Road Bike help please - circa £1k
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I'm an MTB'er originally, but a few years ago got myself a hilariously crap road bike to see if it might also appeal. It didn't. Largely because I bought a Viking Race Pro, £104 off Amazon!
Anyway, I've since moved house and no longer have the countryside on my doorstep, so have been riding it more. It just isn't comfortable at all; but I am enjoying riding more and so have decided to get something through the Cycle to Work Scheme. I have to wait until January to have been at work long enough to claim, so am going to spend December shopping around to see what's what.
I know absolutely nothing about road bikes, so was hoping some kind PHers might be able to give me a few suggestions? I'm basically looking to spend around £1k on the bike, I'm 172cm and not interested in triathlons/racing - just riding around the roads. Couldn't give a hoot about colour/look - I just want a decent bike. COVID seems to have resulted in most bikes being sold out; worth hanging on for 2021 models?
Thanks in advance!
I'm an MTB'er originally, but a few years ago got myself a hilariously crap road bike to see if it might also appeal. It didn't. Largely because I bought a Viking Race Pro, £104 off Amazon!
Anyway, I've since moved house and no longer have the countryside on my doorstep, so have been riding it more. It just isn't comfortable at all; but I am enjoying riding more and so have decided to get something through the Cycle to Work Scheme. I have to wait until January to have been at work long enough to claim, so am going to spend December shopping around to see what's what.
I know absolutely nothing about road bikes, so was hoping some kind PHers might be able to give me a few suggestions? I'm basically looking to spend around £1k on the bike, I'm 172cm and not interested in triathlons/racing - just riding around the roads. Couldn't give a hoot about colour/look - I just want a decent bike. COVID seems to have resulted in most bikes being sold out; worth hanging on for 2021 models?
Thanks in advance!
I bought one of these around May-time (when they were only £850 mind!).
Done 1750 miles so far having come from a 15KG MTB to this at 9KG.
I chose this as it fulfilled my main requirements of being light with a half-decent groupset. Everything else around this price was either heavier or had inferior components. This was the best I could find with both.
My first roadbike so my opinion somewhat useless but I love it. Thought I would have problems with the aggressive road position as I've had back problems before but managed to get a comfy set-up on this with no problems.
If you can, I would try and stretch the budget to get the Ultegra version as it also comes with some more aero wheels. I'm looking at £600 for a set of Icans currently but as you're looking at a whole bike that would be my recommendation.
Done 1750 miles so far having come from a 15KG MTB to this at 9KG.
I chose this as it fulfilled my main requirements of being light with a half-decent groupset. Everything else around this price was either heavier or had inferior components. This was the best I could find with both.
My first roadbike so my opinion somewhat useless but I love it. Thought I would have problems with the aggressive road position as I've had back problems before but managed to get a comfy set-up on this with no problems.
If you can, I would try and stretch the budget to get the Ultegra version as it also comes with some more aero wheels. I'm looking at £600 for a set of Icans currently but as you're looking at a whole bike that would be my recommendation.
Edited by Centurion07 on Tuesday 24th November 18:56
Thanks guys, I hadn't considered decathlon. Sounds like you bought it at the right time.
These look like a decent deal, but as I say, need to wait until Jan for C2W scheme to kick in:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/orro-gold-road-bike-tiagr...
These look like a decent deal, but as I say, need to wait until Jan for C2W scheme to kick in:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/orro-gold-road-bike-tiagr...
Thanks again guys, other than ebay, are there any other decent 2nd hand places to scope out?
I'll be checking out the local bike shop as well, see what they've got.
I'm hesitant to rely on ebay as I'd rather get it through the C2W scheme if possible. That isn't an absolute, just current preference.
I'll be checking out the local bike shop as well, see what they've got.
I'm hesitant to rely on ebay as I'd rather get it through the C2W scheme if possible. That isn't an absolute, just current preference.
I got my first road bike through a C2W scheme.
I decided not to use the full £1k budget, and got a Specialized Allez, which in the shop would set you back £650-700. 18 months later, I'm still loving it, and considering upgrading the gears (8 speed Claris now feels a bit inadequate, but coming from a bike that was £104 all in it'll feel like jumping from a little tykes car straight into a BMW M3).
The only bit that does launch a proper assault on your wallet is buying the clothing. Sure, you could go buy a £10 pair of bib shorts from eBay, but I guarantee they will be hideous. Likewise with most of the £9 Shanghai special jerseys. I've probably spent enough money with Le Col to buy a nice S-Works bike! But their stuff is easily worth it, just bought my 4th set of bibs and 3rd jersey from them.
In short, buy a Specialized Allez through the scheme for under £700, and spend the rest on some decent bib shorts and jerseys.
I decided not to use the full £1k budget, and got a Specialized Allez, which in the shop would set you back £650-700. 18 months later, I'm still loving it, and considering upgrading the gears (8 speed Claris now feels a bit inadequate, but coming from a bike that was £104 all in it'll feel like jumping from a little tykes car straight into a BMW M3).
The only bit that does launch a proper assault on your wallet is buying the clothing. Sure, you could go buy a £10 pair of bib shorts from eBay, but I guarantee they will be hideous. Likewise with most of the £9 Shanghai special jerseys. I've probably spent enough money with Le Col to buy a nice S-Works bike! But their stuff is easily worth it, just bought my 4th set of bibs and 3rd jersey from them.
In short, buy a Specialized Allez through the scheme for under £700, and spend the rest on some decent bib shorts and jerseys.
This Ridley look decent, under the budget. I’m 5ft 8 and the small Ridley is a 54 so x-small likely best size for you.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-fenix-sla-disc-roa...
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-fenix-sla-disc-roa...
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Buy used.
I swapped out a titanium Lynskey road bike for a 29er steel hardtail. I love it for its versatility
Second hand prices are daft at the moment. Probably better off buying new with C2W as people are asking near RRP for year-old bikes. It's a seller's market at the moment.I swapped out a titanium Lynskey road bike for a 29er steel hardtail. I love it for its versatility
Dunno the answer (more of a slow hybrid pedaler here), but have noticed the current trend being for a single front cog (no more granny ring!) & 9 or 10 gears on the back.
Must lighten the load a bit, & mean the front chain should be very unlikely to hop off!
My latest (hybrid) has disc brakes. I know road bikes tend towards the smaller, lighter rim brakes, but the disc ones do feel more powerful....
Must lighten the load a bit, & mean the front chain should be very unlikely to hop off!
My latest (hybrid) has disc brakes. I know road bikes tend towards the smaller, lighter rim brakes, but the disc ones do feel more powerful....
I got my Giant from a local bike shop via C2W mid-September after foolishly waiting about 3 months for something (much cheaper) to come in to stock at Halfords.
Few points:
- there’s various versions of C2W scheme it seems so I guess it depends what one your company utilises, but there’s no £1k limit, I believe the limit on mine was £3k (thankfully only discovered at the ‘check out’ once I had out a deposit down out my own pocket on something cheaper
)
- not aware of any C2W schemes that enable you to buy used. You are getting income tax free spending power to enable cycling to work, but the govt still want their VAT and taxes from the retailer
- if you purchase via the Halfords C2W scheme, you get a discount card for cycling kit which will probably be quite useful, you can also bundle the cost of some equipment in to your C2W initial buy i.e. agree to salary sacrifice £1200 to pay; £1000 for a bike, £100 on a helmet, £100 on clothing
Few points:
- there’s various versions of C2W scheme it seems so I guess it depends what one your company utilises, but there’s no £1k limit, I believe the limit on mine was £3k (thankfully only discovered at the ‘check out’ once I had out a deposit down out my own pocket on something cheaper
)- not aware of any C2W schemes that enable you to buy used. You are getting income tax free spending power to enable cycling to work, but the govt still want their VAT and taxes from the retailer
- if you purchase via the Halfords C2W scheme, you get a discount card for cycling kit which will probably be quite useful, you can also bundle the cost of some equipment in to your C2W initial buy i.e. agree to salary sacrifice £1200 to pay; £1000 for a bike, £100 on a helmet, £100 on clothing
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