Advice on my first road bike

[RyanB98]

Hello, Ive read the newbie post and Im not here to ask generally what the best first road bike is but rather advice on a few. I currently own a Specialized rockhopper as I used to enjoy taking it to the country trails but we dont have a car and wont have for a while so Ive been wanting a fast road bike for a while and my birthday recently funded it I dont know if its wise which is why Im here to ask but is it a good idea to stick with Specialized for my first road bike and more specifically is an Allez good? I have a budget of up to £700-800 which I think is quite healthy for a first bike and some gear. If of course any of you want to suggest a good starting road bike, it would be much appreciated
TL;DR - I really want to get into road cycling and hopefully join a club after a while of getting into it

 

[cyberknight]

Spesh allez are a decent bike,your not going to get a lemon at this price,check out decathlon bikes or if your confident enough to buy without trying for fit Ribble and planet x do cracking deals.

 

[13 rider]

For that price range there will be no bad bikes so it will come down to personal choice . But for what is worth my reccomdations is a 13 intuition alpha road bike sold by Halfords £599 down from £999 but as a 13 owner I may be bias . Do you have a local shop to try a few out if not Evans if you've got one local let you test ride with a deposit and ID

 

[RyanB98]

I have a few small local bike shops. VeloSport is one, Ive looked online and they sell bikes between a huge price range, do you think its worth popping in and explaining my story to get fittings and stuff correct?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

With an upper limit of 800 you're also in carbon territory just about, just something to bear in mind. Carbon frames usually start around the £1000 mark but with the 2016 "season" coming to a supposed close and the 2017 models not too far off, you'll get a lot of entry level 2016 carbon road bikes at £800 or so online. You may even get a 2015 model for even less. Again, as Cyberknight says, once you know the size you're looking for it's easier to find a deal online so try a few first.

Edit: Yes, go and see your LBS first, try a couple, and see if they are prepared to do you a deal to save you going online. You can expect to pay a *little* more in person at the LBS, but that's okay, since you're getting advice and they do have higher overheads.

 

[MikeW-71]

You've a good budget, pop round the shops and sit on a few, see what fits.

A Spesh Allez is a good bike, nothing wrong with one at all. I went with a Giant Defy, another popular choice, but there is loads of choice at that price point.

 

[13 rider]

I have a few small local bike shops. VeloSport is one, Ive looked online and they sell bikes between a huge price range, do you think its worth popping in and explaining my story to get fittings and stuff correct?

Well worth a trip . Most local shops offer good customer service as they struggle to compete with internet prices but paying a little extra but having back up service is well worth it

 

[NorthernDave]

Halfords have the Boardman Road Team Carbon at £799 or the incredibly tempting Cinelli Experience Veloce at the same price until midnight (click n collect before then to lock in the price until you pick up...)

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/cinelli-experience-veloce-road-bike

 

[CanucksTraveller]

or the incredibly tempting Cinelli Experience Veloce

Really quite incredibly tempting!

 

[vickster]

Evans close by? Wide range of many brands, with hassle free testrides for as long as you fancy pretty much as long as it's dry

 

[RyanB98]

Halfords have the Boardman Road Team Carbon at £799 or the incredibly tempting Cinelli Experience Veloce at the same price until midnight (click n collect before then to lock in the price until you pick up...)

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/cinelli-experience-veloce-road-bike

This looks amazing and I regrettably say I cant buy one for a week or so as im not at home

 

[RyanB98]

Evans close by? Wide range of many brands, with hassle free testrides for as long as you fancy pretty much as long as it's dry

The closest Evans after doing a store search is 50 miles away so that will be a no unfortunately.

 

[vickster]

The closest Evans after doing a store search is 50 miles away so that will be a no unfortunately.

Any good LBS that sees you as a serious buyer should enable you to try a bike out, even if on a turbo only. Happy shopping

Specialized and Allez, although decent, wouldn't be my choice as I like bikes that are a little different and everyone and their dog ride Specialized round here (along with Boardman, Giant, Trek and Cannondale)

This wouldn't be for me either as its black, but a decent discount, v good frame to upgrade in future if you feel the need, all assuming you are around 5'11 and fit a 56cm!

http://velosportonline.com/index.php/bikes/item/trek-emonda-s-4

If brave enough to buy online, this is a very good spec for £850, Dolan will advise you over the phone on sizing etc

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-l-etape-carbon-road-bike-shimano-5800.html

 

[mjr]

Spesh are an ugly aggressive American company IMO (suing café Roubaix and stuff life that) so I avoid them. If you want to go mass market and middle of the road, go Giant, but best to go to shops and try a few.

 

[RyanB98]

Im back home tomorrow, so I shall pop down. Ill post what he has to say on here and you can tell me whether to trust the shop