Low cost road bike recomendations.

[ImDesigner]

I'm contemplating buying a budget road bike. I'm a mountain biker at heart but without any good local trails, I'd like something light weight to take out on the road for lunch break rides during the working week instead of hauling my 15kg mountain bike around.

I'll hold up my hands and say it's only going to be used in fair weather months and ideally I'd pick up some equipment to allow me to use it in the garage during winter at a later date. Consider it my entry to road cycling which might later develop into something more serious.

I don't really have a specific budget, but I want to keep the cost low - maybe mid hundreds and below if that's even possible? New would be great, but I'd comfortable with used too.

All advice welcome as I really don't know what I'm looking for when it comes to road bikes.

[Barchettaman]

Decathlon should be worth a look:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc120-microshift-dis...

[anonymous-user]

I’d be wary of second hand, especially these days as new stock is hard to get hold of and it’s a sellers market so prices are higher than they should be, you may get a bargain though given its miserable weather or you may end up with something that needs some attention, chains, cassettes, re-cabling, new pads etc. Ask around, join your local club Facebook page and see if anyone is selling? If you factor in £50-100 to replace some components, use that when discussing a price?

This Cannondale looks nice for £800 though https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/road-bikes/can...

[Bathroom_Security]

Same boat as you over a year ago, an urge caused by lockdown mainly when it might have been unacceptable to travel to the woods and ride a bike. Those quiet cycling days are long gone unfortunately

Bought an Allez (8 Speed Claris) to test the water, got run over a couple of weeks later then bought a Tarmac SL6 (105). Really fell in love with road biking and I've since taken the bike to Italy and Croatia and a few UK places too. Great way to see somewhere and its great to be on the road when its not too congested.

If you're into your mountain biking and enjoy the luxury of decent components then you will be in the same position on a road bike. So it might be worth spending a bit extra and getting something decent, or upgradable at a proper drive train and wheels. So consider carefully. Tyres are the best start.

One tip I will give you is stay lit up like a Christmas tree at any time of day and wear bright colours. No matter how you feel about it. Took me a couple of weeks to get out of baggies and into lycra too, within about 2 rides I started to realise why people wear lycra.

[numtumfutunch]

Barchettaman said:

Decathlon should be worth a look:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc120-microshift-dis...

Its currently all about stock availability but this bike is a great shout

Not light, not sexy, not anything TBH but perfectly functional with decent gearing that shouldnt leave you sobbing at the roadside on a hill Also note cable discs which are similarly not brilliant but do the job. Looks to be able to fit 'proper' mudguards so if you do get on you'll be able to use it as a winter bike when you splurge £££££££ on carbon fibre, electronic gears, ceramic bearings, etc etc etc

Buy one, if you can find one, and if you dont like it at all and sell you're loss is modest

[rossmc88]

Buy a 2nd hand Giant Defy - should get one cheap enough, great quality and frame design. Can get an ally one for 400-500, or carbon for less than 1k

[stargazer30]

I wouldn’t rule out a gravel bike either if you’re a mtb person. They are a little more forgiving and closer to home than a full on road bike but still quick and light.

[defblade]

I'd seriously recommend second hand, with care given the current prices (some people asking for near-retail!)

However, by combing the forums rather than gumtree/ebay/facebook, IMO you're more likely to find something tidy at a reasonable price. BikeRadar, PinkBike (even though it's MTB based), YACF (small but OCD so most stuff on there is very tidy), probably a good few more I'm not aware of... or keep hunting daily on GT/E/FB. Be prepared to travel for a good bike - I've just gone the other way, road to mtb, and the bike was about 120 miles away - I've already forgotten the pain of the drive, and it was only a week ago

The advantages of going 2nd hand in my view are that you can try a new discipline without too much risk (you can likely sell the bike on for the same as you paid) while at the same time get a feel for which things you do and don't like about your 2nd hand buy... if you then carry on riding, you'll have a much better idea of what to look for (and to look out for!) in your next/better/new bike

[aka_kerrly]

stargazer30 said:

I wouldn’t rule out a gravel bike either if you’re a mtb person. They are a little more forgiving and closer to home than a full on road bike but still quick and light.

Yep a CX is a good solution, I found the sloping top tube, shorter stem, slightly more upright position compared with a more dedicated race bike to be comfortable.
.
I borrowed a Boardman CX comp from a mate for a few months whilst I was commuting 10miles for work , it had "chicken" brake levers on the handle bars which I found quite helpful whilst making the transition from MTB rider to barely committed roady;). Disc brakes, 35mm semi slicks, dual flat plus spd pedals and some mud guards made it ideal through the winter.

[cml24]

I bought a Pinnacle Laterite 2 for £250 last summer, second hand. New price is £500. It had been used for maybe ten miles in total.

I think similar to yourself, I prefer riding mtb, but wanted something better than an old mtb with slick tyres for when it was dark etc.

Aluminium frame, carbon forks, shimano claris gears. Its obviously not an expensive bike, but has been faultless since I bought it.

I think, for someone like me/you trying road cycling for the first time, around 500 gets you a new bike that is perfectly acceptable, and head and shoulders above a mtb on the road. That's what I would be aiming for.

[Bacon Is Proof]

I bought a Carrera from Halfords for £230 to commute on. Ally frame, carbon fork, bottom of the range Shimano.
It's absolutely fine.
Road bikes don't do much, there is no need to spend silly amounts.

[ImDesigner]

rossmc88 said:

Buy a 2nd hand Giant Defy - should get one cheap enough, great quality and frame design. Can get an ally one for 400-500, or carbon for less than 1k

It's funny you say this. A friend also recommended a used Defy to me yesterday. Thanks!

stargazer30 said:

I wouldn’t rule out a gravel bike either if you’re a mtb person

Definitely wouldn't rule one out. Anything you'd recommend?

aka_kerrly said:

Yep a CX is a good solution, I found the sloping top tube, shorter stem, slightly more upright position compared with a more dedicated race bike to be comfortable.

This does sound appealing.

cml24 said:

I bought a Pinnacle Laterite 2 for £250 last summer, second hand. New price is £500. It had been used for maybe ten miles in total.

I think similar to yourself, I prefer riding mtb, but wanted something better than an old mtb with slick tyres for when it was dark etc.

Aluminium frame, carbon forks, shimano claris gears. Its obviously not an expensive bike, but has been faultless since I bought it.

I think, for someone like me/you trying road cycling for the first time, around 500 gets you a new bike that is perfectly acceptable, and head and shoulders above a mtb on the road. That's what I would be aiming for.

This is my thinking. Anything road biased will be more fit for purpose than my enduro bike. It's good hear similar thoughts.

Bacon Is Proof said:

I bought a Carrera from Halfords for £230 to commute on. Ally frame, carbon fork, bottom of the range Shimano.
It's absolutely fine.
Road bikes don't do much, there is no need to spend silly amounts.

That's good to hear. I've just had a look at the cheapest is ~£380.

My current thinking is a used bike that wasn't quite entry level, but still affordable when new.

I have to say though I can't really be bothered to deal with the hassle that comes with buying second hand, so new recommendations are still welcome in case I get bored of the search

[sjg]

Bought a Decathlon / Triban RC520 in the autumn after months of looking at overpriced, often worn out secondhand stuff. Very happy with it. Decathlon stock changes all the time, but you can put in your email and it'll alert you when it's back in, then do a click & collect to your local store.

RC120 looks fine if you don't mind downspecced kit, would be fine on a trainer and if you like it could always be sold on or relegated to permanent trainer duties if you got a nicer "outside" road bike.

[cml24]

sjg said:

Bought a Decathlon / Triban RC520 in the autumn after months of looking at overpriced, often worn out secondhand stuff. Very happy with it. Decathlon stock changes all the time, but you can put in your email and it'll alert you when it's back in, then do a click & collect to your local store.

RC120 looks fine if you don't mind downspecced kit, would be fine on a trainer and if you like it could always be sold on or relegated to permanent trainer duties if you got a nicer "outside" road bike.

The point about worn out second hand bikes is more relevant i think at this price point.

Add up the cost of buying new service and consumable parts. New brakes, new break and gear cables, new tyres, that's probably £100 right away. Maybe a new chain and cassette depending on how hard its been ridden and how badly its been looked after. A new bike suddenly starts looking better value, and starting with a bike that works nicely will encourage you out more (for me at least!).

[maccas99]

I'm also in this camp of potentially venturing into the world of cycling on the road but the one thing that keeps bothering me is the transition to full VISIBLE lycra. I see another poster mentioning it took two weeks to make the transition but how have others managed and what clothing approach do you take?

[sjg]

The rise of gravel bikes means there’s a lot of options now between MTB baggies and full roadie Lycra, there’s nicely cut shorts etc in non-garish colours that are comfy for miles. Wear what you feel comfortable in.

[cml24]

I wear road shorts, but keep my MTB tops.

To be honest, as i've, 'changed' shape' they've become tighter anyway!

[nagsheadwarrior]

I bought my one and only road bike used several years ago, a basically as new Raleigh Airlite 200 for under £200.
Totally unfashionable I'm sure as it's a Raleigh, alloy frame carbon forks and shimano something not very expensive gears and I love it.
I've never ridden anything more expensive I've got that and a carrera subway winter and wet weather bike and have many any thousands of happy miles on each inc 80 mile plus rides and a strava Kom on a small road in Lancashire lol!
For an hour at lunchtime why spend any more

[defblade]

Forgot to add: my number one top tip when internet shopping for a second hand bike - look at the condition of the chain and cassette in the photos. If you can see the chain is rusty, then the owner hasn't bothered with the most basic necessary maintenance and so a much higher chance of the rest being fubared - move swiftly onwards!