£300 set budget for a new bike - suggestions?

[infinityleague]

I think it's a case of err in haste, repent at leisure.

Don't buy a bike because you wanted one yesterday. Take the time to find the right one for you. And for your budget. The one you link to is three times your original budget. Would you be happy spending that? How much wiggle room do you have?

You mention the sportives etc. But what kind of cycling do you *really* want to do? You sound like you're not one of those wannabe head down, arse up types on a bike. In fact, you sound more like me. Go out for a bimble whenever you've the time to keep up a basic level of fitness, stop, forage in a hedgerow, pop to the shops, do cycle-train-cycle for work or leisure, go visit a friend, have the odd bicycular away day.

Oh, and if you plan on going and doing stuff by bicycle, then you'll also need to budget for a decent lock.

1) I’m not going over my budget unless someone is gifting me a bike for my upcoming birthday (hoping against hope…..)

2) I can at best stretch it to £400 but I would like to keep it near to £300 or lesser ideally.

3) Definitely not the arse up types. I do like to go on long solo rides locally as suggested by Komoot or Strava.

example : starting with Basildon to Southend pier everyday once I get any sort of bike and then increase the distance daily & weekly.

4) My goals - London to Brighton and Dragon Devil challenges - no changes there.

5) A lady friend said I could use her Apollo (which is in the shed from the covid time zone). No idea if I would look funny on a female bike frame, as she is of short stature - about 5’4”).

6) Accessories are fixed - lights, bell, spare tube with puncture repair essentials, wrench, helmet, pump, a good sturdy lock - no changes there & also, whatever is needed to maintain the chain (drive train) which I will definitely ask in here again if and when I purchase a bike.

what I liked were :

Hellcat was £278 with some paint defect.
Venegeance £305 with some paint defect.
Triban refurbished around £310.

The only reason I asked about the gravel bike was because it was suggested by store both at Halfords & Decathlon.

 

[AndyRM]

1) I’m not going over my budget unless someone is gifting me a bike for my upcoming birthday (hoping against hope…..)

2) I can at best stretch it to £400 but I would like to keep it near to £300 or lesser ideally.

3) Definitely not the arse up types. I do like to go on long solo rides locally as suggested by Komoot or Strava.

example : starting with Basildon to Southend pier everyday once I get any sort of bike and then increase the distance daily & weekly.

4) My goals - London to Brighton and Dragon Devil challenges - no changes there.

5) A lady friend said I could use her Apollo (which is in the shed from the covid time zone). No idea if I would look funny on a female bike frame, as she is of short stature - about 5’4”).

6) Accessories are fixed - lights, bell, spare tube with puncture repair essentials, wrench, helmet, pump, a good sturdy lock - no changes there & also, whatever is needed to maintain the chain (drive train) which I will definitely ask in here again if and when I purchase a bike.

what I liked were :

Hellcat was 278 with some paint defect.
Venegeance 305 with some paint defect.
Triban refurbished around 310.

The only reason I asked about the gravel bike was because it was suggested by store both at Halfords & Decathlon.

Re 5 - there's nothing wrong with riding a "ladies" frame, but if you're 5'10" and she's 5'4", it's a kind offer but it would be way too small for you.

At best you'd be uncomfortable, at worst you could hurt yourself with any kind of extended riding as you'd be contorting yourself to fit the bike which is never a good idea.

 

[Reynard]

Re 5 - there's nothing wrong with riding a "ladies" frame, but if you're 5'10" and she's 5'4", it's a kind offer but it would be way too small for you.

At best you'd be uncomfortable, at worst you could hurt yourself with any kind of extended riding as you'd be contorting yourself to fit the bike which is never a good idea.

^^^^^ exactly this.

A ladies' frame will typically have a more sloped top tube - from back in the day where us girls wore long skirts and it was Not Done to show an ankle whilst mounting. And it will probably be pink or purple or covered in a floral pattern. If the bike is the right size, then it would be a reasonable stop gap if you could ignore any unfortunate colour choices.

But the bike your friend is offering to loan you is way too small. It won't be comfortable (be a bit like riding a kiddies bike), and you'll likely fall out of love with cycling before you've even started.

 

[ColinJ]

I have the torso of someone more like 6'1" or so. Consequently, I look for road bikes with a seat tube of 48-54cm and a longer top tube of 56-59cm.

I am 1.86 m (6' 1") tall and ride bikes with 58 cm top tubes. My shorter friends around 1.78 m (5' 10") tall ride bikes with 56 cm top tubes.

I ignore seat tube length because I just set my saddle height to where I need it.