Road Newbie, advice on which bike ~£400 ?

W4tto
W4tto Posts: 16
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
I know it's a pittance but I seriously can't justify paying more for something with bent handlebars and no full-sus :-/
Anywho I'm after a little something to give me a taste of the road scene and clock some miles bearing in mind I haven't ridden a road bike since I was a kid..

I've been quite taken in by the Claud Butler San Remo '11 however I'm aware Raleigh and trek do some bikes in the same price range with good reviews..

I'm not dead-set on buying new but would prefer it of poss..

I'm generally quite unfit and am about 6'0" tall if this helps..
I can source my own stabilisers...

Any advice appreciated,

Cheers folks..

Comments

  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Not sure at that price bracket but now's a good time with the sales on, retailers are starting to clear out 2011 stuff for 2012. You could always look 2nd hand, there are sometimes some good bargains on ebay and gumtree. Otherwise Ribble make some decent aluminium framed bikes with full Tiagra groupset if you can push the budget to something like £550-600!
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • Gizmodo
    Gizmodo Posts: 1,928
    Halfords have dropped the price of the Carrera TDF Limited Edition from £449.99 to only £299.99. I bought one 2 weeks ago and am happy with it. Use the extra money to buy some cycling shoes and clipless pedals.

    I bought a Cycling magazine and they have a Bike Finder feature - they recommended the Carrera TDF to someone who said they had a £500 budget. The magazine said:
    "we've been impressed by the ride this modestly priced bike offers. It's a good sound and tough first road bike."

    Enjoy.
    Summer - Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 Team
    Winter - Trek Madone 3.5 2012 with UDi2 upgrade.
    For getting dirty - Moda Canon
  • okeydokey79
    okeydokey79 Posts: 89
    hi w4tto i'm in the same boat been looking at a hybrid cus used to mtb but my mileage means i shud be using a road bike and i am using my cycle to work vouchers to buy a new bike and looking at the reviews and help off here it looks like i may b going for the carrera tdf cus at the price it is at the moment it makes it a very good buy for an introduction into the world of drop bars .
  • KulaBen
    KulaBen Posts: 220
    Thinking of selling my Specialised Allez Elite if you fancy. It may be a little small for you thou, i'm 5feet 10 and it's a 56. Great starter bike though
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I managed to pick up a Focus Variado 105 Compact for £375 as a sale ex-demo from Wiggle which, now I look back on it, was an absolute steal. I then bought my Focus Cayo secondhand for £700 with various bling (carbon bars, Selle Italia Saddle, wireless computer, Look Keo peddles, 2 carbon bottle holders and bottles) in fantastic as-new condition and just serviced. So, with those two, I have bought nearly-new bikes at half "ticket" price. Much better than buying a new £400 bike at ticket price.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • denzzz28
    denzzz28 Posts: 315
    you might not be able to buy brand new decent road bike on that price range unless you add another £300-£400, but having said that i almost bought a very nice bike from Decathlon for £499 (alu frame with carbon fork and seat stays on sora group set) the Triban 5 model.

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-5- ... NFO-DETAIL

    in the end I ended up buying a second mint condition cannondale with ultegra group set for only £600 a top spec which was around £1,400 in 2009. and im sooooo pleased with the bike.

    so my advice is if youre looking for a nice spec road bike on that price go for a 2nd hand im sure there are plenty in the for sale section of the bikeradar forum or you can go EBAY or GUMTREE. or you can check out decathlon bikes i find their bikes nicely priced with nice parts.
  • sheep911uk
    sheep911uk Posts: 29
    Have a look at the 2010 Carrera Virtuoso review on this very site, thats what persuaded me to get one, i got lucky and paid £200 for one still in the box.
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    Decathlon do a road bike with 2300 and a carbon fork for £300, if i was after a bike in this price bracket again it is where my money would go.

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/

    I have a carrera virtuoso and for the money it is a cracking bike but the alloy fork adds weight and makes the ride harsher.
    FCN 3/5/9
  • retrobike007
    retrobike007 Posts: 215
    I started off with a second hand Carrera Valour, Just sold it for £150 so they are about.
  • okeydokey79
    okeydokey79 Posts: 89
    just found a spec allez 16 2010 at leisurelake bikes on sale at £450 new 2011 at £500
  • okeydokey79
    okeydokey79 Posts: 89
    2010 model only in 61cm frame :oops:

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