new bike - how much to spend

[joanna]

I'm finally, after years to procrastinating, going to get myself a dropbar bike. My work do the cycle to work scheme fortunately, and the bike shop they do it with sells predominantly Trek, Ridgeback and Genesis.

I really am struggling to decide how much I want to spend. I'm not sure how well I will get on with drops - so not sure whether to buy an entry level bike- around £500 which will give me an introduction, or whether to go full-out and get one for £800+. I'm guessing, if I really hate the drops - I could always convert it to a flat bar bike? Would it be best to get the best quality/frame in the first instance?

Thanks for any advice, and sorry if this email doesn't make much sense.

joanna

 

[vickster]

You probably won't ride on the drops that much, 90% of the time will be hoods, shoulders of bars and flats

The advantage of a road bike over a flatbar will be some gain in speed due to skinnier tyres and likely a lighter frame, plus the additional hand positions and a generally more sporty riding position

Ask your lbs to let you have a test on the trek lexa and the men's domane - the Madone is the more racy aggressive geometry . Go with sora or tiagra gearing, which will push the price up to your £800 or so. As a commuter, check whatever bike will take mudguards and a pannier rack if preferred over a Rucksack

Why do you think you'll hate the road bike? On the flip side, What is your main reason for wanting one? Club rides, sportive a, touring, racing even?

 

[helston90]

I was always under the impression you buy the best bike you can afford- that way when struggling up a hill you know you've only got your self to blame as you couldn't have a better bike if you tried.
That coupled with the hope that the better the bike, the more you'll like it and the more you'll ride it.

 

[mattobrien]

I really am struggling to decide how much I want to spend.

If the C2W scheme goes up to £1k, then there's your answer

I was just reading a thread on the Genesis Alfine One, which is priced of that ilk and would make a lovely C2W commuter.

That said, a friend has a C2W scheme that went up to £2.5k - work to do on his wife, rather than him to get the bike. A £2.5k bike for just over £100 / month almost makes it a no brainer.

 

[joanna]

thanks for the replies... the reason I think I might not get on with drops... it sounds really silly, but even after years of cycling - I've got a real fear of descending (especially on those narrow, windy full of pothole country roads that are plentiful in Sussex)- and I rightly or wrongly think that drop bars will make it so much worse for me. I honestly don't think i'd go on the drops for descending, so would hope the braking power on the hoods would be good enough.

Otherwise, your recommendations on getting a more quality bike confirms my thoughts.

 

[Doc333]

I'm just starting on the drops for the first time, and can say without doubt that its strange and takes some getting used to. Using the hoods or flat bar is fine, but you'll find that is slightly narrower than your used to, which means control is sharper.

Make sure you go for a bike that is a more upright geometry, like a cross-bike or endurance bike. You'll find it a more comfortable ride as its more upright head stem means you're not down in racing position. I went for endurance and make sure you can gaurds and panniers fitted.

 

[SteCenturion]

If the C2W scheme goes up to £1k, then there's your answer

I was just reading a thread on the Genesis Alfine One, which is priced of that ilk and would make a lovely C2W commuter.

That said, a friend has a C2W scheme that went up to £2.5k - work to do on his wife, rather than him to get the bike. A £2.5k bike for just over £100 / month almost makes it a no brainer.

Sorry.
Just don't get that.
I thought all C2W had a government cap of £1k - although I know some dealers circumnavigate this with an upfront cash deposit.
Also how does £2.5k equate to payments of just over £100 p/m ? If C2W is over a 12 month loan period ??
Cheers.

 

[Cuchilo]

thanks for the replies... the reason I think I might not get on with drops... it sounds really silly, but even after years of cycling - I've got a real fear of descending (especially on those narrow, windy full of pothole country roads that are plentiful in Sussex)- and I rightly or wrongly think that drop bars will make it so much worse for me. I honestly don't think i'd go on the drops for descending, so would hope the braking power on the hoods would be good enough.

Otherwise, your recommendations on getting a more quality bike confirms my thoughts.

Wait until you are doing 40 down hill , youll get on the drops and love it

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I was always under the impression you buy the best bike you can afford- that way when struggling up a hill you know you've only got your self to blame.

Don't work for me.. its still everyone else's fault

 

[sreten]

Hi,
FWIW you can get perfectly usable road bike for £300.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/bikes/129441/2/bike-test-do-you-get-what-you-pay-for.html
rgds, sreten.

 

[Mo1959]

I found that the more I rode my road bike, the easier and more natural the position on it started to feel. Also, if you live in an area prone to getting quite a lot of wind it makes an amazing difference being able to tuck down on the drops and make yourself a smaller target for nasty head winds. I actually find that I ride on the drops a lot more now, even if it is just to give your body a change of position for a while.

 

[SteCenturion]

thanks for the replies... the reason I think I might not get on with drops... it sounds really silly, but even after years of cycling - I've got a real fear of descending (especially on those narrow, windy full of pothole country roads that are plentiful in Sussex)- and I rightly or wrongly think that drop bars will make it so much worse for me. I honestly don't think i'd go on the drops for descending, so would hope the braking power on the hoods would be good enough.

Otherwise, your recommendations on getting a more quality bike confirms my thoughts.

Bradley Wiggins is scared of descending too -

See any Giro 2013 footage for proof.

So your in the best of company.

Sure you will get your head around it.

Be Lucky.

 

[Christopher]

hi joanna
It isn't easy to convert a bike from drops to flats unless it has downtube shifters - if the gear systems are on the handlebars then different types are used for flats and drops - my OH did exactly this with her Galaxy & had to get new shifters and brake levers for the flat bars.
oh and Vickster has sound advice. Is there a road/cross bike you could borrow for a bit?

 

[Peter T]

Hi Joanna, advice really depends on the type of cycling and the distance you are doing. I moved from a flat handlebar urban bike to a road bike about a year and a half ago. My 9 mile commute dropped from 45 minutes to 30 and I would never never go back. The speed goes up and the effort goes down and it makes my commute much more enjoyable a ride.

The upright position and wider handlebars do give you easier control and greater confidence but that quickly got forgotten after a couple of weeks riding and getting used to it. I looked at entry level when I bought my bike but actually went in at the £1000 mark with CTW scheme. The reason being the cheaper components did not inspire confidence and I wanted reliability.

I know of loads of people that have gone in at cheap e.g. Triban 3 and done loads of miles though, but having rode one the experience does reflect the price. I would recommend Tiagra or 105 groupset bike as find lower specs give unreliable and clunky gear changes. I think that a good Aluminium frame carbon fork is as good a choice as carbon for commuting. I since bought a full carbon for the weekends but enjoy the Alu frame bike just as much and often ride that on long weekend rides. If you do go for drops then don't stay on the hoods on decents, the force you can apply on the brakes on the drops is much greater and does inspire more confidence.

 

[vickster]

thanks for the replies... the reason I think I might not get on with drops... it sounds really silly, but even after years of cycling - I've got a real fear of descending (especially on those narrow, windy full of pothole country roads that are plentiful in Sussex)- and I rightly or wrongly think that drop bars will make it so much worse for me. I honestly don't think i'd go on the drops for descending, so would hope the braking power on the hoods would be good enough.

Otherwise, your recommendations on getting a more quality bike confirms my thoughts.

I have crosslevers on one bike as my hands are the wrong shape for braking from the hoods on Shimano brifters. However, the other bike has SRAM, the shape of which suit me much better. My new bike will be built with SRAM hoods (and crosslevers for more confidence in heavy London traffic)