So im new here and need advice on a bike

[KyleHW]

hello!
I am new to road biking and im looking to buy my first bike!
I don't have a massive budget and im not looking for the best of the best but a little advice from some seasoned cyclists wouldn't hurt at all

Ive narrowed my choices down based on what I like the look of/ which brand the bike is, so far I have chosen:

-Cannondale Synapse Alloy 2015 Sora
-Boardman Road sport Limited Edition
-Scott Speedster 30 (2015)
-Specialized Allez sport 2015

within a £800 budget if there is anything else you recommend don't hesitate to help me out!!!

-KyleHW

 

[vickster]

Have a look at the Planet X rt58 with SRAM rival for £650

And go test ride the ones on your list. If happy to go for an older model, you'll get a better spec. The allez is quite an aggressive race geometry, the synapse more relaxed. By all means choose on looks but decide what spec or style you want and compare apples with apples. Then go test ride, preferably outside, if not on a turbo

If you decide on the boardman, join British cycling to get 10% off any other offers, plus other indispensable benefits , costs £34

The Scott has the best spec with tiagra, the boardman most basic spec but that's reflected in the price

 

[sionhughes]

I had a test ride on the Cannondale Synapse Tiagra on Saturday. The only difference apart from colour from the Synapse Sora is an upgrade in gears from Sora to Tiagra and disc brakes instead of rim. Rode very nicely, felt relaxed and the guys at Evans were very good with me. I liked it so much I'm going to order mine tomorrow with my Ride to Work certificate which has just come through! My only gripe with the Synapse is the horrible white bar tape which will be changed at some point in the near future!!

 

[MichaelW2]

What for? racing, sportiff/charity events, leisure riding, commuting, winter training, sunny day riding ?

 

[pawl]

Have a look at the Planet X rt58 with SRAM rival for £650

And go test ride the ones on your list. If happy to go for an older model, you'll get a better spec. The allez is quite an aggressive race geometry, the synapse more relaxed. By all means choose on looks but decide what spec or style you want and compare apples with apples. Then go test ride, preferably outside, if not on a turbo

If you decide on the boardman, join British cycling to get 10% off any other offers, plus other indispensable benefits , costs £34

The Scott has the best spec with tiagra, the boardman most basic spec but that's reflected in the price

Agree.Have a look at Planet X

 

[SteCenturion]

to CC.

Hope you have many pleasurable hours spent here & find the perfect bike.

 

[KyleHW]

What for? racing, sportiff/charity events, leisure riding, commuting, winter training, sunny day riding ?

it would be more "sunday cycling" and to and from work, no competitions or any super long haul rides.

 

[KyleHW]

Have a look at the Planet X rt58 with SRAM rival for £650

And go test ride the ones on your list. If happy to go for an older model, you'll get a better spec. The allez is quite an aggressive race geometry, the synapse more relaxed. By all means choose on looks but decide what spec or style you want and compare apples with apples. Then go test ride, preferably outside, if not on a turbo

If you decide on the boardman, join British cycling to get 10% off any other offers, plus other indispensable benefits , costs £34

The Scott has the best spec with tiagra, the boardman most basic spec but that's reflected in the price

thank you! Age doesn't really matter to me, I jut want a nice looking, good quality bike I can use on medium distance rides and not break the bank! I have counted out the Allez and am now more swayed towards the Synapse or the Scott. my friend works in my local independent bike shop and they stock "Wilier" so im gonna go have a look in there today, might be heavily out of my price range but I know they have cheaper models

 

[KyleHW]

Update: I have been to my local cycle shop, the Wilier Montegrappa was discounted lower than the Cannondale, it has Sora gearset so not as good but as the Scott but as a first time Cyclist I don't think the extra £170 can be justified just yet. is Wilier being a smaller brand a good thing? or do I trust the bigger brands? however slack they may be.
again, advice is never a bad thing


-KyleHW

 

[MichaelW2]

it would be more "sunday cycling" and to and from work, no competitions or any super long haul rides.

"to and from work" is the key application. Look for a roadbike with threaded eyelets to accept bolt-on mudguards, otherwise you will have to bodge some with velcro and elastic bands. A rear luggage rack is a useful option to have and expands you use to shopping errands and light touring. If you have rack eyelets, the rack is optional, but always an option.
Disc brake road bikes (CX bikes), like what Chris Boardman is riding on his Tour de France assessments are much better than rim brakes in wet, winter conditions.