Which first bike?

[PhilDawson8270]

Hi, following on from my introduction thread.

I will only be cycling on roads, summer commutes (not too soon though at a 60 mile round trip), visiting family at rides of up to about 7 mile round trips (flat), and maybe weekend trips out around the cat and fiddle so some hills etc.
I am looking for a road bike, not a hybrid, as I know that I will sooner or later want dropped bars etc, so I'm not going to bother wasting the cash with the intermediate step.
Thankfully, I am looking to spend initially somewhere around £400 to £500 on a road bike. I don't want to blow the whole budget, just because I can, and I would like to as a new rider, be able to appreciate the difference.
I don't want to spend £500 on a bike, that is 1kg lighter than a £300 bike, but just as reliable or usable.
Hopefully this makes sense.

 

[vickster]

Will you want a rack and mudguards? Triple chain ring maybe helpful for hilly terrain. Go to some local shops and see what's fits you and the budget

 

[PhilDawson8270]

No rack or mudguards will be needed. I will be avoiding wet weather unless I get totally hooked, and my work gear stays at work.

I tried local shops, however, they all seem to be more interested in finding bikes at the very top of my budget, than explaining the differences in spec, or what to actually look for in the information. All I found out from Evans was that I would need a 56cm frame (6foot tall), but other than that, it was just a sales pitch with no real info,

 

[PhilDawson8270]

LBS?

I have had a look at their website, and you're right about there being plenty of choice, but all that I can choose from is price and whether I like the look of them, I have no idea of the differences, or what the benefits of any differences are?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

It may help I suppose if I list some bikes I have looked at.

Carrera Zelos (cheap)
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_888017_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

Claud Butler Criterium (I like the wheels)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/criterium-2013-road-bike-ec049013

Norco Valence (I like the frame)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/valence-a4-2013-road-bike-ec041247

Claud Butler Echelon (What makes this worth more than the Criterium?)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/echelon-2013-road-bike-ec049015

Triban3 (Seems to be well liked, but I really don't like the inhouse branding of everything)
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html

It seems a bit of a minefield, I assume with better performance comes a ride that is more difficult? If so, I am looking for a balance, usable, but decent quality.

Is there a set list of reputable brands that is ok to buy anything from? Or do all brands make something that's a bit garbage?

 

[inkd]

LBS = Local Bike Shop
Have you a Decathlon in your area as the Btwin Triban 3 seems quite popular and it retails at £300

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I am local to a Decathlon, Halfords, Evans and a place called Ron Spencer Cycles.

Though I would prefer to avoid Halfords.

 

[BAtoo]

If you don't mind buying from a French based superstore then these are pretty good value: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes/N-66686-price~from-300-to-500/N-102501-bikes~road-bikes

I've looked at the Fit5 (for madame) and it seems pretty well specced for the money, if you want drop-bars then the Triban range is well-liked judging by comments on here.

 

[MikeW-71]

I'd echo the above, the Decathlon bikes are very good and are very popular on here. Look at both the Triban 3 and the Triban 5.

Otherwise, look in the other bike shop and see what they sell, Evans has a very large selection and can get bikes in for test rides. It has to be said that £500 is entry level for a brand new road bike, but if the likes of Evans have a bike you like and in the right size on discount (as they will at this time of year, clearing out the 2013 models) then you can pick up a bargain.

I've bought all 3 of my bikes near the end of the year

You could pick up the likes of the Giant Defy 5 at £399 for example.

Consider what gearing is fitted too, if you're starting again, then a beginner-friendly compact with a 11-28 cassette will help enormously. Above all make sure the bike fits you properly. If you're in between two sizes, go for the smaller one.

Good luck!

 

[Widge]

Hi, I'd be interested to know what it is about the CB Criterium wheels that you like? I Iooked at this model a while back when considering my first road bike and they looked at the time to me like fairly mundane in-house branded 'get-you-home-from the shop' wheels? Have they changed the spec for these to something more spendy and upmarket now or did I miss something?
Similarily, what do you find is so wrong with the Decahtlon/B'Twin in-house branded components? I have a Triban 3 and the b'twin branded fittings are perfectly adequate and as a good a quality as could reasonably be expected for the price.

All the bikes you've looked at seem like fine, budget conscious starter bikes but I,m not quite sure what your expectations are at £300?
Any LBS worth its salt will ask you exactly what you want to get out of your cycling and guide you towards what they have that may meet your expectations....it may not be as cheap as you seem to be hoping mind.
Of course....you should not be surprised or dismayed if you also get a bit of sales hype and coercion too! They are out to sell you a bike you know!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

No idea about the spec of the wheels on the criterium, they just looked good?

With regards to the b-twin in house branded components, the thought goes through that if the other brands use external components, then there must be a reason?

My expectations are for a bike that will last me a year, to learn what I will really use a bike for, then I can buy something more specific for how I use it.

I don't want to buy something and then regret, and have to re-buy. Knowing nothing about bike brands means I can't be confident on a purchase, and I don't trust bike shops who ask what the budge is, then show me only bikes within £50 of the maximum.

The only info or research I will trust, are forums like this where information is unbiased, and generally quite genuine.

 

[Widge]

Hi, I'd be interested to know what it is about the CB Criterium wheels that you like? I Iooked at this model a while back when considering my first road bike and they looked at the time to me like fairly mundane in-house branded 'get-you-home-from the shop' wheels? Have they changed the spec for these to something more spendy and upmarket now or did I miss something?
Similarily, what do you find is so wrong with the Decahtlon/B'Twin in-house branded components? I have a Triban 3 and the b'twin branded fittings are perfectly adequate and as a good a quality as could reasonably be expected for the price.

All the bikes you've looked at seem like fine, budget conscious starter bikes but I,m not quite sure what your expectations are at £300?
Any LBS worth its salt will ask you exactly what you want to get out of your cycling and guide you towards what they have that may meet your expectations....it may not be as cheap as you seem to be hoping mind.
Of course....you should not be surprised or dismayed if you also get a bit of sales hype and coercion too! They are out to sell you a bike you know!

As to what makes the 'Echelon' worth more than the Criterium......? Well-the Criterium has 14 speed rock bottom gearing with clunky out moded butterfly shifters while the Echelon has 2300 sti shifters that are in a different league, comparatively speaking....other refinements too. These differences may or may not be important to you-but I would regard Shimano STi gearing to pretty basic requirement these days, unless you have a preference for these type of shifters. As a 7 speed system you may find upgrade or replacement options severely limited too. In particular - the 7 speed freewheel will likely be screw-on...which makes the rear wheel a bit of a dog. I still can't see what it is that attracts you to the wheels?

 

[Linford]

Look at Ribble cycles. Good value. Try and stretch up to the best you can, save for another couple of months and spend about £700....look at last years models etc. I am in Mallorca for a few days and hired a nice ally road bike, no more than 2 years old tops with shimano 105 and ultegra brakes/gears etc....tbh, it was not significantly better than my 2007 Giant OCR1 with the 105 and ultegra gear of its time to ride certainly not worth spending another £600 on to get a new model.

 

[Widge]

Sorry...crossed post!
I now see why you like the wheels..........but colour is not the final arbiter.......................you (probably) don't really want to end up with a plain old PITA screw on 7 speed system when you could easily buy something more efficient and useful/reliable for a few quid more? Your predilections may vary of course...but if you read about why (for example) people reviewing the Triban 3 - or any other popular bike in your price bracket, you will soon see which bits are more important. The T3s wheels are pretty awful...but frame and gearing and basic (inhouse) fittings are so good that it is a no0brainer (and straightforward) to upgrade the wheels. Most bikes below this level are more severely compromised IME...........Linford is right....there are plenty of good value options around (particularily this time of year) from the likes of Ribble and Evans and others in-house brands. 50% off the entire Forme Longcliffe range last time I looked and some really tasty looking entry level bikes around the 4-500 pound mark coming from Merlins inhouse marque (Sensa).....best of luck and enjoy the hunt......try to get your leg over before you buy, too (Oooer missuss!!)

W

 

[PhilDawson8270]

That's the kind of info I am looking for with regards to the shifters, and screw on gears and such, I assume then STI is gear levers built into the brake levers?