Fun road bike for mountain biker

RLyons

Hi,

I am quite an experienced mountain biker and regularly ride all over England, I know plenty about mountain bikes, mountain biking and the mechanics of mountain bikes. I also own a Genesis Day One for commuting on the road, which I bought second hand for next to nothing – it’s great fun to ride and sturdy enough to take the odd kerb drop and silly antics.

I am now looking to start a bit of proper road biking and travelling decent distances (50miles or so) on a bike with more than 1 gear. I know I like riding on the roads with my Day One but it isn’t exactly a racing bike!

I have looked at the various options from the main brands but they all look the same to me. I want a bike which has a bit of character in both the handling and looks department. I will sacrifice a bit of pace for an enjoyable bike that you can throw about a bit. Genuine question, is a road bike something you can throw around and have fun on?

So to summarise, I am after a bike which is good fun to ride and has a loveable character and looks... budget is £500-1000.

ugo.santalucia

Cyclocross bike

cycleclinic

Genesis Volant 00 is a good bet. Decent kit and a decent frame and nice colours too -RRP £600
Genesis Volare 10 I forget the price but a decent steel race bike but around £900
Genesis Equilibrium 00- a all weather bike long distance bike -£900
Tifosi CK7 - all weather long distance bike - £800-£1000 depending on spec and where you buy.
Cinelli Experience - under £1000 and very good
Tifosi CK3 - very similar to the Cinelli spec wise

Lots of good bikes to choose from if you beyond the usual Treks, Specialised, Cannondales (yawn) e.t.c.

wellbeloved747

is agree on a cyclocross bike like a Boardman or something!

Lumpy Roads

Hi R,
All mountain bikers are aware of Orange, love em or hate em! They have recently released the Orange RX9, check out you tube, search "Orange Bikes - The Thing". It nearly convinced me to buy one. I chickened out and went for the Canyon Inflite 8S. Similar in concept, but a little more roady, only a little.

night_porter

If I was going to buy a roadie in your price range this would be the only one to buy right now because of the price/spec/value/colour http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOTRTIA/ ... -road-bike

If you want steel http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2T ... -road-bike

If you want Alloy http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58AL ... -road-bike

Sadly I have 5 bikes at the moment but these are all real bargains but their sales prices won't last for long.

cycleclinic

I still want a Orange Dynamo but I have never seen one in my size.

RLyons

Thanks for the advice guys!

I like the look of the genesis volant 10 and that holdsworth. The orange rx9 looks great too but it's a bit pricey and I already have my day one for mucking about on the gentle off-road / towpaths.

Knowing nothing about road bike specs, which is better - volant 10 or holsworth trentino?

chadders81

If you want something fun, get something light.

You've got your MTB for off road stuff. I'd be looking at the Planet X Pro Carbon for £999.

night_porter

The Volant is Alloy with 18 speed Sora Groupset. It weighs in at 10kg (according to Bikeradar's review) but for £549 from mosquito-bikes it is a very nice looking bike.

Whereas the Holdsworth is carbon and 20 speed Tiagra which is one level higher than Sora. It weighs in at less than 9kg too and that is with the stock bombproof wheels.

You honestly cannot buy a carbon framed bike for less even if they have a lesser groupset.

I really would pay the extra £150 to get a lighter carbon framed bike with a better groupset.

PS the groupset equivalent in mtb terms is Sora = Alivio and Tiagra = Deore

Father Faff

I may be wrong but I dont think the OP wants a road bike he can jump about on however he probably does want a fast handling, light, flickable, road bike. My first road bike coming from MTBing was a Scott CR1 (the original racier version before it transmogrified into a sportive bike) which even now is light, carbon and springy although the wheelbase isn't the shortest.I think I paid £1500 and it weighs in at 8.6kg in a 56cm (large) with pedals and bottle cages. Not sure you can get anything good in carbon for less than £1000. I'd be looking for something that wasn't dubbed sportive if you want a more lively feel - not sure what the Boardman's are like but supposed to be good value for money.

night_porter

Getting a good carbon bike below £999 is the norm but right now the sales are blowing that "conventional wisdom" out of the water. In a months time things will be back to normal.

But knowing what the op wants does not mean suggesting a 50% increase in budget surely???

RLyons

Ok thanks guys.

I seem to have started going around in circles now. I liked the look of that Holdsworth and it seems good value, however I am wondering if it is too racey for me (worried about back and neck pain). I have decided I don't want to spend more than £6-700 as I'm not even sure if I will enjoy riding on the roads when I have the option of mountain biking.

this one seems highly rated?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_777859_langId_-1_categoryId_289005

RLyons

Also, are there any brands which allow you to order a bike without their stupid branding/stickers? I find the look of many of the road bikes a bit fussy. I know I shouldn't be concerned with looks but for me it is part of the inspiration to get off my arse and ride the thing!

handful

RLyons wrote:

Also, are there any brands which allow you to order a bike without their stupid branding/stickers? I find the look of many of the road bikes a bit fussy. I know I shouldn't be concerned with looks but for me it is part of the inspiration to get off my ars* and ride the thing!

The Planet X bikes are pretty bland in terms of logos, particularly if you go for a stealth black. Have a look at this one maybe? http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

It's classed as a sportive frame but you did say you were concerned about your mtb back!

RLyons

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a "sportive" more the kind of thing I need rather than a hardcore road bike?

I like the look of that Planet X bike.

I think I need to go and test some bikes out. Is there anywhere that let's you do decent test rides in London?

handful

Sportive bike = less racy, less drop to handlebars = more comfortable for longer rides in theory. This doesn't always work for everyone as some people are more comfortable in a racier position so yes, test some bikes, can't help in London I'm afraid but there must be thousands of decent places to try there.

RLyons

So, I've tried a number of bikes this weekend and have gone against my original thinking and want to buy the specialized allez sport. Didn't really want a common main brand bike but it rode the best of all I tried. Tried giant defy, cannondale caad, specialized Tarmac and a few others.

Thanks for the advice guys!

One last question. I think I need some clip in pedals and shoes, I have some bottom of the range spds from my mountain bike which I've never used. Would they be ok with some MTB shoes or should I go full road spec?

Father Faff

MTB SPDs are fine.

mikeyfive

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18691312#p18691312]thecycleclinic[/url] wrote:

I still want a Orange Dynamo but I have never seen one in my size.

I just rebuilt an Orange Dynamo '93 which I've owned since new, though I bought it off a female Orange team rider in late '93, I can't find much information about the bike on any online forums, I'd be really interested in the history of the bike, I'm not sure if you could help out.

Anyway, here it is...







This was prior to rebuild, last summer.



Much appreciate any information. Thank you.

DeVlaeminck

The Allez is a good choice - a proper road bike is more fun on the road than a cross/sportive/touring or other heavier less sporty bike. I'd go road pedals and shoes too - just a bigger platform feels a bit nicer for sprinting on to my mind.