Entry level road bike, I know I know...
Discussion
Gents
I have searched the past 10 pages with no luck!
I am looking for a entry level road bike. Looking at £380 maximum, and I know this is the ar$e end. I have a helmet, gloves and lycra, so all I need on top are shoes and pedals that Merlin seems to cover nicely.
I used to do a lot of mountain biking around trail centres, but with driving there it was just too time consuming, and the GF was getting angry. I stopped and getting fat! I have tried running and it's not for me.
My old bike buddy is now raving about road riding. He has a Planet-X entry level carbon, but I think something of this price will be OK for me in case I don't get on with it.
After looking on other forums the two clear winners are the Merlin PR7 that is out of stock, and the BTwin Triban 500SE.
Any advice will be great!
I have searched the past 10 pages with no luck!
I am looking for a entry level road bike. Looking at £380 maximum, and I know this is the ar$e end. I have a helmet, gloves and lycra, so all I need on top are shoes and pedals that Merlin seems to cover nicely.
I used to do a lot of mountain biking around trail centres, but with driving there it was just too time consuming, and the GF was getting angry. I stopped and getting fat! I have tried running and it's not for me.
My old bike buddy is now raving about road riding. He has a Planet-X entry level carbon, but I think something of this price will be OK for me in case I don't get on with it.
After looking on other forums the two clear winners are the Merlin PR7 that is out of stock, and the BTwin Triban 500SE.
Any advice will be great!
The Btwin is a good bike, the guy I ride with has one and loves it
I ride a planet x rt58 and on occassions have swopped bikes with him, just to see if there really is a difference. To be honest I knew I was riding a different bike, but not massively so. In simple terms my bike costs 3 times as much as his, but is my bike 3 times better, not a chance
Bit of budget creep but PX do an alloy version of the RT58, I find the frame geometry works for me
Hope that helps
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-claris-2...
This is what you need.
Wiggle Platinum discount gives you 12% off if you know anyone who bought a bike from them recently. It's a well specified bike and reviews seem good, it's certainly a step up from the Microshift equipped Decathlon options and miles better than what Halfords have.
This is what you need.
Wiggle Platinum discount gives you 12% off if you know anyone who bought a bike from them recently. It's a well specified bike and reviews seem good, it's certainly a step up from the Microshift equipped Decathlon options and miles better than what Halfords have.
Well, the Mekk Penerolo looks like good value, and should do a good job:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-zr-2015/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-zr-2015/
Tesco have a claris equipped bike for £65 right now if you can find one in stock... see this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Like others have mentioned, at the price point you mention though I would go secondhand and have done.
I've bought a specialized allez sport for me nearly a year ago with full tiagra (2009 model but only lightly used) for £200 on cyclechat classifieds. I've virtually had to do nothing to this bike to see me through my first year getting a taste of road biking. I think all I have done is degreased and relubed the chain.
I bought a later allez sport for my brother in law for £230 on gumtree, again lightly used but apart from that has been fine.
I have just bought a Bianchi Nirone with 10 speed 105 groupset (5600) for £230 for another mate. The Bianchi needs a bit of work because one of the shifters in broken but I've splashed out £100 for a new set of 105 5700 shifters so it now has a really clean look as the gear and brake cables are routed under the bar tape. For £330 - that's a fantastic bike I reckon - tempted to keep it and flog my allez to the friend instead.
It seems quite easy to see if a bike you are looking at has been flogged to death, ridden but looked after well or shelved after purchase. Check the wear on the chain to see if it's either not even ever needed a new one or if it's been replaced in timely fashion. Look at the profile of the chainrings and cassette teeth to see if they are badly worn. Check bottom bracket and headset for play, wheels are true etc. Compared with cars the bork factor is very low. I'm no bike mechanic but anything I've needed to do has been covered on youtube tutorials and has been easy once you've seen someone do it.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Like others have mentioned, at the price point you mention though I would go secondhand and have done.
I've bought a specialized allez sport for me nearly a year ago with full tiagra (2009 model but only lightly used) for £200 on cyclechat classifieds. I've virtually had to do nothing to this bike to see me through my first year getting a taste of road biking. I think all I have done is degreased and relubed the chain.
I bought a later allez sport for my brother in law for £230 on gumtree, again lightly used but apart from that has been fine.
I have just bought a Bianchi Nirone with 10 speed 105 groupset (5600) for £230 for another mate. The Bianchi needs a bit of work because one of the shifters in broken but I've splashed out £100 for a new set of 105 5700 shifters so it now has a really clean look as the gear and brake cables are routed under the bar tape. For £330 - that's a fantastic bike I reckon - tempted to keep it and flog my allez to the friend instead.
It seems quite easy to see if a bike you are looking at has been flogged to death, ridden but looked after well or shelved after purchase. Check the wear on the chain to see if it's either not even ever needed a new one or if it's been replaced in timely fashion. Look at the profile of the chainrings and cassette teeth to see if they are badly worn. Check bottom bracket and headset for play, wheels are true etc. Compared with cars the bork factor is very low. I'm no bike mechanic but anything I've needed to do has been covered on youtube tutorials and has been easy once you've seen someone do it.
) and it is a very good bike. Got me thinking if I really need to blow £1500 on something new.Well. I won a KTM Strada 800 for £200 on eBay. Being eBay it wasn't quite as described. Ready to ride with a 1" buckle in the rear wheel, and loose gear and brake cables?
Was a 160m round trip and the area was less than, erm. So I was in no place to argue.
A newly opened local shop is servicing her and doing the wheels for £30 so all is not lost.
Was a 160m round trip and the area was less than, erm. So I was in no place to argue.
A newly opened local shop is servicing her and doing the wheels for £30 so all is not lost.
k giving money to bike thieves, the last thing I want to do is give them incentive to steal more bikes.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff