First Road bike
Discussion
My eldest son is looking for a first road bike. He's 16 next month and has grown out of the Specialized Sirrus Elite I bought him a couple of years ago. He wants to try his hand at Triathalons - he already swims and runs - and he'll also use it for the 15 mile round trip to school/college.
One problem is that he's 72kg/5'11" and still growing rapidly, so personally I don't think there's much point in him spending a huge amount only to grow out of it in a year or so (although in true PHs style, man-maths is at play). He's looked at the Specialized Allez and the more expensive Tarmac and likes how they look and feel.
1. Should he look to an entry level road bike at ~£600- or so, or is it worth being more ambitious and going for a carbon-framed bike at 2x that?
2. Is it better to buy in the sales from a local dealer/chain for the support & warranty, or is the risk of buying a used bike on ebay worth it? I'm worried that he (I!) might end up with big bills to sort out a used bike, and if it doesn't fit properly he'll get put off. Unfortunately I'm not confident enough in bike mechanics to be much use to him.
3. Any other bikes to add to his short list?
Cheers,
SS7
One problem is that he's 72kg/5'11" and still growing rapidly, so personally I don't think there's much point in him spending a huge amount only to grow out of it in a year or so (although in true PHs style, man-maths is at play). He's looked at the Specialized Allez and the more expensive Tarmac and likes how they look and feel.
1. Should he look to an entry level road bike at ~£600- or so, or is it worth being more ambitious and going for a carbon-framed bike at 2x that?
2. Is it better to buy in the sales from a local dealer/chain for the support & warranty, or is the risk of buying a used bike on ebay worth it? I'm worried that he (I!) might end up with big bills to sort out a used bike, and if it doesn't fit properly he'll get put off. Unfortunately I'm not confident enough in bike mechanics to be much use to him.
3. Any other bikes to add to his short list?
Cheers,
SS7
At 16 he must be nearing the end of his growth by now. Although I am 6'5'' and I did continue to grow until I was about 19, but only by a very small amount.
You take a risk with a 2nd hand bike but as long as you inspect the frame carefully for cracks you should be ok. Its not like a car, the parts are not that expensive and even the biggest job will only take a bike shop an hour or so to do.
I completely stripped, cleaned, lubed and re-assembled a mountain bike, including servicing the forks in a few hours. Its worth having a tinker with bike mechanics as it isn't that complicated.
There are a plethora of bikes at the £600 mark. The only reason for not spending more now is if you are concerned as to whether he will keep it up.
You take a risk with a 2nd hand bike but as long as you inspect the frame carefully for cracks you should be ok. Its not like a car, the parts are not that expensive and even the biggest job will only take a bike shop an hour or so to do.
I completely stripped, cleaned, lubed and re-assembled a mountain bike, including servicing the forks in a few hours. Its worth having a tinker with bike mechanics as it isn't that complicated.
There are a plethora of bikes at the £600 mark. The only reason for not spending more now is if you are concerned as to whether he will keep it up.
you should man up 
tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is f
k up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!
tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is fk up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!craigthecoupe said:
you should man up tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is fk up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!
Unless youre me and you strip a thread on the drive side crank arm putting pedals in.... tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is fk up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!Then buy a replacement in the wrong bb size....
That was an expensive exercise (and I discovered the bike I thought was a 2009 model was actually a 2011....).
But other than stupidity, you aren't likely to break anything!
My eldest son is 16 years and 4 months, he's 6'3" and weighs 70kgs. When we bought his Cannondale CAAD10 Ultegra in January this year (son then still 15) the LBS recommended a size 60 frame. I was dubious at the time as the frame looked massive but we went with what the guy said and also the fact that my son would still potentially grow. Fast forward to now and we are looking at selling the size 60 frame as it is too big for him. Thankfully he now has a size 58 S-Works Tarmac as his main race bike and the CAAD 10 has been relegated to a winter/training bike, however, we still need to sell the size 60 CAAD 10 and get a 58 CAAD 10. Thankfully CAAD 10's seem to hold their money quite well and frames sell quite easily.
At 16 it's very difficult to guage how they will grow and it is a bit of a gamble interms opf what frame size to get. We've experienced it the hard way but hopefully we wont lose too much when seling the frame seaprately.
Good luck.
At 16 it's very difficult to guage how they will grow and it is a bit of a gamble interms opf what frame size to get. We've experienced it the hard way but hopefully we wont lose too much when seling the frame seaprately.
Good luck.
craigthecoupe said:
you should man up tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is fk up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!
Challenge accepted. Can anyone suggest a tool kit that includes the specialist tools I'll need? tinkering with bikes is fairly straight forward, rewarding, and quite a good fun pastime. it saves a few quid and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your whole bike, and that everything is running tickety boo! apart from stripping a thread, the worst you can do is fk up the indexing, which at worst is a 15 minute job at your LBS to put right. go for it!I've got the usual puncture kit and Torx sockets, screw drivers etc.
SS7
shoestring7 said:
Challenge accepted. Can anyone suggest a tool kit that includes the specialist tools I'll need?
I've got the usual puncture kit and Torx sockets, screw drivers etc.
SS7
Something like this would be a good tool kit, covers most of the bits you're likely to need.I've got the usual puncture kit and Torx sockets, screw drivers etc.
SS7
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobsworth-tool...
Dixie said:
I'd be tempted to look on ebay. A second hand Boardman Carbon Pro is roughly in budget. They're great bikes and there's loads for sale. Most seem to have been bought via CTW and get flogged after barely turning a wheel.
At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
The OP's lad is 5'11" and still not 16, a medium is not the size to get him, bare minimum is a large or a 56 frame, he may well end up on a 58 frame. Believe me I've been there and done it.At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
OP, that tool kit looks quite good and what you need for bike maintenance.
neenaw said:
Something like this would be a good tool kit, covers most of the bits you're likely to need.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobsworth-tool...
That is cracking value!http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobsworth-tool...
neenaw said:
shoestring7 said:
Challenge accepted. Can anyone suggest a tool kit that includes the specialist tools I'll need?
I've got the usual puncture kit and Torx sockets, screw drivers etc.
SS7
Something like this would be a good tool kit, covers most of the bits you're likely to need.I've got the usual puncture kit and Torx sockets, screw drivers etc.
SS7
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobsworth-tool...
SS7
Dixie said:
I'd be tempted to look on ebay. A second hand Boardman Carbon Pro is roughly in budget. They're great bikes and there's loads for sale. Most seem to have been bought via CTW and get flogged after barely turning a wheel.
At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
I've got a medium 2011 pro carbon, I've just bought an upgraded small. At 5'5" the medium is a tiny bit big...At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
So if youre anywhere nearby (Leighton buzzard) you'd be welcome to try the medium for size.
Dixie said:
I'd be tempted to look on ebay. A second hand Boardman Carbon Pro is roughly in budget. They're great bikes and there's loads for sale. Most seem to have been bought via CTW and get flogged after barely turning a wheel.
At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
I've got a medium 2011 pro carbon, I've just bought an upgraded small. At 5'5" the medium is a tiny bit big...At 5'10 id have though a medium would fit him.
So if youre anywhere nearby (Leighton buzzard) you'd be welcome to try the medium for size.
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