help choosing a road bike

[markstokeshughes80]

hi all im new to this forum and wanted to get into road biking, at moment I commute to work on my specialized rockhopper and I wanted to get myself a road bike for the commute it is 7 miles there and 7 miles back so a 14 mile round trip which I do everyday mon-fri and on a sun.i have a budget of £500-£1300 but idealy would like to get bike in sale so get more for my money. I had a few questions, when would be the best time to buy to get the best deals?
is carbon or alloy frame better?(I have been told carbon marks easily and can break easier if had a addicent or fell off bike)
would it be worth spending the extra for carbon frame or should I just go with entry level alloy?
I have saw a few bikes i like the look of which are

http://www.merlincycles.com/beone-diablo-race-road-bike-63023.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/prorace-drone-cf-3-road-bike-shimano-105-64260.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/felt-z5-road-bike-2014-71850.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/ridley-r6-el-road-bike-61377.html?utm_campaign=googlebase-GB&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term=Ridley+Road+Bikes&gclid=CMDOlK-uzb8CFennwgodIpIAXw

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b65s6p5237/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-CARBON-105-2013

are any of theses any good especially like to hear peoples views on the beone and the prorace does anyone own one or know of the make and what do you think as I have never heard of make and cant find any reviews for them.what would you think would be best for my needs? if anyone has any other recommendations on a good road bike in price range love to hear all your suggestions.be so gratefull for any help.thanks

 

[Finnjävel]

You can ride 7 miles with an alu bike. I think you get more for your money (at least in that price range) with alu than carbon, but that's my opinion and could be wrong.

But if you want carbon, you need to get carbon.

I'd say you should get a bike that fits and looks good to you. After riding it for a while you know what you'd really want and can get it, if the first one wasn't the Right One.

A bit like dating.

 

[lesley_x]

Ride them. There is no easy way to tell on paper.

I think alu as long as it has a carbon fork is fine. My secteur is still going strong and still as comfortable four years on. I have no desire to upgrade at the moment because it's no comfy. This is where fit comes in rather than material.

My bro in law rides an allez and he has had it for 5 years (and he is not kind on his bikes, he's a big guy and he punishes them, honestly) and hasn't had to replace a thing.

Honestly, go ride them and it will become clear, don't get too hung up on spec. I rode a lot of bikes before choosing mine.

 

[jay clock]

personally I would not want to ride a road bike to commute as I like panniers and would find a rucksack sweaty. Would also want mudguards. So I would go for a hybrid. Non suspension.... But if you must have a road bike those all look good.

You could get a 3-400 hybrid and a reasonable road bike for within your budget

 

[smokeysmoo]

Entry level alu? Sorry but that makes no sense, my Cannondale is alu and it set me back £2800 3 years ago! I do know what you mean, but just don't think that alu is low end and carbon is an upgrade, it isn't.

Alu or carbon? It's like tea or coffee. Horses for courses and all that, no single frame material is any better or worse than another, be it alu, carbon, Ti, steel, bamboo!

FYI, there's nothing wrong with a road bike for commuting on, but jay clock does make some valid points.

Have a look at RIBBLE, their 'winter audax' frame builds into a great bike and starts from only £549.95, that way you'll get the braze ons you need if you want to fit mudguards and a rack etc. Don't get hung up on it being called a winter bike either, the bike is still a great ride all year round, I've had two myself

 

[ianrauk]

Check Pinnacle bikes at Evans. Road bikes with disc brakes, bosses for panniers and designed for mudguards. Very keenly priced too.

 

[vickster]

You need to ride the bikes, depending on where you live and the shop policies that may be an issue with your choice of retailers. Agree that 7 miles with a rucksack could be sweaty and I'd want a rack. You can fix a rack to a non carbon seat post but it limits the weight, type of bag and they can swing around potentially. Plenty of good alu bikes will take a fixed rack. Good Mudguards can also be tricky on road bikes especially carbon ones

Giant defy are great bikes, some take a fixed rack and giant do decent mudguards. Look at ashcycles for decent deals on previous models

 

[cyberknight]

Entry level alu? Sorry but that makes no sense, my Cannondale is alu and it set me back £2800 3 years ago! I do know what you mean, but just don't think that alu is low end and carbon is an upgrade, it isn't.

Alu or carbon? It's like tea or coffee. Horses for courses and all that, no single frame material is any better or worse than another, be it alu, carbon, Ti, steel, bamboo!

FYI, there's nothing wrong with a road bike for commuting on, but jay clock does make some valid points.

Have a look at RIBBLE, their 'winter audax' frame builds into a great bike and starts from only £549.95, that way you'll get the braze ons you need if you want to fit mudguards and a rack etc. Don't get hung up on it being called a winter bike either, the bike is still a great ride all year round, I've had two myself

I commute on an alloy road bike pretty all year around , with rack and mudgaurds .I have even ridden a road bike through winter on 23 mm tyres, with common sense and caution its very practical

Check Pinnacle bikes at Evans. Road bikes with disc brakes, bosses for panniers and designed for mudguards. Very keenly priced too.

Sounds like a plan , if you can get a disc bike with rack and the option to run wider tyres you can tailor your ride to want you want.

 

[cyberknight]

Does the OP want to use the bike for more than just commuting ?

 

[Finnjävel]

Does the OP want to use the bike for more than just commuting ?

This is a good point. A seven mile commute, IMHO, is just as rideable with a good hybrid as with a road bike, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend one for longer, faster rides. Not saying that it can't be done.

 

[markstokeshughes80]

thanks for all your replies I am a total novice when comes to cycling so any help and advice is much appreciated. I would only be using my bike for communting. I did think about hybrid bike but i just fancy a road bike for something different as I have never had one before I would probably not use a bag anyway as I only work mornings so no dinner needed and have a change of clothes kept in locker at work so would probably just get small saddle bag for tools and puncture repair kit. I am leaning towards the beone bike from merlin cycles, the link for it is:
http://www.merlincycles.com/beone-diablo-race-road-bike-63023.html
Has any one got a beone bike or come across them before and if so what are they like as I have never heard of the make and Is this a good deal, it seems to be to me with 47% off rrp or is the rrp too high in first place?I always thought carbon was better even if was at lower end as seems to be dearer but as said im complete novice so are they pretty much the same then?.
Also what is best time to buy a bike to get best deal, i have been told it would be better to wait till September as all 2015 bikes will be out then so all 2014 models will be in sale so be better deals around then is this true? or are there just as good deals round now.cheers again

 

[wesfoster]

I really wanted a road bike last year - not much money so bought a an old seventies Falcon, I find that it's pretty much perfect for around the city. Obviously needs a bit of work every so often due to age (I'm currently in the process of upgrading the components). There's also the added bonus of no one is going to steal it - it's far too old to be perceived as worth anything at all...
It can be a bit ropey on longer rides though. I'd recommend if you are going to start longer rides, for pleasure, then spend a bit on a more modern bike.
Otherwise though, something a bit older is a beautiful way to get used to using a road bike. Or go for a lighter hybrid.