Suitable starting bike?

JACKnonREACHER

Hi all, i am 33 and wanting to get into road biking. My budget is around £500, i'm considering the Carrera Vanquish @ halfords

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

is this a good beginner bike?

Any info would be appreciated, thanks

McCullochE

It's ok - but there are a number of better bikes around. Good range of options on this site:
http://thebicyclebuyer.com/bikes/ton-fun.html

I'd go for the Specialized Secteur.

nochekmate

Specialized Allez, Giant Defy, Boardman range are all seen to be decent starter bikes (perhaps moreso than the Vanquish)

chiark

Night_porter has a Vanquish among his fleet and very highly rates it... It's a great spec for the money, especially considering the price of the Tiagra shifters, etc, on it.

If I were spending £500, and no more, that would be what I went for. Or second hand from a trusted source!

ollyridesfirst

Trek 1.1


Just like Lance

JACKnonREACHER

Thanks for the replies guys... I absolutely can't go over £500 and i'm told carbon forks are the way to go, so at the moment it's looking like the Vanquish. Waiting till the weekend to make my decision though, don't want to rush in to it!

chiark

check the info N_P put on my 'what to buy' thread - I think it will help!

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/vi ... t=12781188

duckson

Pity you cant go higher, if you buy 2nd hand you can pick up some good bikes for £500. I just bought a 2010 Boardman Team Carbon for a little under £600.

x8swift9x

Felt F95!

Thebigbee

duckson wrote:

Pity you cant go higher, if you buy 2nd hand you can pick up some good bikes for £500. I just bought a 2010 Boardman Team Carbon for a little under £600.

A mint Allez elite 2009 or 8 - whichever was the better specced was available near me recently for £475.

Apparently it was a £900 bike and better specced than the newere ones.

For £500 you should be able to pick up a tasty bike 2nd hand.

As that Shaun bloke said off "policewatch"

Keep em peeled!!

Does anyone remember him and that show? lol

springtide9

Out of that range, the Genesis Aether looks pretty nice

Thebigbee

Possible a Raliegh Shopper - although if you can't stretch to that a Chopper could do the trick.

Failing that a Raleigh Burner will sort you out. Especially for long distances.

JACKnonREACHER

ha ha i used to have a raliegh burner(long time ago)... but seriousley are raliegh road bikes any good? found a bike shop near me that have some starting at £250 - £1000

unixnerd

If you do go for a Halfords bike you can get 10% off by ordering online and paying with paypal for the next few weeks.

Personally I'd get a Specialized Allez / Secteur or a Cannondale CAAD8. I'd also think about a used bike from Ebay or Gumtree, that's what I normally do.

MattMTB

Whereabouts do you live and what size are you looking for? I have a Specialized Allez Elite 2010, 56cm frame, red, that I bought for myself off eBay and have been using for a month or so but have decided it's a bit big for me as I find myself stretching. I am looking to sell it on for around the £500 mark. Can post pics if you're interested?

Cheers,
Matt

whitestar1

Have a walk over to Decathlon if you are near one or their website http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-5-172072740/ I have been looking at the TRIBAN 5 and it seems a good ride to me at £500 and the after sale service is great.