What Bike?

foureyedfastrider

Hi All
My aunt recentley introduced me into the world of road biking, i'd love to get into it, but i don't know what bike to buy. I'd rather not go above £250. Ive found a bike on the following link http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B3876.html but is it any good? Anyone got any advice?

danowat

You'd be better off buying secondhand, as £250 won't buy you much more than a B.S.O. new.

(B.S.O. = Bike Shaped Object)

night_porter

That is simply not true!

A friend of mine's son has this very bike, it has the same Shimano kit that you would find on an entry level Specialized, Trek, Giant, etc.

It rides well and it's original price when it was first sold was £450. What you are looking at is old stock that has been reduced in price to clear.

When you think that you can buy a last years model Specialized Allez for £399 and the company and the retailer are still making a profit then this Viking bike makes perfectly good sense as a starter bike.

unixnerd

For the money that isn't actually a bad bike. It'd do as a starter road bike and the nice thing is that it'll take mudguards. So if you decide to get something nicer you can keep the Viking as a winter bike.

If you wanted to go higher you might still get a 2010 Cannondale CAAD8, Specialized Allez, etc for under 550 but they're running out now. Personally I've bought second hand, there are lots of barely used bargains out there bought with good intentions then forgotten.

foureyedfastrider

Thanks for the advice everyone!

slowlanejane

So Tom, there's your answer. Let's shortlist your options then get your measurements and work out frame sizes against your favourite models. Luv auntie SLJ.

foureyedfastrider

ok then. will need your help to measure up aunty SLJ [/code]