Looking for my first road bike.

Oliver19

Hi All,

I currently do a lot of mountain biking and swim nationally. I would love to get into road riding and help to develop further fitness for both mountain biking and my swimming.

I'm on the look out for a road bike second hand under the £1000 mark, what should I expect to get for that price and what should I look out for?

Looking for a nicely spec'd road bike and I am 6ft3 so what size would I need?

Thanks
Oliver.

sexysi

I'm 6ft and just bought a Bianchi Impulso, great looking bike in the Shimano 105 format. I got a 55cm frame and it was perfect for me. Cost new £1,200 mint ride.
Bianchi have a weird size chart on their website though. Measures you inside leg gives you size A
and then measure your height and it gives you size B!!!! Two different sizes
Size A for me was a 53cm frame and size B for me was 57cm frame!!!
So I opted for the one in between and it was fine
si

alihisgreat

For under £1000 you'll get something very nice, either off here or on ebay.


I was looking in December and January and you should be able to get a Carbon frame and a decent groupset (105 or Rival) with decent wheels under £1000.


Something like the Boardman Team carbon was going for £800-£900 when i was looking -> more desirable brands will tend to be ~£200 more expensive for a similiar spec.

g00se

At £1000, you'll get a decent bike first hand. If it's your first 'proper' bike, having the warranty etc of a brand new sale could be useful. Also, with a second hand bike, you'll possibly have to buy it blind and could end up with the wrong size - whereas a decent bike shop will make sure the bike fits.

It's not just a matter of getting a 58" frame - for example - each bike manufacturer has slightly different ways of measuring the frame and the frame geometries will be different for different bikes (aimed at different sorts of riding - long distance/endurance, time trialling, sprinting etc). And it's not always that obvious from the way a road bike looks to tell what sort of ride it is (unlike MTBs when you can tell a downhiller from a XC etc).

Oliver19

Very helpful replies thank you. Could anyone suggest some possible bikes based on my needs. I'm not looking to ride massive rides but maybe up to 50 mile rides I don't know! I'd like something quick and possibly do a few 10-20 mile time trials at some point.

The main need is to ride on the weekends to get out and enjoy the roads, I wouldn't buy I bike blind and I am willing to travel or to find a bike shop locally to make sure that type of bike fits etc...

Cubes and Trek have taken my fancy so far, like I said I'm new to this and probably don't know what I'm on about!

Thanks again.

Calpol

sexysi wrote:

I'm 6ft and just bought a Bianchi Impulso, great looking bike in the Shimano 105 format. I got a 55cm frame and it was perfect for me. Cost new £1,200 mint ride.
Bianchi have a weird size chart on their website though. Measures you inside leg gives you size A
and then measure your height and it gives you size B!!!! Two different sizes
Size A for me was a 53cm frame and size B for me was 57cm frame!!!
So I opted for the one in between and it was fine
si

I am quite struck by the Bianchi Impulso. Part of me wants a Carbon frame bike a'la Ribble gran fondo but I have to say that the Bianchi looks classy if not the best value. Anything you can elaborate on regarding your new ride?

sexysi

The Bianchi is a nice bike to ride. As it is marketed as " C2C" bike I find that I have enough gears on the 105 groupset to go anywhere, up any hill with ease. The paint job and the "Bling" factor was always a draw for me, well why not!
Bianchi have really sorted out the welds on their new bikes, this bike does look a bit like a full carbon bike. I must admit I didn't want a full carbon bike anyway, at 16 1/2 stone and doing 200miles plus of commuting a week in London, it was always a worry with a full carbon bike, that's why I went for the carbon/ally mix.
I have noticed under load and up hills the front forks do flexi a bit, but no really a problem, just occasionally my magnet touches the sensor on the front wheel.
Also the white brake and gear cables, started to rub straight away, now got them masked off. Also why do people make white seats, they go black after 2 rides.
I have added a little review to the main site page and will add to it as ride the bike more.
But after 2 1/2 weeks of ownership and 400+ miles on it nothing has failed yet, no spokes have gone and nothing has boken.
All I can say now is that a picture says a thousand words, not my bike but the same colours etc as this one.


Cheers simon

EarlyGo

Hi oliver19,

From what you're saying something like a Cube Agree or Specialized Allez might do you. Both are Alu frames. Cannondale are renowned for sweet riding Alu framed bikes and you can get last year's CAAD10 for around 950 quid. The price range your looking at is the most popular and just about every manufacturer will have a bike at that 1000 quid price. Tell your LBS what you want to do on it and try and get as many test rides as possible to narrow down your choice.

Regards,

EarlyGo

Oliver19

EarlyGo,
Again a very helpful post, Ive ridden a Cube Peloton and also a Trek 1.5 but I'll also see if I can source a bike shop close by. I'm not far from Wolverhampton and did look in Leisure Lakes, I thought if I brought second hand then I may get a better bike. What do Bianchi make that might fit the bill? Always thought theyre very attractive bikes!
Thanks in advance

EarlyGo

Oliver,

A Bianchi Via Nerone 2012 model would probably fit the bill. Evans have them for between £950 and £990 depending on the groupset.

If you buy second hand then yes you will get a lot more for your money. But you need to know what you're looking at, what it's really worth and will it fit you? When I say fit, I don't just mean frame size. (Not wishing to teach you to suck eggs but ...) Do you know what length stem you need, what width handlebars, what length crank arms, how long a seat post? If you're confident that you know enough then go for it. However, for your first road bike then I suspect you may be a bit short on knowledge / experience etc (no offence intended!). It generally makes more sense to rely on the experts (hopefully) in the LBS to sort you out. Plus you get the warranty with a new bike, discount on additional kit etc.

Regards, EarlyGo

Oliver19

I can see exactly where your coming from and of course I understand your not being rude, my knowledge on road bikes is virtually nothing! :P completely different to MTB!

sexysi

Oliver, If you get in quick, Evans still have £150 off accessories on all 2012 bikes. My Bianchi I got on Ride to work, so only paid an extra £200 for the bike. Then I was really cheeky and got £150's worth of vouchers, which bought me a set of Miche training wheels, a set of white SPD's and 2 tubes. You need to push them on the vouchers though, cause they said it is on all accessories, well I have got lights etc, but what they forgot was that the vouchers are under the same accessories section, so they couldn't really argue!

Sorted!

Oliver19

Well I've been offered a trek 1.7 2009 road bike which has taken my fancy. It's a 60 frame which is definately the right size as I've tried my friends trek 1.1 60cm for size.

What do people think of these bikes and will it make a good first bike? What shall I check for etc?

Thanks in advance

nick67

There is a Cannondale supersix 105 size 58 in the sales section

That would be a great buy

Oliver19

Oliver19 wrote:

Well I've been offered a trek 1.7 2009 road bike which has taken my fancy. It's a 60 frame which is definitely the right size as I've tried my friends trek 1.1 60cm for size.

What do people think of these bikes and will it make a good first bike? What shall I check for etc?

Thanks in advance

Any thought on this 1.7 please?

nick67

Not sure about the Trek, but the Dale had the latest 105 and a frame the right size

Only I connection with the sell, but given the 2012 model is a grand more with the same spec that is great value

letap73

Oliver19 wrote:

Oliver19 wrote:

Well I've been offered a trek 1.7 2009 road bike which has taken my fancy. It's a 60 frame which is definitely the right size as I've tried my friends trek 1.1 60cm for size.

What do people think of these bikes and will it make a good first bike? What shall I check for etc?

Thanks in advance

Any thought on this 1.7 please?

The 1.7 should be fine. I am assuming you rode your friend's bike and were happy with how it handled. The 1.7 is going to be much better component wise than the 1.1 you rode. I have an alumnium Trek from 2005 and it has done fantastic service - very little has changed from the original specification - a change in bar tape and new saddle, but everything else is original - the Bontrager finishing kit is very reliable.

Oliver19

letap73 wrote:

Oliver19 wrote:

Oliver19 wrote:

Well I've been offered a trek 1.7 2009 road bike which has taken my fancy. It's a 60 frame which is definitely the right size as I've tried my friends trek 1.1 60cm for size.

What do people think of these bikes and will it make a good first bike? What shall I check for etc?

Thanks in advance

Any thought on this 1.7 please?

The 1.7 should be fine. I am assuming you rode your friend's bike and were happy with how it handled. The 1.7 is going to be much better component wise than the 1.1 you rode. I have an alumnium Trek from 2005 and it has done fantastic service - very little has changed from the original specification - a change in bar tape and new saddle, but everything else is original - the Bontrager finishing kit is very reliable.

One thing I have heard is that the bontrager wheels snap spokes very easily? Has anybody had any experience with this?

Also it is coming with clip less peddles, how do I know which type of shoe will fit them?!

Thanks

shedman

Olly,

I have had a 2nd hand 2009 1.7 for over a year now, using it daily to commute. If your potential bike is the same, the 105 groupset is as good as you get with comparable bikes. Like posts above the Trek frame is good, and the only thing I have swapped out is the Bonty wheels for some Mavic aksiums which make it a great bike for both commute and winter training, enjoy the Trek if that is what you choose, but you should be paying way south of £1000 for a 2009 model iro£500 IMO.

Hope this helps

taimur

Cannondale Synapse: been bike of the year a few times over.
light, fast, yet comfortable enough for all day riding. I dont have it, i dont say it, all the reviews say it.
But do try before you buy!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... RRWidgetID