Cheapish Race bike worth upgrading???

shaunos

My son has got the road racing bug, so it's a New race bike his birthday. Planning to join the local club and get involved in racing, so good frame, and compact double. He has sold his MTB and BMX to raise money towards the purchase.

Ideally priced around the £500-£600 area, and a starter bike that will be worth upgarading. Thankfully, even at 14 he is 5' 8" so there should be a large choice,

I have a Cannondale SuperSix, which he likes, so a CAAD8 is on the list of possibles. Gonna get him out to try some out for fit etc.

So far, the list is CAAD8, Specilized Allez, Trek, Ribble Sportive 7005??...........

Do you Guys have any suggestions from experience or spotting any good deals ??

lc1981

Just a couple of things to bear in mind. The current CAAD8 has a more relaxed geometry than the SuperSix. If you're after a cheaper, alloy version of the SuperSix, it's the CAAD10 that you want. Also, I think I'm right in saying that there are restrictions on the gears that juniors can run in races, so it's worth investigating this as you'll probably have to make some changes to the spec of an adult bike to make it race-legal.

RichPWRR

I've been really happy with my Giant Defy 5. Added benefit is you can easily upgrade things like the forks etc in due course with bits from the other Defy bikes.

shaunos

Thanks lc1981, better look into that, the gearing for junior racing is something that i had not thought about.

My son rides my 54 Supersix, but he is a bit stretched for reach, Long legs and shorter torso. Thinking that a more upright position would help while he is still growing!!

shaunos

Hey Rich, thats the reason for my post, Can't believe i had not thought of the Giant.

Just spotted a Scott Speedster as well. Gotta plan a day looking around the cycle shops of Milton Keynes. Lifes a bitch eh? Just got to remember what we are looking for.....could do with upgrading my wheels, boy needs a new helmet, etc....

doug5_10

To make it cost effective just make sure to get a frame large enough to go through a few stems and saddle rises, you never know when he will finish growing!

hairy_boy

Another vote for the Giant Defy - definately add it to your shortlist and check it for sizing/fit in the flesh.

The Defy 4 can be had for £600 and is available as either a compact or triple chainset.

Good luck with your son - nice to see a youth getting into something active, hope he keeps it up !

lc1981

shaunos wrote:

Thanks lc1981, better look into that, the gearing for junior racing is something that i had not thought about.

No problem. More details on what's allowed are here. It sounds like you might just be able to use the limit screws to restrict the gearing on a standard adult bike.

Jim C

if he's 15 this year, he's a youth A. For gearing, 39- 12 wood work. IE lock out the big ring.

Bikes 500 or 600 is a hinterland. 3 specialised allez in our club, and they offer no more thqn a 300 quid triban 3. Other than a better badge. Defys are ok. The headtube and geometry make them tall at the front. Lots of flexible youngsters can get very low on their bikes. Its a shame to not take advantage of this. Cavendish gets much lower than his rivals, and its a serious benefit.

What willl your cash get U from ribble or planet x? My son rode a px team Alu, which could be had for less than 200 as a frame and fork. Club members could help U out with 2nd hand groupsets and wheels. Buying a nice new frame and fork and transplanting all the bits off a lesser frame (even a triban) could be very cost effective. Planet x al30 wheels give good bang for the buck. Bearing quality can be variable tho

Jim C

Ps. Compact chainsets R not good for youth A and B racing. Its tricky getting near the max gear limit.

A conventional 52 39 is much more useable for racing. 53 39 is not so good, the 53 is a touch too big with most normal tyres