Road bike buying advice for newbie

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AdamD1

Regular
Hi all, new to the forum and road biking (as the title suggests) and looking for some advice.

I am getting into road biking and am on the prowl for my first bike, and I am completely stumped after a month or two of research. I’ve been to plenty of shops and picked up some really good information but I’m no closer to a decision as the choice and range of price Is so vast.

A little about me - have ridden bikes since I was a boy but as an adult only ever a mountain bike (never had a road bike) and the MB I currently use is 15 years old (it is fine but I feel I need to branch out now). Ultimately I am getting into more cycling due to a change in my exercise focus due to an injury (fine now but need to balance it away from just football and running and go lower impact) and I also very much enjoy cycling. 6ft 2 with quite long legs and arms (if that helps at all for sizing estimates).

Budget - up to £1k. I know this is a tiny budget but it is what it is and being my first road bike I feel I want to make baby steps up rather than go all out, if that makes sense.

What have I considered so far?

Decathlon triban series - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/...product-gender-men-s/_/N-2xa369Z8wdlsbZcp3kqy RC500 or RC520

Specialised allez - https://www.primera-sports.com/product/specialized-2021-allez/

Merida scultura- https://www.primera-sports.com/product/merida-scultura-200-disc/

Cube attain - https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...attain-pro-disc-road-race-bike-in-blue__44768

GT GTR sport - https://www.onyerbike.co.uk/bikes/gt-sport-gtr-2020

What I want?
- alloy frame (affordable and my next step can be carbon in a few years when and if I can afford)
- bike as light as possible
- Best overall spec for the price (bearing in mind my knowledge is zero)
- Nice looking colour!

Initially I was drawn to the decathlon options as they seem to be better value for the same type of kit (no big brand name I assume is why). That said, the colour of the triban series is woeful. I won’t lie, I want performance but I also want something that looks cool (the Merida!).

What I need?
- advice, and lots of it!

Thanks in advance and I look forward to discussing it. Ask me anything you think is relevant as I am a 100% novice to road biking so if you think it’s simple and I will have thought of it, trust me I won’t have!!
 

Oldhippy

Cynical idealist
Look at second hand perhaps?
 
OP
OP
A

AdamD1

Regular
Look at second hand perhaps?
Potentially but I’m planning to spread the cost and save tax by using the cycle scheme. Also I need to get properly fitted at a shop otherwise I’m going in half blind. In addition, difficult to know how second hand stuff has been treated.
 

DRM

Guru
Location
West Yorks
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRDSA1/planet-x-london-road-sram-apex-1-disc-road-bike
i’d consider the above, the Triban is a very good spec for the money, but Sora & Claris priced at the £900 & £800 mark is appaling vfm, to put it into context, I bought a Sora rim brake bike for £350 about 5 years back in the end of season sale, things are bonkers at the minute price and availability wise, hence the crazy prices, this one at Wiggle could be worth a look.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/fuji-sportif-13-disc-road-bike-2021
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Merida has Promax brakes which are not the best.

if looking at Tribans, read up about the wheels and changing the tyres.

The Cube has the best spec, Sora and the excellent Spyre brakes, although your link only offers in 56/58cm, so you’ll be fine at 6’2 unless some other retailer has it.

Specialized looks as dull as dishwater and is a poor spec with Claris and rim brakes.

If a novice, buy from a shop not online if at all possible.
 
Last edited:

Punkawallah

Über Member
You’ve already made your mind up on the Merida - there’s no need to ask others for approval of your choice :-)

It’s a lot of money to spend, but if you look at it as £20 per week if you keep it a year, less than a night at the pub. The second hand market should throw up some bargains with the lockdown bikes coming up, not to mention the colder weather. There was a £1k Trek up for £500 on my local ‘Facepage‘ Marketplace this week. Remember to budget for shoes or replacement pedals, as road bikes tend to come with ‘clipless’ pedals.

Most of all, ride the bloody thing! Frequent, short runs is a good way to start. Enjoy!
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
You need to find out which retailers will accept the cycle scheme voucher. Best vfm are probably from Decathlon but don’t think they accept them.
Halfords do a carbon frame Boardman for a grand, but don’t get too hung up on carbon.
 
Location
Cheshire
Hi all, new to the forum and road biking (as the title suggests) and looking for some advice.

I am getting into road biking and am on the prowl for my first bike, and I am completely stumped after a month or two of research. I’ve been to plenty of shops and picked up some really good information but I’m no closer to a decision as the choice and range of price Is so vast.

A little about me - have ridden bikes since I was a boy but as an adult only ever a mountain bike (never had a road bike) and the MB I currently use is 15 years old (it is fine but I feel I need to branch out now). Ultimately I am getting into more cycling due to a change in my exercise focus due to an injury (fine now but need to balance it away from just football and running and go lower impact) and I also very much enjoy cycling. 6ft 2 with quite long legs and arms (if that helps at all for sizing estimates).

Budget - up to £1k. I know this is a tiny budget but it is what it is and being my first road bike I feel I want to make baby steps up rather than go all out, if that makes sense.

What have I considered so far?

Decathlon triban series - https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/...product-gender-men-s/_/N-2xa369Z8wdlsbZcp3kqy RC500 or RC520

Specialised allez - https://www.primera-sports.com/product/specialized-2021-allez/

Merida scultura- https://www.primera-sports.com/product/merida-scultura-200-disc/

Cube attain - https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/b...attain-pro-disc-road-race-bike-in-blue__44768

GT GTR sport - https://www.onyerbike.co.uk/bikes/gt-sport-gtr-2020

What I want?
- alloy frame (affordable and my next step can be carbon in a few years when and if I can afford)
- bike as light as possible
- Best overall spec for the price (bearing in mind my knowledge is zero)
- Nice looking colour!

Initially I was drawn to the decathlon options as they seem to be better value for the same type of kit (no big brand name I assume is why). That said, the colour of the triban series is woeful. I won’t lie, I want performance but I also want something that looks cool (the Merida!).

What I need?
- advice, and lots of it!

Thanks in advance and I look forward to discussing it. Ask me anything you think is relevant as I am a 100% novice to road biking so if you think it’s simple and I will have thought of it, trust me I won’t have!!
I like the Merida, but I would raid the piggy bank and get the 300 disc Tiagra groupset, and importantly, Tiagra hydraulic brakes ^_^
 
OP
OP
A

AdamD1

Regular
You’ve already made your mind up on the Merida - there’s no need to ask others for approval of your choice :-)

It’s a lot of money to spend, but if you look at it as £20 per week if you keep it a year, less than a night at the pub. The second hand market should throw up some bargains with the lockdown bikes coming up, not to mention the colder weather. There was a £1k Trek up for £500 on my local ‘Facepage‘ Marketplace this week. Remember to budget for shoes or replacement pedals, as road bikes tend to come with ‘clipless’ pedals.

Most of all, ride the bloody thing! Frequent, short runs is a good way to start. Enjoy!
Haha no, I just love the colour. Spec trumps colour though.

I plan to keep it for at least 3-5 years!! Even at 3 years it’s only £250 a year if a £1k bike as it costs £750 on the cycle scheme. This is why I’m veering away from second hand as at least new with a shop there is comeback if something goes wrong.

I never envisaged the process being so difficult.
 
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