Which entry level road bike?

lukebennett
lukebennett Posts: 52
edited October 2013 in Road beginners
Hi,

I'm new to road biking and wanted to get myself a road bike to start getting into the sport, i've read lots of reviews on bikes and been and tried out a few in different shops the two i'm stuck between are:
1. Viking peleton 700c mens road bike http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/viking-peleto ... e-p267862#
2. Specialised allez 2013 http://m.evanscycles.com/products/speci ... e-ec040963

The reason I have chose these two is that most people have recommended the specialised, but the viking is cheaper and was thinking as a beginner will it make much difference?

And what are your overall thoughts on these bikes for a beginner to road biking?

Thanks

Luke

Comments

  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    My choice would be the Specialized, STI 2300 16 speed gearing gives more options than the Viking 14 speed and probably a bit lighter bike as well. :)
  • lc1981
    lc1981 Posts: 820
    The Specialized every time. The Viking inxeplicably has very high gearing, which is going to be tough for a beginner (a 42-tooth small chainring is bigger than most pros use!), especially if you live in a hilly area. Plus Viking bikes tend to be pretty rubbish.
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    From the choice you have if you like the way it looks and rides choose the Specialized as it is at the bottom end of a good range of bikes and benefits from this.
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Of the two you've mentioned the Specialized looks to be the better option. However, if you have a Decathlon near you it's worth checking out their B'Twin range, they are well regarded and great value.
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • Colinthecop
    Colinthecop Posts: 996
    I've been riding a Specialized for a couple months - my first road bike. I did but it used though.

    But it's great, it's probably a lot better than I needed for a first bike, but then I don't have the instant urge to upgrade to something better.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    lc1981 wrote:
    The Specialized every time. The Viking inxeplicably has very high gearing, which is going to be tough for a beginner (a 42-tooth small chainring is bigger than most pros use!), especially if you live in a hilly area. Plus Viking bikes tend to be pretty rubbish.

    The chainrings are only as 'inexplicable' as the 7 speed gearing... it used to be a very common configuration.

    This comes up a lot in discussions of this sort, but there is little sense in it. Compacts are a very recent invention, and 52/42 used to be very common; it's what I had a few months into cycling, in fact. Whether you have 53/39, 52/42 or 50/34, the bike is not going to ride up the hill for you. Quite a lot of road bikes don't come with a bigger cog than 28 anyway, and 39x28 is a low gear.

    As for which bike to buy, get the Viking if you like it, and save your money for all of the other stuff you need for cycling; ours is an expensive hobby.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • lc1981
    lc1981 Posts: 820
    Well perhaps it is explicable, but if I had a choice between it and a bike with a 53/39 or a compact chainset, I'd go for that instead, especially as a beginner. I'm not sure what cassette it comes with (and of course this can easily be changed), but this Viking comes with a 12-23T cassette and 42/52T chainset, which is pretty high gearing.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    My Raleigh Road Ace that I resumed road riding on a few years ago had a 52, 42 with a 12-18 speed cassette. Now this was a bike I used to ride up all sorts of hills but returning to it was absolutely brutal. I did already have cycling fitness from a fast commuter and Mtb. Managed to get some old gears from another forumite and put a 23 biggest cog on the back. 42-23 was a far better gear ratio than 42-18 for going up hills but it's still not very beginner friendly.
  • Neil_aky
    Neil_aky Posts: 211
    As someone else said, if you are near a Decathlon look at the Btwin Triban 5.

    By the way, it has a triple chainring which many will scoff at, but it will give you more options than a standard set up (it's nice to have a lower gear available) and smaller jumps between gears than a compact.
  • neilg7777
    neilg7777 Posts: 142
    Second hand bike, Felt z95 for example can be had for £350 20 gears and nice for a first bike or Decathlon and the Triban
  • neilg7777
    neilg7777 Posts: 142
    Sorry forgot to say I had a viking and I was going to give up cycling as it was crap and one day I got knocked off trashing the bike and my leg but hey did me a favour, I got the Felt z95 and 2800 miles this year I love it and I have only spent £4.00 on a chain link all year. Not saying buy a Felt but look for second hand bikes worth more than your budget. You get what you pay for and a nice bike maybe the difference if you keep cycling or not.
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    CIPOLLINI RB1000!
    Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    oxoman wrote:
    Hi Luke what did you decide on in the end.

    Specialized I believe.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,099
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    39x28 is a low gear

    This is a "beginners" forum

    That is clearly rotten advice for a beginner

    A "Low" gear would be a 28x30 or similar - you can never go too low, as long as you get the satisfaction of getting over the crest still on the bike
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    What has being a 'beginner' got to do with how low a gear is?

    Did the OP say he was unfit? Come to think of it, did he even say he was on a tight budget (other than mentioning two cheap bikes)?

    28/30 on a road bike :lol:

    39/28 is plenty low enough.
    He will only need a low gear for steep hills. Surely its better to avoid steep hills until his 'apprenticeship' ends, than to be lumbered with a 30t when he no longer needs it.
    If you have a low gear you just end up using it even if you do not really need to IMO.

    A 30t 8 speed cassette = big jumps in gears.

    Personally I think he needs to up his budget and get the 10 speed/carbon forked Allez (if it has to be a Specialized) at the very least
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    It's all decided he bought a Spec Allez a while back. :)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Decided for the OP, but there will be a long line of 'beginners' waiting in the wings :wink:
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    SecretSam wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    39x28 is a low gear

    This is a "beginners" forum

    That is clearly rotten advice for a beginner

    A "Low" gear would be a 28x30 or similar - you can never go too low, as long as you get the satisfaction of getting over the crest still on the bike

    Not at all. 39x28 was what I had when I was a 'beginner'.

    Until the advent of compacts, people got by perfectly fine with that gear; if anything, often considerably higher (A straight through 7 speed freewheel does not go to 28!). Unless the bike is electrically assisted, it will not ride up the hill for you; that is the rotten advice that so many are feeding to beginners. The differences are NOT huge, and I would not expect a complete beginner to manage any really tough climbs anyway; no matter what gearing they have.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • charlie_potatoes
    charlie_potatoes Posts: 1,921
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    SecretSam wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    39x28 is a low gear

    This is a "beginners" forum

    That is clearly rotten advice for a beginner

    A "Low" gear would be a 28x30 or similar - you can never go too low, as long as you get the satisfaction of getting over the crest still on the bike

    Not at all. 39x28 was what I had when I was a 'beginner'.

    Until the advent of compacts, people got by perfectly fine with that gear; if anything, often considerably higher (A straight through 7 speed freewheel does not go to 28!). Unless the bike is electrically assisted, it will not ride up the hill for you; that is the rotten advice that so many are feeding to beginners. The differences are NOT huge, and I would not expect a complete beginner to manage any really tough climbs anyway; no matter what gearing they have.

    Regardless of all the nostalgia compact gears are more suitable for the average rider. This is clearly reflected in the market.
    Unless there is some sort of conspiracy by the manufacturers to maximise their profits by short changing us on the amount of teeth provided. This would come as no surprise given some of the posts on this forum. :lol:
    "You really think you can burn off sugar with exercise?" downhill paul
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    Charlie Potatoes wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    SecretSam wrote:
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    39x28 is a low gear

    This is a "beginners" forum

    That is clearly rotten advice for a beginner

    A "Low" gear would be a 28x30 or similar - you can never go too low, as long as you get the satisfaction of getting over the crest still on the bike

    Not at all. 39x28 was what I had when I was a 'beginner'.

    Until the advent of compacts, people got by perfectly fine with that gear; if anything, often considerably higher (A straight through 7 speed freewheel does not go to 28!). Unless the bike is electrically assisted, it will not ride up the hill for you; that is the rotten advice that so many are feeding to beginners. The differences are NOT huge, and I would not expect a complete beginner to manage any really tough climbs anyway; no matter what gearing they have.

    Regardless of all the nostalgia compact gears are more suitable for the average rider. This is clearly reflected in the market.
    Unless there is some sort of conspiracy by the manufacturers to maximise their profits by short changing us on the amount of teeth provided. This would come as no surprise given some of the posts on this forum. :lol:

    I do completely agree; all things considered, a compact is probably the best choice for the average rider.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016

Categories