant use the correct fit.
It needs the expertise of someone with proper experience and facilities to determine this.
Even the same size bike on paper i.e. 54cm can be a great deal different in fit from one make or model to another.
It may mean that to achieve the best fit a different length stem to the standard one maybe the answer, it could be a laid back seat post that’s best, any number and combinations of variables could be the difference between hours of fantastic pleasure got from our great sport or chronic knee and/or backache.
Begin as you mean to carry on as "comfortable" possible.
:idea: