£300 Road Bike?

[TSCfree]

After feeling inspired watching the Olympics, I'd like to get into road biking. I know absolutely nothing about the latest tech having last been on a bike 13 years ago. I need some help choosing a road bike. Budget is £300 and can be new or used.

From a quick google the short-list so far is a new Btwin Triban 3 or a used Dolan lurking on the Bay.
Any recommendations for the Carrera from Halfords. I'll have to take a trip to the local bike independent in town to see if they have any bargains lurking in the stock room, but essentially what should I be looking for?

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

expect the used Dolan to exceed the budget. there will be some second ahnd bargains but expect there to be a few issues to resolve regardless of how shiny it looks in the pictures and how few miles the seller claims its done!

as for new stuff, the carrera tdf in halfords gets a lot of good reviews for £299.

[spitfire4v8]

like you I returned to cycling after many years of inactivity. I bought a carrera on the back of some good cycling magazine reviews on value for money. not regretted it at all, it's a more complete bike than my old ribble which was really a pile of poop considering it's price back then (going back 20 years though). if i was looking again though i'd be seriously considering the btwin stuff.

[Paul Drawmer]

Wait until we've had a weeks cold rain in November and spend £300 on something used.

[littleandy0410]

My money would be on the B'Twin.

[Gizmoish]

littleandy0410 said:

My money would be on the B'Twin.

Agreed. Carbon fork for £300 is amazing.

[jaybarts]

My mate bought the Carrera tdf for his first road bike yesterday, seems like a good value for money bike. The only downside he reckoned were the pedals were crap, but they'll be gettin changed anyway.
I'm going to buy one today in fact!

[GBDG]

I'd buy the Triban over the Carrera. A carbon fork is a must on UK roads, you'll get shaken to bits otherwise. Plus it isn't a horrible yellow colour.

After a few thousand miles, these things make a BIG difference, and given that they're the same price, I can't think of a reason to buy the TDF.

[GTIAlex]

Should not have opened this because I have a habit of buying bikes on a whim and fancy me a road bike to add to my current fleet.

[milu]

Just bought a Carrera Virtuoso,£380 but if you spend £400 you get £40 off . So bike an a few bits £360.

There's a ltd ed version for £20 less but the standard bike is slightly better and looks nicer IMO

It's my first road bike for over 20 years so purposely went budget,looked at the Triban 3 but for some reason fancied the Carrera.

Anyway done about 70 miles,just done 30 and am very happy with it.
Sold my hybrid so it's road or mtb now,no in between.

[jaybarts]

I bought the Carrera tdf today, for £320 I got:
The bike,
£25 computer,
£20 pump,
£15 water bottle holder (went for a more extravagent one as technically it was free.
And some lubricant for the chain!

Quite happy with my purchase, although I'm going to change the seat and pedals asap. At first I wanted the Virtuoso Ltd Edition as I liked the colour scheme, but when I compared it to the tdf there was no technical difference. So couldn't justify the extra £50m

This could end up never ending buying stuff...

[TKF]

A good friend of mine has put around 5,000 miles on his TdF Carrera and he rates it. He commutes in all weathers and it's held up extremely well with little (read no) maintenance.

It's not a light bike and the components are low rent but it takes some beating for the price.

[TSCfree]

Well, won the secondhand Dolan for £280!!!, hope there are no surprises. Can't wait to get peddling!