What used road bike for £300 ish?
Discussion
Hi guys, never had a road bike before, had a few half decent mountain bikes in the past but sold them due to gathering dust.
I want a road bike to commute on occasionally and mainly to help get fit. I don't want to do what I always do and buy all the gear and not use it.
That's why I'm looking at the very bottom end if the price range. If I do enjoy it and take to it, further down the line I'll buy an all singing and dancing bike.
I'm 5'10 and weight 98kg so it needs to be strong ;-)
Any suggestions guys?
I want a road bike to commute on occasionally and mainly to help get fit. I don't want to do what I always do and buy all the gear and not use it.
That's why I'm looking at the very bottom end if the price range. If I do enjoy it and take to it, further down the line I'll buy an all singing and dancing bike.
I'm 5'10 and weight 98kg so it needs to be strong ;-)
Any suggestions guys?
You don't necessarily have to go SH.
The Triban 3 (from Decathlon) is very highly regarded and makes an excellent starter bike. And they're under £300 new.
The red bike gets a better rep because it has carbon forks, but the white one is the newer version.
I've just a white one SH for £130 and had my first (13.5 mile) ride on it this morning.
As far as I can tell, it's excellent for my needs.
And if it helps, I'm 16 stone and it didn't fall apart.
The Triban 3 (from Decathlon) is very highly regarded and makes an excellent starter bike. And they're under £300 new.
The red bike gets a better rep because it has carbon forks, but the white one is the newer version.
I've just a white one SH for £130 and had my first (13.5 mile) ride on it this morning.
As far as I can tell, it's excellent for my needs.
And if it helps, I'm 16 stone and it didn't fall apart.
As stated, Triban 3's are considered to be very good value for money.
However, you can do worse than pick up a second hand entry level bike from Specialised/Giant/Cannondale etc. They will all be absolutely up to the job. They key requirement for you will be the fit. At 5'10" a 56" frame might sound right but depending on your reach a 54 might be better. I'd suggest that, all other things considered, the right sized frame is probably more important than the manufacturer.
However, you can do worse than pick up a second hand entry level bike from Specialised/Giant/Cannondale etc. They will all be absolutely up to the job. They key requirement for you will be the fit. At 5'10" a 56" frame might sound right but depending on your reach a 54 might be better. I'd suggest that, all other things considered, the right sized frame is probably more important than the manufacturer.
What about a Carrera? My girlfriend rides one and its pretty good indeed (her's is a TDF), you see plenty of them about so they must be pretty good at the entry level price range :
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Joey Ramone said:
As stated, Triban 3's are considered to be very good value for money.
However, you can do worse than pick up a second hand entry level bike from Specialised/Giant/Cannondale etc. They will all be absolutely up to the job. They key requirement for you will be the fit. At 5'10" a 56" frame might sound right but depending on your reach a 54 might be better. I'd suggest that, all other things considered, the right sized frame is probably more important than the manufacturer.
Not worth pissing about with SH IMO at that price point. However, you can do worse than pick up a second hand entry level bike from Specialised/Giant/Cannondale etc. They will all be absolutely up to the job. They key requirement for you will be the fit. At 5'10" a 56" frame might sound right but depending on your reach a 54 might be better. I'd suggest that, all other things considered, the right sized frame is probably more important than the manufacturer.
OP. Just go and buy a BTWIN from Decathlon or a Carrera TDF and be done with it.
Could be a problem then.
I'm not sure how they measure their bikes at Decathlon, I'm 6ft and I'm told the one I've bought was a 57cm. It's verging on being too small for me.
I'm also new to Road bikes and it felt OK to me, despite being shorter than what I'm used to.
Though I did keep imagining clown horns when I was on it this morning.
I'm not sure how they measure their bikes at Decathlon, I'm 6ft and I'm told the one I've bought was a 57cm. It's verging on being too small for me.
I'm also new to Road bikes and it felt OK to me, despite being shorter than what I'm used to.
Though I did keep imagining clown horns when I was on it this morning.
Edited by Kell on Monday 14th April 18:19
I've still got my tdf - strangely attached to it yet its realistically only going to get used as a pub or station bike.
It cost 150 practically brand new and I thought it was a rocketship when I got it. Got me hooked on road riding and put in some half decent speed runs on aksiums with 25c Gators for a brief period in the winter when I crashed my CX bike.
With hindsight....
Its over-geared for a beginner, its heavy (my MTB is lighter) it has a bottom end groupset and the stock wheels and tyres are terrifyingly bad (over 2kg for the wheel set and heavy kendas with no grip or puncture protection).
Upgrading it is an exercise in futility as that boils down to "replace every component".
Its not " bad", its not a bso but the moment youve ridden something half decent (our definitions of decent may differ) you'll never want to touch it again.
The zelos is unfortunately lower specced in most ways. The new bottom of the bottom of the range tourney group set is actually the highlight..... Sorry but it really is....
The Triban 3 (red carbon fork model) everyone raves about and is a bit of a bargain. In budget too new if you can find one, or a lightly used secondhand model....
You could however get much better, entry level treks and giants aren't bad, but my personal "bargain pick of the month" would be a 2009-2010 model Boardman team (ally frame, you won't get a carbon for that).
Its light, full rival group set, compact crank and really some very nice wheels for a cheap bike.
I've got one as a backup winter bike I'm now still running while I get the last of the bits to refresh my summer toy.
The stock wheels are lighter than the aksiums I've got on at the moment and roll better, the ritchey ergo bars and finishing kit are great.
Honestly the only thing I had to do with mine (apart from fixing it, everything broke shortly after I bought it) was swap the ally seat post for carbon and change the saddle (I prefer fizik Antares).
Buyer beware on secondhand bikes though. I've replaced wheels and nearly the whole group set over 2000miles..... Everything was fine when I got it but right on the cusp of failure.
It cost 150 practically brand new and I thought it was a rocketship when I got it. Got me hooked on road riding and put in some half decent speed runs on aksiums with 25c Gators for a brief period in the winter when I crashed my CX bike.
With hindsight....
Its over-geared for a beginner, its heavy (my MTB is lighter) it has a bottom end groupset and the stock wheels and tyres are terrifyingly bad (over 2kg for the wheel set and heavy kendas with no grip or puncture protection).
Upgrading it is an exercise in futility as that boils down to "replace every component".
Its not " bad", its not a bso but the moment youve ridden something half decent (our definitions of decent may differ) you'll never want to touch it again.
The zelos is unfortunately lower specced in most ways. The new bottom of the bottom of the range tourney group set is actually the highlight..... Sorry but it really is....
The Triban 3 (red carbon fork model) everyone raves about and is a bit of a bargain. In budget too new if you can find one, or a lightly used secondhand model....
You could however get much better, entry level treks and giants aren't bad, but my personal "bargain pick of the month" would be a 2009-2010 model Boardman team (ally frame, you won't get a carbon for that).
Its light, full rival group set, compact crank and really some very nice wheels for a cheap bike.
I've got one as a backup winter bike I'm now still running while I get the last of the bits to refresh my summer toy.
The stock wheels are lighter than the aksiums I've got on at the moment and roll better, the ritchey ergo bars and finishing kit are great.
Honestly the only thing I had to do with mine (apart from fixing it, everything broke shortly after I bought it) was swap the ally seat post for carbon and change the saddle (I prefer fizik Antares).
Buyer beware on secondhand bikes though. I've replaced wheels and nearly the whole group set over 2000miles..... Everything was fine when I got it but right on the cusp of failure.
karl922 said:
I looked on the website and the triban 3 red was only in tiny sized frames. But after doing more research I kind of guessed that would be at the top of the list. If I can find one my size I'll pull the trigger.
I initially researched road bikes of the same budget,but changed as a Hybrid would suit me better.The red Triban 3 isn't available in larger sizes anymore as it's the old model and has been surpassed by the white Triban 3,which appears slightly inferior.
When I initially looked,second hand prices of the red 3 were really strong-mainly due to the red having carbon forks.
I think that Decathlon are due to release their new range soon-this may force prices of their Triban 5,which has carbon forks,down.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff