first road bike for colleague

[Lee_M]

Fit, slim, tall, lady - but not ridden for years, wants to try road riding.

Any idea (other than the obvious B'Twin?) for someone wanting to spend about £500?

I've not bought a bike that cheap, nor one for a female for years so have no idea

 

[I like Skol]

£500 is far too much to 'try' something. Can I suggest maybe £200 for a reasonable secondhand bike and then resell and look to buy something 'better' if the need arises?

 

[vickster]

Giant defy? Or Avail depending on how tall. Pauls cycles sometimes have some super deals on wsd road bikes in larger sizes

 

[T4tomo]

Sounds good, you can have my first road bike in exchange for her.

If she is quite tall then men's bikes rather than won specific come into the equation. Halfords for Boardmans is worth a look and can be tried for size at that price point, but decathlon offer greatest value. The 500 or 500SE is a great starter point with £200-250 change from the budget for kit

 

[vickster]

The Btwin bikes are quite unattractive style wise though which is a shame

 

[Darren Gregory]

Does she or you have a nearby bike charity that you could go check out? I got a mountain bike from my local charity for £100, it was a BTwin Rockrider. It served me very well for 12 months which was enough for me to feel that cycling was not going to be a "flash in the pan". I have since upgraded but glad I went this route first.

 

[T4tomo]

The Btwin bikes are quite unattractive style wise though which is a shame

They are if you have a well publicised aversion to black!

I would say bland rather than unattractive, i got the blue black 500SE for my son, its very well put together and its certainly not offensive to the eye. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

 

[uphillstruggler]

there's a milbrook in the for sale section that may be of interest - a lot of bike for little money

 

[vickster]

It's not just the colour, as you say bland is perhaps a better word
Obviously it's up to the lady buying to decide what she likes

 

[vickster]

A couple of options depending on her height, I'm sure there are plenty more

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p6869/GIANT-AVAIL-4-2016
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p6875/GIANT-AVAIL-3-2016

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Trek/Lexa-C-Womens-Road-Bike-2016/ALOP

Or Wiggle have a sale on, something like this is sub 10kg and nicely under budget? IMO feminine but not girly (might even be a 'unisex' model?)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-claris-2016/

 

[rivers]

I've got an entry level specialized dolce. It's a nice bike and I enjoy riding it. As the new models are coming out, last year's models are about £450.

 

[vickster]

Depending how tall she is the dolce might be a little small unless she can get the 57 which might be tough on reduced models. The TT on the 54cm is less than 54. Would not fit me at around 5'10 and I'm more leg than torso. I've sat on a 54, very cramped for me. I'm not slim or fit though

 

[Lee_M]

£500 is far too much to 'try' something. Can I suggest maybe £200 for a reasonable secondhand bike and then resell and look to buy something 'better' if the need arises?

ooh glad I didn't listen to you when I bought my first bike then :-)

I suppose it depends on how much disposable income someone has.