Buying a new Road Bike MAX budget £700 - any advice.

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JoeChoppen

New Member
Hi,

Brand new here. I have been riding a Cube LTD CLS Pro hybrid bike for the last couple of years but I am thinking about switching to a road bike. I will be looking to sell my current cube which is in great condition other than a few nicks, a worn back tyre and a back brake that I think needs bleeding. However, I have not a clue what I should be expecting to get when I trade it in or sell it. It cost around £550 when I brought it but if anyone could give me a ball park figure just so I know I'm not being "diddled" in any cycle shop :biggrin:

Second, I would like some advice on what bikes I should be looking at in this price range. I am not hugely knowledgeable so you'll have to bare with me if things get techy. I am fairly sure I am after a compact though after 2 and a bit years of riding my cube and never using half the gears I'm not sure I'll worry about the extra gearing. I know Cube, Specialized and Bianchi seem to make very good bike but I'm not sure they do anything in my price range or which suits my needs.

I am after something that isn't too aggressive and might be considered a more upright position. It will be used daily for commuting (my commute ins't far only 5 miles) , but I would also like to use it for some longer charity rides and the asunday venture out (though this may not be as often in the winter). I would like the bike to be able to take mudgaurds and take a rack. The rack may not be hugely necessary right now and I am happy to wear a backpack but it would be nice to have the choice in future.

The Cannondale Synapse 8 bikes seem like a good choice and Evans have the lowest model the Claris for £550 currently which would leave me a little left to buy mudgaurds and a new bike lock.

Cheers guys. Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
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JoeChoppen

JoeChoppen

New Member
I also considered a cyclocross bike like the Specialised Tricross (which had all the attachment points for things like mudgaurds and racks) as it seems like it may be a bit tougher but I think I can be reasonably careful with whatever I end up getting.
 
RIBBLE Audax/Winter bike with 105 and a stock build would be £714.95 and is one of the most respected all round bikes money can buy.

Also, the beauty of Ribble's bike builder means you can specify exactly what you want when you order. This helps reduce the amount of tinkering you may do with a stock bike once you get it.

You might want to consider a lesser groupset than 105 though as winter riding can play havoc with components, so the cheaper the groupset the cheaper the parts are to replace.

The same bike with Tiagra would be £601.95, or with Sora just £549.95 :thumbsup:
 
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JoeChoppen

JoeChoppen

New Member
Thanks guys, it looks like a cracking bike. I also like the look of the Defy 3. I know my max is £700 but at the cheaper the better. but the Defy 1 is £300 off which is a brilliant deal. I will need to find a place to sell my current bike before I can commit to buying anything online as I don't have a Rutland Cycles near me.

Will book mark it though!
 

vickster

Legendary Member
What did you pay for the Cube...probably knock 50% off after a couple of years use. Unfortunately, suspension hybrids aren't so popular nowadays

My guess would be a couple of hundred tops...

Just spotted the £550 in your first post, and the condition...£200 max on eBay...probably £100 on a trade in deal
 

Cyclist33

Guest
Location
Warrington
Thanks guys, it looks like a cracking bike. I also like the look of the Defy 3. I know my max is £700 but at the cheaper the better. but the Defy 1 is £300 off which is a brilliant deal. I will need to find a place to sell my current bike before I can commit to buying anything online as I don't have a Rutland Cycles near me.

Will book mark it though!

What size is your hybrid / are you?

If you want to aim lower then just get the Defy 3, £499 and it's just a cracking bike... if you get really into road biking you'll upgrade eg wheels, gears etc anyway so don't get hung up on the higher initial spec of the Defy 1 just yet...

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/280933/products/giant-defy-3-2014-road-bike.aspx
 

RebornBumbler

Senior Member
Location
Barnstaple
I'd agree with @vickster on the second-hand/trade-in price. You might get a little more if you had the existing faults repaired though...

If you like the look of the Cannondale Synapse, then that's probably what you should try first.
Otherwise, the Defy is a very popular bike (as you can tell) :smile:

But if you have a good local shop (especially if you do none/little of your own servicing), then the best advice would be to consult them and quite probably buy from them too.

Otherwise you could just take a look at any website (Wiggle/Evans/Chain Reaction....), sort by price, and find something under £700 with 'relaxed geometry' that you like the look of.
A quick look at Wiggle suggests these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z100-2014/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-15-tiagra-2013/ (on sale - nice spec- only limited sizes remaining)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-revenio-1-claris-2014/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-defense-wr21-sora-2014/ (already got 'guards)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-2g-poggio-p15-sora/ (ooh, carbon :smile: - again only limited sizes left)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-belief-sr20-tiagra-2014-1/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-revenio-2-sora-2014/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z85-105-2014/ (on sale, but most sizes still available)

There's probably not a bad bike among them, but only you can determine which is best.
 
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JoeChoppen

JoeChoppen

New Member
Thanks for all the help everyone.

After some research and a 3 phone calls with different cycle shops and a visit to my local shop in town. I am going to look at getting a Specialized Secteur. It seems like a decent choice. It doesn't have the craziest set up but it seems like it might be a good call for a beginner like me. Not sure it'll take a rack but there must be some solution to this. It is on sale at £550 which is the same as the Synapse 8 Claris but personally the Specialized is a nicer looking Bike. I am now looking to sell my Cube so if anyone might be interested in the Hampshire area any interest would be welcomed.

I think I am size 54cm, I am 5'10" with a 31" leg length and I have had no issues with the size of my Cube so I will assume it is the same size though I will double check.

Thanks again everyone, I'll report back on Thursday when I will be buying :hyper:
 

Paulq

Bike Rider, Beer Drinker, Biscuit Eater.
Location
Merseyside
@JoeChoppen - slight aside but I am currently looking at a Cube like your hybrid - what's your view of it? Would be used for rides with her indoors so a combination of road and riverside tracks (sometimes quite rough).

Cheers.
 
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JoeChoppen

JoeChoppen

New Member
@Paulq - Hey Paul, I actually do like the cube a lot. I am still in two minds about "upgrading" but it's a good bike. The Fork is adjustable so you can switch the suspension off for commuting and for more level roads and paths and with a flick of a switch be ready for the riverside tracks you mention. It is a fairly smooth ride and nippy enough on the road. I like the Rapid Rob tires it comes with as they have been ideal for what has been most of my cycling so far. However, A lot of this is dependant upon some exam results (third time lucky) as I'll find out where and if I will be going to uni. Odds are I'll be getting into my first choice which means living at home and spending my first instalment of my student loan on a new bike as a "well done you've finally passed these bloody exams" present to myself. :laugh:

I am still hesitant to fully commit to anything just yet but all should be fine. Whereabouts do you live? If you are near Basingstoke you could pop over and have a look and see what you think. Even if you don't go for it I'm happy if it helps you choosing.

Let me know anyway bud, I am happy to help.
 

Paulq

Bike Rider, Beer Drinker, Biscuit Eater.
Location
Merseyside
Thanks Joe I appreciate that and the offer of a look at it. Regrettably I'm at the other end of the country but thanks again.

As you have probably gathered from the sig below I'm quite an advocate of Ridgeback bikes and tend to use the Comet for the purposes I mentioned. It's great on the road but it isn't equipped well enough for the other stuff.

I'll take a look at the Cube plus a couple of others in the Giant Roam and Marin San Rafael. Maybe the Trek 8.4 also.

Good luck with your decision!
 
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JoeChoppen

JoeChoppen

New Member
I can definitely recommend it to you. I am still in half a mind of just giving it some real care and getting a few upgrades and keeping it.
 
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