The big world of road bikes

sammmrobertss

Hi I'm 17 and been riding every week for about 18 months. I've always ridden a bike since I could do it.

I've been doing my long rides (20-40miles) on my Hybrid which has been brilliant, but I'm looking at doing longer rides and maybe a sportive next year. My budget is £400. Just wanted to get as much advice as possible.

Thanks
Sam

banditvic

If you don't know to much about bikes probably worth buying new. Fudges cycles have the 2013 Cannondale Caad 8 for £480 which is a good starter bike. More than you want to pay but great value for money, shouldn't loose to much money when you go to resale.

sammmrobertss

Cheers for the advice. Looks like a great bike.

nochekmate

CAAD8 looks to be good value at that sort of price although it will have a bog-end groupset and wheels no doubt.

Alternatively look secondhand for some value - £400+ can get you something decent (don't know your size of course) eg.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FELT-F5-CARBO ... true&rt=nc

Ride hard

If you have one close by, you should check out Decathlon's Btwin Triban 3. It always gets rave reviews.

Anonymous

I was waiting for the Triban 3 to get a mention lol.

The OP has a budget 33% higher than that and his thread is titled 'The big world of road bikes', not 'The very small world of £300 road bikes in a corner of a Decathlon store'.
The T3 and Decathlon do a lot right, but it and they are not the answer for everyone (maybe look at the T5 though).

IMO. the OP needs to go down the Cannondale route that was suggested, up the budget and get a brand new (compact not triple ) sale bike.

Felts on wiggle would be a good option if needing to stay within budget. £399.78 with full (well shifters and derailleur) 2013 Sora 9 speed and decent frame with carbon fork.

supermurph09

A budget is a budget but if you can save a little more, possibly around the £600 mark you'll open up for a lot more choice. You say you've been riding every week so it's not like you are going to get bored or find its not quite for you, so it'll be money well spent. To give you some ideas this is a decent list of bikes http://www.roadbikeguide.co.uk/2013/10/ ... price.html remember it doesnt cover all makes and models but you'll most likely find discounts to bring the prices nearer to your budget.

Ride hard

Carbonator wrote:

I was waiting for the Triban 3 to get a mention lol.

The OP has a budget 33% higher than that and his thread is titled 'The big world of road bikes', not 'The very small world of £300 road bikes in a corner of a Decathlon store'.
The T3 and Decathlon do a lot right, but it and they are not the answer for everyone (maybe look at the T5 though).

IMO. the OP needs to go down the Cannondale route that was suggested, up the budget and get a brand new (compact not triple ) sale bike.

Felts on wiggle would be a good option. 2013 Sora 9 speed with decent frame and fork.

Errrrrr, it was a suggestion just like everyone else (including yourself) has made. If the title of the thread was The big world of road bikes (just as long as it's a Cannondale) then I wouldn't have made it.

And yes, the Triban might be below the OP's budget, but just because something is higher priced - whether its a bike, wine, clothes, gadgets or whatever - it doesn't necessarily mean its lower quality. Reviews on this site alone should tell you this. Just saying.

OP, once you've got a shortlist go out and test ride the bikes as only you can decide what suits you best. But Carbonator is right in saying you should be able to get some good deals in the sales.

markhewitt1978

sammmrobertss wrote:

Hi I'm 17 and been riding every week for about 18 months. I've always ridden a bike since I could do it.

I've been doing my long rides (20-40miles) on my Hybrid which has been brilliant, but I'm looking at doing longer rides and maybe a sportive next year. My budget is £400. Just wanted to get as much advice as possible.

Thanks
Sam

I'll probably get shot at for saying this but don't bother for £400. You won't get anything good and ultimately you're going to be disappointed with the bike and want to upgrade it straight away. I would suggest a minimum budget of around £600 for a road bike. As that extra £200 takes you from bargain basement cheapest everything, to something with a half decent spec, e.g. carbon fork etc.

It's especially important as it's not like you don't have a bike at the moment, keep riding your hybrid until you can get something which is going to make a big difference.

PS Evans are doing a deal on last years Trek 1.1 £465 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec040340

Anonymous

Ride hard wrote:

Errrrrr, it was a suggestion just like everyone else (including yourself) has made. If the title of the thread was The big world of road bikes (just as long as it's a Cannondale) then I wouldn't have made it.

And yes, the Triban might be below the OP's budget, but just because something is higher priced - whether its a bike, wine, clothes, gadgets or whatever - it doesn't necessarily mean its lower quality. Reviews on this site alone should tell you this. Just saying.

OP, once you've got a shortlist go out and test ride the bikes as only you can decide what suits you best. But Carbonator is right in saying you should be able to get some good deals in the sales.

Fair enough, you are right, it would be worth the OP checking out Decathlon so he can look at all options I guess.
I just see little point in him spending less than budget on a bike.

I do not think the test ride thing holds out at his budget though.
Most of his options will be web based and hopefully he will not waste an LBS time by test riding somewhere he has no intention of buying from.

Just make sure its not too big and you should be fine. He will know more what he wants on the next bike when budget is big enough to get a decent bike in a shop.

banditvic

The trek 1.1 and cannondale bikes both look great value, haven't ridden the Triban so can't comment. When reselling you will probably get more money back with the well known brands. I think the Trek has mudguard fixings so you won't need to sell this, it will become your winter steed.

Anonymous

2300 :shock: 8 speed :shock: Aliminium fork :shock:

markhewitt1978

Carbonator wrote:

2300 :shock: 8 speed :shock: Aliminium fork :shock:

Yes, which is why the new version of the 1.1 is better, still 8 speed, but Claris (so thumb shifters), carbon fork etc, but RRP is £550, still good value and with a big of haggling at the LBS you could probably get one for < £500.

Other brands can probably do even better.

Anonymous

RRP £550?

Cartridge BB :shock:

nochekmate

Since you have all upped the OPs budget to £600+, I shall continue the theme of buy secondhand for value (integrated seatpost and tubs which will not be to everybody's taste but wheels could easily be sold on and replaced with clinchers if so desired) but somebody has picked up a bargain with this IMO. Great bike the Damocles and Campag Record to boot - you can keep your base model Treks, Triban 3s etc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RIDLEY-DAMOCL ... true&rt=nc

Anonymous

nochekmate wrote:

Since you have all upped the OPs budget to £600+

UH HUM

I read the OP's post*

Buying a bike on ebay from someone with 1 feedback :shock:

*I did not see anything about his height or location though :roll:

pastey_boy

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -bike.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -bike.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -bike.html

nochekmate

Carbonator wrote:

IMO. the OP needs to go down the Cannondale route that was suggested, up the budget and get a brand new (compact not triple ) sale bike.

I must have misread this then!

Agreed that buying on eBay is not necessarily everybody's idea of the way forward and sizing and location is clearly an issue but just pointing out that there are some good secondhand options to consider too (even if the seller may have only 1 feedback - all sellers have to start somewhere - but buyer beware as always).

Anonymous

nochekmate wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

IMO. the OP needs to go down the Cannondale route that was suggested, up the budget and get a brand new (compact not triple ) sale bike.

I must have misread this then!

I said he should up the budget as opposed to upping it for him
My suggestion in the same post was within budget and at least joint best so far :tongue out smiley:

At least I did not invent an RRP. and assume a 17 year olds negotiating skills as some have

No Sweat

Carbonator wrote:

compact not triple

And the problem with a triple is?

I might be wrong, but we have no idea of the OP's location - those 20-40 mile rides might be somewhere really hilly!

Anonymous

No Sweat wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

compact not triple

And the problem with a triple is?

I might be wrong, but we have no idea of the OP's location - those 20-40 mile rides might be somewhere really hilly!

Oops sorry :oops: I assumed he was in the UK

No Sweat

For that matter, there are parts of the UK, and styles of riding / riding aspirations, where a triple would not be out of place. 'The big world of road bikes' also includes bikes which are not 'race bikes' - a triple is not to everyone's taste, but can allow a greater gear range, and or, closer ratio gears for very little extra weight.

Anonymous

No Sweat, I was just pulling your leg with the 'UK' comment

I only originally mentioned compact/triple to point out that the Triban was a triple. Nothing had been mentioned about the chainset and it is a consideration.

I do not really care which the OP gets so much as he gets the right one.
I am only ever in favour of one over the other if its the best for the job/rider.

I know little about the OP apart from he is 17 and not new to peddling, but if he is fairly fit and does not live on a mountain then at a guess I would think he may well prefer to have bought a compact when he looks back in 6 months.

Its not the end of the world either way.

unixnerd

Don't even think of a new bike as this price point. You'll get a far better deal on something used.

Anonymous

unixnerd wrote:

Don't even think of a new bike at this price point. You'll get a far better deal on something used.

At what price point does that stop applying?

Buying used is often easier said than done. Its great when it works but can be costly if it goes wrong.
I would take a punt if it looked a good deal but not sure thats the best route for the OP.
Where do you suggest he looks?

The OP could have a decent bike that has been recommended on this thread in a couple of days. Saying to buy used is not much help unless you show him some he can buy, and even then its him taking the risk.

No Sweat

Carbonator wrote:

just pulling your leg

And there was me thinking you were blindly applying Rule 47...........

unixnerd

I'd say it works until you're into four figures. For example 1300 quid would buy a new Specialized Roubaix with Sora, cheaper frame and wheels. Or the same money would get a three year old SL3 with Ultegra and half decent wheels.

It's a case of keeping your wits about you. Two of my bikes were bought used for around 400 and they've been great. You need to make sure you check the frame for cracks above all else. If you buy on ebay and pay by paypal you have some recourse if the goods aren't as advertised (i.e. damaged) but it's best not to have to put it to the test.

A lot of folk but bikes on the cycle to work scheme with good intentions then barely use them. So quite a lot of used bikes have seen very few miles.

Anonymous

I got a great Boardman on ebay years ago but generally I feel that it is a big ask to find a bike thats near enough to go to see, in the right size and at the right price to make it worthwhile.
Thats without needing to be a bit clued up on condition and still taking a chance.

Its great to look for a second or subsequent bike bargain but feel the OP would be better off getting a good deal on a 2013 sale bike and start riding asap.

Moonbiker

Don't get that trek is overpriced for poor spec, you are paying extra for a brand name.

Also get a compact unless you have no self respect.

nochekmate

Moonbiker wrote:

Don't get that trek is overpriced for poor spec, you are paying extra for a brand name.

Also get a compact unless you have no self respect.

A fit 17 year old can survive quite well without a compact in most parts of the UK - my lad cycled up Wrynose Pass comfortably enough on 39/25 without ever looking likely that he would need to walk (which I assume is your self-respect issue)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Focus-Cayo-Ro ... 417a549302

Excellent spec for the money - almost worth having it posted if not in the area!

No Sweat

Moonbiker wrote:

get a compact unless you have no self respect

If that's your main issue why are you wimping out with a compact?
A 55/42 with an 11-21 cassette is what you need.
Better still for max 'self respect' ride a fixie!