A little advice please

[SHornswaggle]

I currently have a leg injury and I also don't have a bike. I am looking to purchase a road bike around March time. I used to ride about 200 miles a week on a Specialized mountain bike.

I have spent many hours looking at road bikes. I'm considering a Trek or Specialised currently. I don't really want to spend over £1,500 including helmet and spd shoes. I want to be able to race on the road and well as cover long distances. I'm aiming to do LEJOG in 2014.

I haven't ridden a bike in 6 years. I'm a little nervous about trying out a road bike before I buy it as I know how twitchy they feel especially as I need to get used to one again. Ideally I would like the bike that I buy now to be capable of LEJOG as well as my training for it.

I am really out of touch with bikes parts and the new names of kit now. I can't for the life of me figure out the difference between touring and road bikes. Cosmetically they look identical.

My main needs (wants) from a bike:

Light
Strong
Will last at least 5 years
Not sure whether to add ££ for carbon
Drop handle bars
Not a Boardman!!!!

Any advice or sites for me to Google would really be appreciated.

Also, I would be interested in joining cycle groups if there are any around South East Kent. Only once I have got my balance together though. I think riding a road bike will be quite tough for the first few weeks lol!

 

[DooDah]

Why not a boardman?

 

[akb]

Wiggle.co.uk or chainreactioncycles.com are good places to start. Also your local bike shop for advice and Evans to try out models.

Why not a Boardman? Lots on Cc ride them and have lots of praise.

£1500 is a healthy budget to et what you need so good luck!

 

[SHornswaggle]

I don't know - I think it is the look. Lol. I know that sounds really stupid. I just don't like the frame (or the colours).

I love the look of the Specialized Roubaix Elite (2012) and also the Trek madone - the latter would have to be a series 2 or 3 I think

 

[SHornswaggle]

I do need to find a good local bike shop actually. At the moment the main choice is Halfords or a mountain bike specialist.

My searching is hindered by the house bound situation currently. Hopefully I shall be able to physically go looking in December.

My friends mate recommended Boardman to me too. I know they have a good reputation.

I heard of wiggle for the first time last week. I saw their sportive days which really appeal to me actually. I shall have a good look on their site. I will need to find out my frame size too though.

 

[DooDah]

My few cycling friends have Boardman, Trek or Giant. They are always arguing as to which is best. Those who have Boardman or Giant seem to think that the spec. for money is much better and that you are paying a lot more for the name with Trek. Mind you they only have this reputation for a reason (good quality maybe??!!).

 

[SHornswaggle]

Yes - I have been told that and normally I would follow the advice of getting more for my money. I did it with a PC and my pro DSLR - It is probably my total ignorance regards bikes now combined with my personal experiences with Specialized and Trek from the past. When I was a teenager I had a Raleigh racer! They just don't seem to be in the market for road bikes from my googling any more.

 

[Lee_M]

If you are planning lejogger and you are looking at trek can I suggest a domane rather than a madone?

That a better alternative to the specialized roubaix than the madone


The fact that I have one is irrelevant :-) but its probably a better long distance bet, , and if it's good enough for cancellara it's good enough fr me

 

[SHornswaggle]

Looking at them now.

 

[simon.r]

When I was a teenager I had a Raleigh racer! They just don't seem to be in the market for road bikes from my googling any more.

Raleigh Clubman (Available for £660)

I think the main difference between a tourer and a road bike is the handling. Tourers are generally designed to be comfortable and stable (and hence less 'flickable'), road bikes are a bit sharper handling.

I've recently bought a Charge Juicer which I think is a bit of a halfway house, though I've not got enough experience of road bikes to give an authoritative opinion.

 

[Lee_M]

I love mine, weighs nothing, fits perfectly (I had a bike fit) and it is wonderfully comfortable on the crap uk roads

 

[SHornswaggle]

They may be a little bit out of my price range. I really do need to test these bikes I think. I just think I will wobble all over the place the first time and therefore won't appreciate the right bike.

Am I making excuses or will any of these bikes be great for me?

 

[SHornswaggle]

Thank you Simon R for explaining the difference. I guess in my case I may not really notice the difference speed wise then. That was a concern originally.

 

[simon.r]

Thank you Simon R for explaining the difference. I guess in my case I may not really notice the difference speed wise then. That was a concern originally.

Tourer's tend to be a bit heavier as well. I suspect most people would notice a slight difference in speed, with an out and out 'racing' road bike being a bit quicker. It depends what your priorities are.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The roubaix is what I would choose, great bike, life time warrenty on the frame