First road bike, £650 budget?

[PLuKE]

Well long story short my hybrid is going back as I am not happy with the build.

I was doing 10-15 miles per day leisure riding, and started to want a road bike! So I started looking!

I found out about Merida, nice bikes! The 90 is lovely went for a ride and wow, loved it, so light and fast! the Scultura is also nice, but more of a racer style, I couldn't ride that as they didn't have it.

Would there be any differences in comfort?

My budget is £650, any other you can recommend? I want a carbon fork though.

Thanks
Luke

 

[Deleted member 35268]

read this great article...
http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/116764-10-best-£500-£750-road-bikes

personally, A Giant Defy wins everytime.

 

[SteCenturion]

read this great article...
http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/116764-10-best-£500-£750-road-bikes

personally, A Giant Defy wins everytime.

+1, on Giant Defy but I add for consideration the Cube Peloton & Boardman Comp.

 

[Saluki]

Another +1 on the Defy. Great bikes. +1 on looking at the Boardman too.

 

[jefmcg]

@vickster found this - last years model - which is very good value

 

[Copo]

I bought the Decathlon Triban 7 for around that budget last year as my first bike.

Haven't got any complaints about it, although it have nothing to compare it to really.

 

[doog]

Consider the groupset, you are well in in the Tiagra range, may pay to get Tiagra over the cheaper Sora / 2300.

 

[PLuKE]

I really like the Merdia Ride 90, more sportive riding position than full on racer.

I look at the Defys to, but wasn't taken in by them as much.

Luke

 

[vickster]

There's your answer then, buy one, enjoy it

 

[MikeW-71]

I really like the Merdia Ride 90, more sportive riding position than full on racer.

I look at the Defys to, but wasn't taken in by them as much.

Go with the Merida then, good bikes

 

[slowmotion]

If you can find one, any 2013 model will be better value than a 2014 model.

 

[SteCenturion]

If you can find one, any 2013 model will be better value than a 2014 model.

+1, with the exception of Cube where the 2014 Peloton Race now has an entirely 105 groupset & better Mavic Aksium wheelset than the 2013 model & for less wonga.com

 

[Neil27]

I purchased a trek 1.2 off eBay and very happy with it.
Although around this price point you really can't buy a 'bad' bike anymore, they are all good value it's just a case of what fits best for you and colour choice really.
Enjoy shopping and even more important enjoy riding!

Neil.

 

[outlash]

Although around this price point you really can't buy a 'bad' bike anymore, they are all good value it's just a case of what fits best for you and colour choice really.

Spot on . FWIW, consider the Cannondale CAAD8, very well regarded bikes You can get last year's model (almost) in budget if you're the right size: http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5228/CANNONDALE-CAAD8-TIAGRA-2013


Tony.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Pauls Cycles have some amazing deals http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/offers.php?cat=7