Do I need to spend over a Grand to get a quality road bike?

Tino4444 · January 2009

Hi all,

I could do with a bit of advice.

I have been using a Carrera Subway 2 hybrid bike for the last few months which has been fine for a while, but I am now maxing out my highest gear on the down hills.

I have of late also become interested in gettting a faster average MPH which is currently at 15-16 over a 30 to 40 mile route, but feel if I am to get faster than this I need to upgrade, especially as I am maxing out the high gears down hill.

I have read good reviews about the Boardman Road Team Carbon road bike but would need to shell out just short of a grand for this. This would be fine if essential but do I really need to spend this kind of money to get a quality road bike?

Any advice would be greatfully recieved.

Thanks,

Tino.

madandybell · January 2009

You can get a quality road bike for £500 (boardman comp 08) I've ordered a Road team 09 £799.99 as my first road bike and recon that will do me for the next few years.

Tino4444 · January 2009

madandybell wrote:

You can get a quality road bike for £500 (boardman comp 08) I've ordered a Road team 09 £799.99 as my first road bike and recon that will do me for the next few years.

Thanks for your response.

I think I will need to do more research into what I would be getting for my money if i bought a £500 road bike in comparison to a £1000 version, and if its worth me spending the extra.

2tired2ride · January 2009

I've got the Boardman team Road 09 (£799.99) and the only reason I didn't go for the carbon was that I did some research about carbon frames and it sacred me, that if I fell off there would be chance I'd need to replace the frame. Anyway It's the same spec (SRAM Rival) minus the carbon frame and it has a different fork but other than that and the different chain it's the same spec.

Oh and my "large" weights 19.04lb with old heavy LOOK pedals.

Hope you find a right bike.

Tino4444 · January 2009

2tired2ride wrote:

I've got the Boardman team Road 09 (£799.99) and the only reason I didn't go for the carbon was that I did some research about carbon frames and it sacred me, that if I fell off there would be chance I'd need to replace the frame. Anyway It's the same spec (SRAM Rival) minus the carbon frame and it has a different fork but other than that and the different chain it's the same spec.

Oh and my "large" weights 19.04lb with old heavy LOOK pedals.

Hope you find a right bike.

Thanks, interesting point about the carbon frame, I will bear that in mind when purchasing.

Slow Downcp · January 2009

Best bet would be to get a test ride on a few bikes first - try out Shimano, Campag, and Sram equiopped bikes if you can to see which gear shifters you prefer. Some people just can;t get on with certain changers.

A £500 bike can be perfectly fine for starters, and see how you get on. Spending more will get you a carbon frame rather than alu (don't worry about strength etc, chances are if you crash hard enough to damage a carbon frame, the alu one would be ditched as well), and usually higher spec parts which will usually last longer. The Boardman bikes all seem good VFM, as do the own badge offerings from Ribble plus Focus from Wiggle.

Good luck in your search.

cougie · January 2009

Short answer is no - bike value is amazing out there - you can get great bikes from about four hundred up.
I would check out that end of the market and then the other money can go on clothing and training camps.
A one grand bike isnt twice as good as a five hundred quid one - try and get rides on a few and see which feels best.

Anonymous · January 2009

My first Road bike was a Trek1000...it was Shimano Sora equipped...most of all the components were home bred Bontrager....the bike was spot on....only thing I think you have to watch at bikes at this price are the Bottom BracketsHeadsets and the Wheels....the wheels being the most important...If I were you I'd forget even looking at Carbon for this price and stick to Aluminium...that way you have a better chance of decent wheels with a lower proced frame.....IYou should scout about....especially the now with the current financial situation...a bit patience might reap rewards.

For this price Id defo look at Big Wholesale Bike names like Trek or Specialized...usually good value for money...but dont forget 'Focus' from Wiggle.co.uk...Ive got a Focus Variado expert....got it 3 years ago as a Training/Winter Bike and its fully kitted with Ultegra etc..was only £800 back then...probably even better bikes now...Also 'Felt' bikes are good value..Im sure JEJames stocked them.

Mettan · January 2009

Tino4444 wrote:

This would be fine if essential but do I really need to spend this kind of money to get a quality road bike?
Tino.

In terms of "performance", no you don't - you can get a competent budget Road bike for £500-£650.

My advice, would be to get something for £500 - £650 - then, sell the wheels and tyres on Ebay, and use that money together with a couple of hundred quid, to get a decent set of wheels and tyres.

An example:

Giant Defy 2.5 - £ 573 quid

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=17263

Sell the Alex wheels and Kenda tyres on Ebay for £70 - £80 for a pair - then add a bit of money to that and get some:

Fulcrum R5 Evo's
or
Mavic Ksyrium Elites
etc, etc.......(depends on budget)

with some:

Pro Race 3's
or
GP4000s

markos1963 · January 2009

You don't need to spend a grand but it all depends how far you intend to take your riding and in what area(racing,sportive's, tt'ing, casual etc) If you think you will stick at it and have set yourself a goal then spend as much as you can afford. It will work out cheaper in the long run as having to sell and upgrade a few months down the line will always cost you more. For your first serious bike get to a good LBS and discuss with them what you want and get measured up. Don't be afraid of a good used bike, I bought a £1400 bike for £750 from a great LBS who were looking to sell off their demo bikes, the bike was immaculate and set up with new tyres and tape and came with a years warrenty. I ended up with a better bike than I would have bought and didn't have to worry about anything.

John C. · January 2009

Many of the big manufactureres use the same frame on various modles, so if you wanted you could buy a lower priced bike but make sure it has the same frame as the more expensive one, then as time goes by upgrade. you are however getting one hell of a bike in the Boardman for a Grand.

edhornby · January 2009

Have a look on the planet X website

they do an alu framed road bike that is well equipped for a sensible price, my brother has one and he rates it highly - and you're buying from a UK company

cumbriamike · January 2009

Sell the Alex wheels and Kenda tyres on Ebay for £70 - £80 for a pair - then add a bit of money to that and get some:

I did that, only problem was the highest bid was a £1

Tino4444 · January 2009

Thanks for all of your responses, some really good advice for me to take with me to the bike shops.

I think I am going to test ride a few at around the £500 to £650 price range and avoid the carbon frames.

Thanks again.

venster · January 2009

You don't need to spend a grand. My first bike was a trek1200 that I bought last year.

I have since bought an Izoard, but am riding the trek during the winter.

And if I'm honest I enjoy the alu bike as much as the carbon......but I reckon it's because I prefer Shimano to Campag...but that's for another thread !!!

I did however buy a set of Aksiums for the Trek as the standard wheels were REALLY flexy and tore shreds of rim into the brake pads.....

mtbhenry888 · January 2009

whilst getting to grips with riding a road bike for the first time i would stick to aluminium, if you crash it is not going to be as bad as carbon, carbon doesn't have the best record for standing up to abuse from crashes and being dropped etc

i would try ribbles audax or race bikes with tiagra they are about £500 good for the money but i have never ridden one, i know people who rave about them however

www.ribblecycles.co.uk

Headhuunter · January 2009

If you're maxing out the higher gears, then you could simply change the gearing

John C. · January 2009

The Ribble audax bikes are very good value, just out of interest my first bike, now a winter hack came off a skip. I upgraded the wheels and away we went, That bike has done thousands of miles including the C2C and several other 100+ milers. You don't HAVE to spend lots just make sure it fits and has a comfortable saddle, I like the Specialised BG range, others hate them

huggy · January 2009

You don't have to avoid carbon frames, in my experience they're pretty solid. Specialized do good warranties too, amongst others. At the £1000 or under range though, you'll get better value stuff on alu, and alu is light stuff. Try looking at used alu cannondales, they're light and usually seem to have good wheels.

Do I need to spend over a Grand to get a quality road bike?

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