First Road bike !

The Reverend
The Reverend Posts: 3
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
I am looking to buy my first road bike, I have been recommended by the local cycling guru either the Specialized Allez or the Giant defy ! Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome. My budget is around £500.

Comments

  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Hello there Reverend, welcome on board :)

    The Allez is a decent bike and gets many nods on here, as does the Defy. I recommend a poke around in the Road Buying Advice section (the search feature is quite good, something like "bikes £500" or "1st bike" should do for starters). However, most folks will end up recommending what they like, which is all valid stuff but no short cut for you to get out there to a few bike shops and swing your leg over a few bikes. Some of the shops, like Evans or Leisure Lakes, will be more than happy to chat to you and let you do a few test rides although I would ensure that you take time getting the saddle setup right first so that you get the right feel rather than just the bike that is the right size. Take your time, enjoy browsing as you will spend even longer in the saddle :)

    Don't forget to ensure that your budget includes all the essentials, like decent shorts, helmet, glasses, mitts, shoes, pedals, pump, etc., etc., although you don't have to buy top end to get "decent". For example, Bolle safety glasses £5, hard to differentiate from others costing a lot more. However, it will all add up.
  • pease
    pease Posts: 150
    First of all welcome to bike radar.

    I recently took the pluge myself and got a road bike. I picked up a 2010 allez tripple in silver for 250 which left money for shoes, pedals, helmet,gloves,bottle, bib shorts and top etc..

    My suggestion is visit a few shops and get sized up, the target the second hand market on ebay, gumtree, here etc.

    Good luck !
    Insert witty signature here
  • mlefa30
    mlefa30 Posts: 64
    me in the same position, was mibee gonnie stretch to a trek 1.2C £599 at evans

    anyone else got any offers they know about @about £500
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    First off, enjoy whichever bike you get, and wish many happy pedal turns!

    as said already, be sure to include some spending on decent clothing and gear. A small portable pump, a spare tube, some shorts, some cleaning supplies, helmet and gloves would be enough. The main things there are helmet and shorts, as you want your noggin in good condition should you crash, and shorts help a lot with keeping the backside in good condition!

    The allez is a very good bike. You won't get anything super amazing for around 500, but it will do the job very well, and you'll definitely be happy with your purchase.
    My London Road
  • BelgianBeerGeek
    BelgianBeerGeek Posts: 5,226
    What ho, new chaps!

    All good bikes and ones you will have many happy hours on. It mainly boils down to personal preference ie the one you like the look of the most! If you are new to all this then the feel you get from the retailer should be high on your agenda - you should be confident about their after-sales service, and that they are selling you the right bike and size in the first place.
    One thing you might want to consider is the ability to do different kinds of riding. The Giant and Trek both have fittings for mudguards (and a rack?) which make them more versatile for commuting etc. I think the Spesh sets its stall out as more of a sportive bike without the fittings.
    Ecrasez l’infame

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