should i get some sort of road bike?

psychomansam
psychomansam Posts: 7
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
Got into MTB last year, bought a cheap hardtail and love doing some easy trils/xc but also discovered i liked roads... Did a few easy rides and decided to step it up a bit over the summer so bought some slicks (1.3 wide) for it. Rode to London on Friday, then back on Tues, 67miles each way. Significantly further than i've been before and enough to convince me to sort out some padded shorts if nothing else!

Other upgrades on the cards include spd's that i wanted anyway and throwing some old bar end things from the garage on the end of my handlebars.

This is all very well and good but i'll still have a fecking heavy bike. While the front suss is good for softening potholes, I hardly think it's the most efficient way to ride and i'm sure a bike weighing about half as much as mine (mongoose super tyax) and with less friction around the place would make riding easier on the flats and up the hills.

The down side is i just had to spend over a grand to keep my car on the road, :( i'm jobseeking, and i'm feeling the pinch. I can accept that i need to purchase expensively at some point, but my question is... In the meantime perhaps, is there anything worth me getting for sub£100 or so that i can ride for a bit and upgrade/sell later?

If anyone has anything cheap going, then I'm homeless in folkestone, sheffield and north wales at the mo, otherwise ideas appreciated

Thanks,
Sam

Comments

  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    TBH, I wouldn't hurry into getting a road bike in your circumstances. Sub £100 can get you a decent second hand bike but it is likely to need work and potentially more spend. Worth keeping eyes open though as true bargains do turn up.

    I've covered a lot of road miles on my heavy steel framed MTB. It's slower than the road bikes but not massively so and it does at least improve strength. It really depends on how far and how often you want to ride and over what surfaces.

    Incidentally, weight aside, the front suspension shouldn't be a problem in terms of efficiency as long as you are sat in the saddle - it is when you stand out of the saddle that the suspension (assuming no lockout) becomes a bother but it is hardly a big deal even then.

    Just make sure your road routes have enough rough tracks included that you wouldn't want to put a road bike on that route anyway!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • chadders81
    chadders81 Posts: 744
    Got myself a Peugeot Prologue off eBay for £83. Spent £30 on servicing and £20 on new tyres.

    Runs like a dream. It's got a lovely steel frame and some nice touches. Does need new wheels eventually but they can wait.
  • psychomansam
    psychomansam Posts: 7
    So no, but also yes. Dammit. Expected as much. I might grab an old raleigh or something if i see one. At least it won't devalue much.

    Trying to convince myself to head towards sportives at some point which is why an upgrade will be one the cards once i'm employed...
  • outcastjack
    outcastjack Posts: 237
    got myself an onld roady for 30quid then spent another 10 sorting it (new front tyre and tube) It now runs nicely, much faster than my MTB although predictably slower than my good road bike
  • mouth
    mouth Posts: 1,195
    Yeah I bought a Raleigh Banana on Ebay last year for £30. Turned out to be too big and needed a bit of work but oh man the thrill of getting down in the drops and just flying. It was ace.

    Unfortunately the bike didn't work out cos of the size but it was enough to convince me that I wanted a road bike for permanent use. Ironically I sold it to my mate and it also convinced him to get a better bike. He then sold it on to another mate who is also planning an upgrade. The Banana is about to change hands again having so far already gotten 3 people a start in road biking.

    My suggestion: Spend something like £100 including repairs if necessary and see how it goes. If you like it and get a newer, shinier bike you can either keep your £100 ride for a winter bike/spare or sell it for what you paid.

    If you don't like it sell the bike for near enough what you paid anyway. I call it a win/win situation.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ammaco-Road-B ... 500wt_1156

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Pulsa ... 395wt_1139

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Siroc ... 500wt_1156

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Arena ... 500wt_1156

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Pursu ... 500wt_1156

    If you don't fancy the repairs or a used bike, then this might be more up your street

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RALEIGH-PURSU ... 174wt_1195
    The only disability in life is a poor attitude.
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MENS-RACING-BIKE-RALEIGH-RAPIDE-/130554681689?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item1e65aa5959 My first roadbike in the 80s///

    PP
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    My nephew was commuting to work on a very heavy downhill mountain bike, heaviest thing I've ever seen in fact! I found a ten year old Trek with Shimano RSX (first generation STI shofters / brakes) for 60 quid and spent 40 servicing and upgrading it. He couldn't believe how much faster it was.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • Too old for this
    Too old for this Posts: 128
    i have a mongoose super tyax, the front sus shouldn,t pose a problem because you should be able to lock it out. you wont be wasting as much energy to the suspension then.
  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    Get yourself a post in the wanted section with a size and price in, you may be suprised at how many people have something cheap they'd sell you!

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