First road bike

[HB2210]

Unless its under 1k then I would buy ( did buy ) a new Defy and use that as an introduction to road bikes . You can sell it on after if you want to upgrade .
PS im no expert , just someone that has gone from MTB to road bikes and loving the road bikes !

Thanks for that, it is less than that so seems a good buy.

 

[Cuchilo]

Not if you find out you don't like road bikes and it doesn't fit you or make you feel good on it . I was basing my under 1k comment on a 2.5k bike . If it wasn't that to start with then a new defy would be better value as you could resell it as second hand hardly used . A third hand TCR . hmmmmmmm that's a bike that's been hammered into the ground is my thoughts .

 

[vickster]

I must admit, having taken the tcr for a spin, I found I felt a little stretched and out of control ... Which for a girl newbie was quite scary

If you felt stretched are you sure it was the right size? Don't just buy it's because it's on offer, made that mistake myself, good deal, bike too big, chronic tennis elbow and 2 operations (ok and extreme case but illustrative)! You may find you need to not only change the stem and possibly the width of the handlebars.

Giant make a good range of WSD bikes, worth a look, I found the men's Giants too big (and I'm tall). Look at the Avail. Be careful buying second hand carbon bikes (if it is carbon). How did you find control over the braking, that's often hard to get used to for people coming from flat bar bikes.

What size is the bike and how tall are you. Don't rush into a purchase especially coming into winter.

 

[HB2210]

If you felt stretched are you sure it was the right size? Don't just buy it's because it's on offer, made that mistake myself, good deal, bike too big, chronic tennis elbow and 2 operations (ok and extreme case but illustrative)! You may find you need to not only change the stem and possibly the width of the handlebars.

Giant make a good range of WSD bikes, worth a look, I found the men's Giants too big (and I'm tall). Look at the Avail. Be careful buying second hand carbon bikes (if it is carbon). How did you find control over the braking, that's often hard to get used to for people coming from flat bar bikes.

What size is the bike and how tall are you. Don't rush into a purchase especially coming into winter.

I found the braking a bit awkward and I think I may need a shorter stem. It's a small and I'm 5ft 5". The gear system is so different to as it's on the same lever as the brakes Which was a bit to get my head round !

 

[vickster]

I would say a men's small is still quite big if 5'5. I am 5'10 and just found the medium defy all wrong while the M Avail is good. I reckon you'd be a small in the Avail

I can't personally brake from the shifter easily on the bike, I only use the crosslevers (which the men's bikes don't have but you can add). What groupset is it? My new build is SRAM rather than Shimano as the hood shape just suits my hands much better

 

[Peter Armstrong]

I changed from hybrid to road earlier this year, and the change in position takes getting used to. I would buy a second bike since they do grow on you

This is true, I once bought a second hand bike, it ended up twice the size a year later.

 

[HB2210]

I would say a men's small is still quite big if 5'5. I am 5'10 and just found the medium defy all wrong while the M Avail is good. I reckon you'd be a small in the Avail

I can't personally brake from the shifter easily on the bike, I only use the crosslevers (which the men's bikes don't have but you can add). What groupset is it? My new build is SRAM rather than Shimano as the hood shape just suits my hands much better

I'm a girl, I really have no idea what a group set is

 

[vickster]

I'm a girl, I really have no idea what a group set is

The gears. Do you have a link to the bike?

 

[ceejayh]

I'm a girl, I really have no idea what a group set is

The groupset is simply the collective term for all your mechanical bits and bobs on your bike, i.e. gears shifters, brake levers, front and rear mech, chain etc. etc.

If you have a look at the top of your brake levers, it should say something like 105, Tiagra, Sora, Claris - whatever it says will be what groupset you've got. I've got a Tiagra groupset on my Trek.

 

[vickster]

Although sometimes the spec is a bit mix and match, look at the derailleur on the back too), the bit that dangles down, but not thebit with the pedal (that's the crank)

 

[StuUngar]

Here's my advice. If serious about getting a road bike then join Bike Radar and have a look and ask on their beginners thread here http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40020 it's quite a bit more active but you tend to get more serious and helpul advice on this forum.

There are some muppets on there who are unhelpful and seem to just post on beginners boards to show off. Then again, if you are genuinely female or at least say you are you will get a lot more help. FYI that is not why I am helping you - just that you sound a bit clueless & we have all been there.

Changing riding position and getting used to it doesn't take long - about as long as SPDs.

To find the right size & make go to some bike shops and test them out - that's the only real world way of being sure.

Stems are often too long but this is a very easy & relatively cheap fix. What is more important is stand over height of the top tube and reach over the frame to the bars.

What's your budget? Once these things are sorted I recommend buying 2nd hand either on Gumtree or Ebay or local press. You can pick up some real bargains but you need to know what you are looking for.

This gives you all the info you need about what parts and frame parts are what. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_bicycle

Good luck

 

[Cyclist33]

It does sound as if you're the wrong size for that TCR. I would go back to the drawing board and go look at some bikes in Evans Cycles or a local bike shop, try a few and take a bikey friend with you for support and advice.

 

[HB2210]

Here's my advice. If serious about getting a road bike then join Bike Radar and have a look and ask on their beginners thread here http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40020 it's quite a bit more active but you tend to get more serious and helpul advice on this forum.

There are some muppets on there who are unhelpful and seem to just post on beginners boards to show off. Then again, if you are genuinely female or at least say you are you will get a lot more help. FYI that is not why I am helping you - just that you sound a bit clueless & we have all been there.

Changing riding position and getting used to it doesn't take long - about as long as SPDs.

To find the right size & make go to some bike shops and test them out - that's the only real world way of being sure.

Stems are often too long but this is a very easy & relatively cheap fix. What is more important is stand over height of the top tube and reach over the frame to the bars.

What's your budget? Once these things are sorted I recommend buying 2nd hand either on Gumtree or Ebay or local press. You can pick up some real bargains but you need to know what you are looking for.

This gives you all the info you need about what parts and frame parts are what. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_bicycle

Good luck

Why thank you, appreciate it

 

[vickster]

To add, go to a decent sized shop, but go on a wet day or a weekday and you'll be able to spend chatting with the staff

What's your budget, and the type of riding/surfaces you'll be doing, people may be able to make suggestions

Say where you are based and shop recommendations will be forthcoming too

 

[HB2210]

Although sometimes the spec is a bit mix and match, look at the derailleur on the back too), the bit that dangles down, but not thebit with the pedal (that's the crank)[/

Ok I'll go look ...