A bike is required

[Capt Krysis]

Hi guys, now that the weather is beginning to get better, Im looking to take up cycling (really its to show off my figure in lycra ) I do own a mountain bike, but Im a bit bored of the same paths etc, so im heading to the road.
This now is my problem, there are so many bikes out there and well I have no idea which type to go for. There are no really bike shops in my area except halfords, and well, I dont think i'll use them as professional advice gurus (no offence if any of you work for them)

At some point i'd like to be able to do a long charity ride (unassisted) so ideally I would just get 1 bike, but when I start looking, well its like being back at school in a french lesson

Any advice would be welcome :ie frame/amount of gears etc

The Captain

 

[vickster]

What's the budget? Is the area hilly? Where do you live, there must be other bike shops within a reasonable distance?

 

[smokeysmoo]

+1 for vicksters comments. More info required.

to CC though

 

[cyberknight]

Depends on your budget ,a new entry level bike can be bought for £300 or you can spend thousands.

Do you want a bike for long rides, flat bar or drop bars etc etc .
For a bike from halfords i can recommend the boardman road comp for £799.
It has a aluminium frame and carbon fork with what is known as sportive geometry , basically it means its a little more upright than a full on "race" bike and is designed for long rides .The gearing is sram apex which gives you a very wide range so you can climb every mountain and still have fast ones for the flat and giving it the beans on descents .
Boardman bikes regulary get top marks in cycling magazine tests which is why i choose one on cycle to work, you can get other bikes brands on the scheme but halfords would charge you full rrp .
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html
The entry level bike by carrera , the TDF and virtuoso are cracking bikes for the price , i ride one for work and are comfortable enough.

Another favourite on here seems to be the specialized allez range
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/12allez/allez/Allez
What i nearly went for is a cannondale synapse , very similar in design afaik to the boardman
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2012/bikes/road/performance-road/synapse/2012-synapse-6-tiagra-19941
Do you live near a decathlon store?
Their bikes are always well made and very keenly priced, if i was in the market for a new bike i would go for their triban 3 as its similar price to halfords virtuoso but has a carbon fork to soak up some road vibration , their higher priced bikes are also very good.

 

[Capt Krysis]

If there were bike shops I would have gone to them, but there are none. The area is cornwall, so yes its hilly. Im after a road bike, but with future rides in mind, I would need to be able to carry basic equipment

 

[Glover Fan]

I swear there is meant to be a pretty decent bike shop in Redruth, can't remember what it is called mind. What's your budget?

 

[subaqua]

Loads of bike shops in Cornwall - ignore the sports direct result though

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=....2.2.3.0.187.2219.1j16.17.0...0.0.Ute7U4ZcS6I