Contemplating the dark side : Road bike advice please

Haven’t got any suggestions really - but my Cannondale caad12 disc has bb30 and I’ve not had a single issue with it. But that’s bearing straight into alloy frame. I think pf30 where there’s a plastic cup in between is a bit of an odd standard - but I guess it’s there because manufacturers don’t all have accurate enough tolerances.

As above the original press-fit BB in my old Cube GTC road bike is now over 12 years old and is just fine. I also have press-fit BBs in my Orbea Occam (6 years old, second BB) and my Cube Fatbike (3 years old, original BB). In summary, I'd not let that be a factor in my purchasing decision.

What is there out there in cheapskate roadie world that has a proper BB?

Quite a lot but when you add in the requirement for disc brakes as well, not a lot at all...
There's this - but it's cable discs as I suspect is pretty much everything else at that price.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2340-slr-8.8-2021.html
or for a more gravel-orientated option:
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2331-adv-8.62021.html

Is there any option to go through Cycle to Work? That'd open up far more possibilities.

Even just a few hundred £ extra gets you a GRX groupset and hydraulic discs:
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2332-adv-8.9-2021.html

As you say you don't really like road riding, I'd go with a gravel / CX bike just for the extra versatility, slightly more upright riding position and ability to take in far more varied terrain.

Planet X and On-0ne bikes mostly have threaded bottom brackets my wife has a freeranger built up as a road bike and loves it. Gives you the option to ride gravel and you would lose very little over a traditional road bike

Go hybrid. You'll get all your requirements and decent bars.

Mine is a cheapie but you can get nice ones. Arguably a bit slower, but if you're not doing club runs, who cares if you take 1hour or 1 hour 3 mins to complete the ride

I went cheapskate roadie back in 2013 for exactly the same reasons you did- it's great tbh, getting out on those pretty country lanes on a crisp, sunny day can really make your weekend.

I bought a new Trek 1.2 for £500 (reduced from around £750) and it's been great. My mate spends literally 1,000s on his road bike and I can't see where he gets the benefit from- we do the same ride, and enjoy it just as much. Maybe I was lucky and the entry level road bikes were much better then? I don't know.

I agree with you re disc brakes tho- braking with rim brakes when they're wet is terrifying!

https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/bergamont-grandurance-6-gravel-winter-road/

This?

Not sure about the BB, I would suggest though (former roadie, now a mtber) that while I share your hatred of press fit on the dirt, I’m more tolerant of things that make maintainence more troublesome when the bike in question is destined for tarmac.
They just don’t wear out or break in the way our off road toys do.

Looking at the Trek range, the cheapest with disc brakes is £1,000, which surprised me. I guess disc brakes are still a new thing in road bikes? Anyways it was a threaded BB, so ticks that box. Like you say, pick one up second hand?

https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/road-bikes/performance-road-bikes/domane/domane-al/domane-al-2-disc/p/33083/?colorCode=blue_black

All my road bikes have press fit BBs, never had a problem with them.

A buddy of mine had one of these…had no complaints for the price

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/road-bike-triban-rc-500-disc-brake/_/R-p-308097

Although I’m not sure about the BB

Maybe something from Evans own Pinnacle range?!

Don't go full roadie!

Buy something like a Genesis Vagabond - basically a drop bar monster-crosser, that will take up to 2.1" 29er tyres.

With 28c tyres on I'm only 2kph slower over 100km than on my carbon road bike.
But today I did 75km of gravel, back roads and bridleways in 3h20 on 2" wtb nanos.
Much more fun than a normal road ride 😁

They just don’t wear out or break in the way our off road toys do.

Yep, my winter road bike has done three winters on the same press fit Praxis BB. I removed the bearing races and regreased them last month and stuck them back in expecting to get another few years out of them. I do 1000k/month on it for maybe 4-5 months of the year, depending how wet the winter is.

For road use only - that is, not gravel - I wouldn't worry about what type of BB.
A quick search on eBay for men's road bike with hydraulic discs and max price of £1k produced a list of 54... https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=road+bikes&_sacat=177831&_udhi=1000&Department=Men&LH_PrefLoc=1&rt=nc&Brake%2520Type=Disc%2520Brake%2520%252D%2520Hydraulic&_dcat=177831
Not surprisingly, there are some unwanted entries in the list - hybrids, rim brakes etc.

Planet X have one bike at £999.99 and one at £1399.99; both with interest free as an option.

You could buy used frame and components separately but I don't think that would beat some of the complete bikes.

Tri sport resort (wiggle/crc) outlet could be worth a look.

There are a few I have been looking at on eBay. Trek / BMC/ Cannodale

Thanks for all the comments - I kind of have the hybrid option already in the for of my RoadRat - which is now a GravelRat. The only negative being the low stack height - and ultimately its weight.

I am guessing at some stage I have to actually ride a road bike to see if I gel!

Cheap M/L or L Alloy Giant Defy will have a threaded BB and a decent stack height. Avoid a BB30 Cannondale based on the CAAD8 in my garage. Hateful and needs a Praxis replacement BB. I also think disc brakes, whilst now common are over-rated. Buy a better-but-older dual pivot rim braked road bike. And ride on nice tyres like GP5000s to really notice.

https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/bergamont-grandurance-6-gravel-winter-road/ < This? Not sure about the BB

Its a Hollowtech 2 BSA. And if you like I'll throw in the original wheels with some more road useful Panaracer gravel kings, leaving the used-once DT Swiss wheels & Terreno mixes for off road for that price.

Alternatively you can have it for £450 with the perfectly good OEM wheels & panaracer's on. Winter road is exactly what I used it for because it has a Compact 2 x chainset.

^ PM sent
But I think it will be too small?

On the bb30 you aren’t buying a bb - it’s just 2 press in bearings plus I think 2 bearing covers and a wavy washer from memory. After 3 years I thought I’d change the bearings to find the existing ones were still perfect. I was commuting all year round in some filthy weather including snow on a few occasions.

I’d avoid rim brakes like the plague unless this is only going to be a warm / dry weather sort of bike. Even then I’ve found hydraulic disc brakes have the edge on any kind of rim brake I’ve had on a road bike. And I do know how to set brakes up - have had reasonable Shimano and sram rim brakes (ultegra / 105 / rival I think) with both standard and aftermarket pads. You get wet weather and they get scary. Hydraulic discs just keep working pretty much the same.

I realise the no press fit is obtuse - perhaps they work on road bikes. They possibly work on MTB in Moab and California but are sod all use in mud and grime in Northern Europe.
Disc Brakes - I can remember heading down a slate track into Elterwater with the best cantis I could buy - Onza something or others. it was wet, gritty - and at the end of fast track was a road. Applied the brakes - and nothing. Had a car been coming, I would have had real issues.
V brakes were no better.
I know that road bikes are different and the conditions won't be as bad. But as an early adopter of disc brakes, I will stick with them.
There are reasons why motorcycles don't use rim brakes

Maybe have a look for an alloy framed Focus Cayo? (I think the carbon frames are PF)

I had a similar thought process a few years back when buying my CX bike and went with a Focus Mares.

Rim brakes are just big rotors/discs? They are perhaps more susceptible to water and mud but still give acceptable stopping power with appropriate pads. The downside is having to replace the rims or wheels when they wear. Years in “The Peaks” as some of you call it, and I could return to them with no problem.

I realise the no press fit is obtuse – perhaps they work on road bikes. They possibly work on MTB in Moab and California but are sod all use in mud and grime in Northern Europe.

Checks map.

Disagrees.

I recently inherited an old TACX turbo trainer for the winter, so spent a few weeks looking for a cheap road bike to throw on it. I bought a Giant Defy on FB marketplace for £150. cracking little bike. Needed a pair of new tyres (one for the front and one for the turbo)

Rim brakes are just big rotors/discs? They are perhaps more susceptible to water and mud but still give acceptable stopping power with appropriate pads.

Agree, especially on the road. I am still using rim brakes off road where I am happy with stopping power but braking on gritty/muddy rims is not great ( a problem I don't get on the road).

You seem set on disc so that is what you will buy but a pity as you can get a pretty good older road bike with rim brakes for £750, i.e. after a 10 second look at eBay a Trek Emonda with full 105, a Giant Propel with 105 etc,.

OP: I'm contemplating a road bike

STW: Here's some gravel / hybrid bikes we recommend 🙂

Anyway back to OP - As others have said I wouldn't overly worry about pressfit vs threaded BB's on road. I ride all through the winter on road, and a BB lasts at least a couple of winters.

I think you might struggle to get hydraulic disc brakes at your price point, but cable discs aren't that bad in my experience. You don't need the power levels of MTB on road, you are more likely to be feathering the brakes to lose speed.

If its primarily for winter riding, just make sure whatever you buy has clearance for some clip-on mudguards. Or at least a rear one

Edit: Oh and winter club rides are a thing of joy. Chilled out ride with noone smashing off the front, good bants and a nice warm cafe stop. So give your local club a try - it can transform your view of road riding

Buying secondhand you should get hydraulic disc brakes in budget. New - probably not. I think hydraulic brakes usually come in on road about the £1000 mark. Boardman usually worth a look - and Paul’s cycles often used to have discounted offers - particularly on Cube.

Drop the bsa screw in bb requirement and you have a lot more options.

The whole thing about rim brakes just being a big rotor - erm - the problem is your rotor is in all the puddle directly and covered in crap the moment the weather gets wet. I’ve had some scary moments commuting on rim brake road bikes where you just can’t stop that quickly vs disc brakes. Yes road tyres limit grip but you still stop quicker on discs.

It’s marginally over budget but if you wanted new you could do a lot worse than this:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/road-bike-triban-rc-520-disc-brake-blue/_/R-p-308072?mc=8554421&c=BLUE

Got carbon forks, hydro mechanical disc brakes (so Shimano cable shifter with a hydro caliper), Shimano 105 gearing with a micro shift cassette.

Looks like it has a broader spread of gears than more racey thing as it’s compact cranks (50/34 rings) with an 11-32 cassette. Even without hugely strong legs you should be able to get up most stuff with that.

If its primarily for winter riding, just make sure whatever you buy has clearance for some clip-on mudguards. Or at least a rear one

Mine comes with guards 🙂

^ PM sent

Nothing received? I'm 1/2inch under 6ft fyi.

I recently purchased a Pinnacle Arkose, the latest version is technically a gravel bike but can be had with discs and a front mech (which I went for) so all it needed was road tyres adding to it. A reason I avoided a full on road bike was the additional stack height and tyre clearance that a gravel ready bike offers. As the Pinnacles are fairly cheap and available from Evans it means you can find quite a few of them 2nd hand and reasonably priced.

@Kryton57 I think the OP has left a question on your classified advert

Look for a gravel bike that will take bolt on-guards. You'll be able to get decent tyres in there (32mm) and some full length guards both of which are, whilst not essential, favourable to winter riding. Almost all gravel bikes will come with discs meaning it'll simplify your search, too.

I realise the no press fit is obtuse – perhaps they work on road bikes.

They do work really well on road bikes IME, but if you do go gravel then I'd understand the preference for threaded.

If you're not in a hurry and want something comfy and versatile then there's a lot of merit in thinking about a lighter gravel bike.

If you want to enjoy going fast, pinpoint handling etc, a pure road bike will be best.

As above, Boardman are had to beat for value and I think their geometry is superb. I've recently got a secondhand ADV 8.9 (suggested above) and it's very impressive.

What you doing breaking on a road bike, sheesh. TBH rim brakes are fine. I've two road bikes with single pivot brakes (not dual pivot) and they still stop well (Shimano 600 and Dura ace). Some dual pivots are rubbish (Teckro).

If looking for new, Decathlon or PX for great value.

I would buy a second hand Giant Defy or Trek Domane AL (or similar). If you don't like it just sell it on early next summer when you might even make a profit on it (market will be more buoyant).

Definitely wouldn't buy new as you are certain to lose money on it. ebay/marketplace are currently awash with barely used road bikes.

Planet X pro carbon is threaded bb and there's a few on eBay for under a grand.

The successor to the alloy Defy is the Contend SL. Looking on eBay they seem to go for under your budget and they fit your spec very well. There are a few in use as winter bikes in our road club and people are very happy with them.

Thanks all,

I realise many roadies still love rim brakes - and that's ok. Keep loving them.
I don't
I can be swayed by the BB thang - but not the brakes

Thanks for all the advice,
Kryton - nice bike but reading their recommendations for size I would need the next one up!

Looking at the Contend, I am impressed by the 2nd hand price that people are asking for them - when I could buy a new one for just over a grand!

Didn't see any Trek Emondas (in my size, Trek say 60cm) for under 1.5 k

Good rim brakes do work fine, BUT they can limit tyre size somewhat - and you should be looking at 28mm tyres as a minimum to get the best ride feel IMO.

^ Thanks

I realise many roadies still love rim brakes – and that’s ok. Keep loving them.

I don't care either way but if the budget is £750 you will get a much better road bike when open to rim brakes. I would rather have a nicer rim braked bike that a heavier and lower spec'd disc brake bike but understand that is not an option if you somehow need disc brakes on the road.

if the budget is £750 you will get a much better road bike when open to rim brakes. I would rather have a nicer rim braked bike that a heavier and lower spec’d disc brake bike but understand that is not an option if you somehow need disc brakes on the road.

Every single bit of that^^

Because (some)people think rims brakes mean certain death,there are lots of quality bikes around.

As someone suggested above Decathlon's Triban bikes get really good reviews and are in your price ballpark from new:
https://road.cc/content/review/decathlon-triban-rc-520-disc-road-bike-252475 (road.cc has a review of most of their range iirc)
https://cyclingtips.com/2022/08/field-test-2022-decathlon-triban-rc120-review/ (cyclingtips also has their gravel model in a group test).

The 520 looks a really good spec. The HyRd brakes are pretty decent, although one of mine had a massive lever throw which required topping up of the mineral oil whilst the pistons were slightly out from the fully retracted position to remove. They stay adjusted very nicely though. My riding friend's current generation hydro 105's drag like hell in bad conditions.

Disc, takes 32mm tyres, but no guard mounts

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385186826320?hash=item59aeec8850:g:KCwAAOSw4sxjQVmh&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoLiqT2TyES7ftMu5sdJk%2FX35VtcudMsrOYsbXBVsZHlvzfZbmZOjD5RPxMof5CrsZ9Ggd9vPIhtTS7pSqPEqbwTvudHzJwEWvbLX%2BrfOa1XznXp%2Blak0ZJv2VYiU3a9rjRzgclt3%2FUea1hulA0KwGpw%2F6jMkxt6McCbZAa6qsddhwZmhTYryyShmnGSiKyzCDvFiwfA8FMc3k1UPRo7asL8%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9jylr-CYQ

FWIW, my Shimano Tiagra (Deore) screw in BB has lasted two years on the road bike.
Mrs_oab and youngest_oab have both had their pressfit BB mountain bikes for 4 years and I have not replaced them or had any issues at all.

In your position (as I understand it), I'd be looking for:

Alloy frame with proper mudguard fittings
Tiagra groupset with hydros
Endurance geometry

Bb would maybe be a final deciding factor.

Thanks all for the pointers and advice - just walking away from eBay before I buy something totally unsuitable