[Closed] First Road Bike - Help Narrowing Down

Test ride as many as you can as I wanted a Trek 4.5 but when I test rode it I didn't like it, especially if its your first road bike.

I'd look at the Cannondale Synapse Carbon and PlanetX RT57 Red aswell.
Trek-very poor wheels (I've had a few)
Cube-seem freakishly short TT's.
Canyon-can't beat the spec...unsure about the rest.
Giant-Great frame and spec(although own brand, the wheels are VERY good)It's where my money would go if I had'nt already got a winter bike....and it'd go nicely with my TCR Sl Isp 😀

I love my synapse, good ride, and meets your spec. I would agree with Kuco! Try em!

Yeah thats good advice but I aint really sure what Im looking for? Something that just clicks??

What didnt you like about the 4.5? And did you make a choice on something else?

Some nice bikes there. Not a massive fan of the Giants but that's just personal choice.

Have you considered the Kuota Kharma at all ?

It was to relaxed geometry for me. I wanted something similar but I ended up with a Cannondale super six which has a lot more racier geometry but it just felt right when I test rode it and it hasn't disappointed me on the few rides i've done on it so far.

Choose a groupset, 105 is a great start; this will narrow your choice down to a price, then choose the one you like most.

Bish bosh, job done.

Thanks for your thoughts..
Anyone tried the Giant TCR?

I've got a TCR advanced 1 and would highly recommend one, even as a 1st roadbike. I use an alu defy as a winter bike as well. Both are compact frames, ie sloping top tube. I'm 5'10" and ride a medium in both.

Canyons probably the best bike there. But road riding is completely different to mtbing, you could get a decent starter bike for less then £600, so it's less of a waste of money if you don't actually enjoy it, and you can always eventually get something else if you love it.

The Canyon looks horrid if that helps

....comfy ride, not too racer, a few hours in the saddle at a time, good components to start with (as Id end upgrading like a fool anyway). Light as possible (would ideally like carbon) and budget around £1600 ish.

Stevo - you really need to have a good look at the new [url= http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT57RED/planet_x_rt_57_sram_red_road_bike ]Planet X RT-57[/url].

Ridiculously good value, it fits your requirements perfectly (have a read of their description rather than me repeating it) and very nicely finished too. I have a Planet X Nanolight Hi Mod and it's as good a road bike as I've ridden (S-Works Roubaix, Litespeed Ti before it...)

I've got a TCR advanced 1 and would highly recommend one, even as a 1st roadbike. I use an alu defy as a winter bike as well. Both are compact frames, ie sloping top tube. I'm 5'10" and ride a medium in both.

But road riding is completely different to mtbing, you could get a decent starter bike for less then £600

The Canyon looks horrid if that helps

Cubes got a triple on it, so thats out for a start :wink:.

Personally i'd get the Canyon, although they have a bit of a reputation for being pretty stiff so it might be a bit racy.

Stevo - you really need to have a good look at the new Planet X RT-57.

Cubes got a triple on it, so thats out for a start

Get a bike fit done, and base your choice on that. I used Bike Science, and bought a Planet X Pro Carbon.

Like you, I have MTB'd a bit, but road bikes were new territory.

The bike fit will ensure that you get in to the right position, or will mean you buy the right bike, and slowly adjust the position to your optimum over time.

Not cheap, but cheaper than buying the wrong bike.

You can also get the Cubes in double.

You can also get the Cubes in double.

Get a bike fit done, and base your choice on that. I used Bike Science, and bought a Planet X Pro Carbon.

In that range for me it would be a 2012 Trek Madone 3.5. They are £1600 at Evans right now - check the reviews on Cycling Plus/Bike Radar. I f I had the cash I would be having on for sure

Yeah I think that is a good idea. The bike shop I was in recently said once the bike was purchased they then would set the bike up (bike fit me) then. Is that the wrong way round maybe?

So long as the frame is the right size and shape, they can fit it to you by fiddling with stems, saddle position etc.

The Retul fit at Bike Science is much more scientific, and measures to millimetre precision. It really is an eye opener. And I was a big cynic.

On a road bike you'll spend more time in a fixed position, whereas on the MTB you move around a bit more so while the fit is important, it's a touch less critical.

I have a few injury issues, and since having the fit and getting the bike, I have had no bike related issues. I also got an alternative TT/Triathlon fit done, so I have the measurements to swap from road to TT/Tri easily.

I can't recommend a proper Retul fit highly enough, especially if you have no roadie background.

+1 to the pro bike fit idea

I got a cannondale six 105 2010 because it was cycling plus bike of the year and have been very happy with it. Not 100% sure im on the right size though tbh

Potential for being flamed here, but bike fits are all well and good, but did you have one for your mountain bike? A decent bike shop should set you up well - as will the guys at Planet X. If you're near Rotherham, they'll spend quality time with you and if you check the specs on the website, most of their bikes have the option to custom tune stem length, bar width etc. When I was there last they spent a long time with me and a mate looking at new kit - and they seriously know their onions.

You'll see that in very broad terms, carbon road bikes are split into two types (at the price point you're talking) race replica and the less stretched out sportive style. If like a lot of blokes, you're not that flexible, you may appreciate a slightly more upright style (closer, but nowhere near the same as mountaim bike) and something like the Spesh Roubaix / Secteur, Giant Defy (I think) and the Planet X RT-57 - amongst many others of course - are designed for that. Still look like Tour de France bikes, but are comfier for the kind of riding you put in your original post. HTH.

[EDIT] - a good point by Mary Hinge there on the benefits of bike fit. I do see the thinking / benefits, but IMHO it's not a vital requirement, and not everyone who rides a road bike has had one done, I'm sure.

Scott CR1, top notch carbon frame, not as racy geometry as Addict or Foil.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/cr1-team-compact-2011-road-bike-ec025491

2011 BMC Pro Machine , lot of bike for the money http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/pro-machine-slc01-105-2011-road-bike-ec026388

BMC Roadracer SL02
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/roadracer-sl02-2011-road-bike-ec024690#BVRRWidgetID

Something a bit different, Litespeed M1
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/litespeed/m1-sram-apex-2011-road-bike-ec029424

Comfy and quick Spesh Roubaix elite
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/roubaix-elite-compact-2012-road-bike-ec030133

Just a quick note, im sure I've seen that litespeed not being reviewed that well. Google it

+1 for getting a fitting. I had one done before getting my first 'posh' bike and it highlighted how far off my old bike had been position wise.
I knew i had shortish legs but didn't know i had long monkey arms as well. Made frame choice slightly difficult as i needed a smallish frame with long top tube (ended up with Lynskey Cooper M/L) and still need to have a 120mm stem to try to reach my optimal position.
They sort out optimium crank lengths drop from saddle etc as well as saddle height/for and aft positioning.
Well worth it, as road bike fit is vital compared to mtb and you'll only need measuring once.

I'd go for the Cube on looks alone.

I you dont mind (handmade Italian) alu, a 2011 De Rosa Milanino with Veloce and Fulcrum R7s can be picked up for under £1200 now. Gorgeous looking bit of kit.

when the guy at the shop talked about 'race orientated' he meant the relative length of the top tube and stem, also height difference from the saddle to the bars, some of these bikes have a pretty 'racey' geometry so I would try the TCR as well

don't worry about the relative differences between groupsets, the wheels are much more important

...or if you're not fussy about labels, get along to Halfords and pick up a Boardman which will probably be better spec'd and lighter than all the others mentioned.

The spec on the Madone 3.5 is quite amazing for the price, plus you get the lifetime warranty etc. Cyclingplus reckoned it outrode bikes twice the price. just wish Santa would bring me one

Im sure I'll love it, and if I do then I'd probably be wanting to upgrade. Best to do it right to start with.

Yeah but all the bikes mentioned here are worth upgrading. But if you buy a cheapish starter bike, then you find you hate it, it's easier to sell, with less loss to you. If you find you love it, it's easier to sell to raise funds for a really nice bit of kit, or you keep it, slam mudguards on it, and call it your winter bike. Just a thought.

Not so sure about getting a fitting, the big and i mean big problem is your flexibility or probable lack of.

The idea is to get into a position that will be aerodynamic, but the more extreme the position the harder it can be to get comfy. You need to adapt the body to fit the position, if that makes sense.

What may happen is that if your bars are too low you'll get neck and shoulder pain, but time can get you to adapt and strength the relevant muscles so you can hold that position without pain.

You would in my opinion be better talking to a decent roadie orientated shop they should get you the right size and tweak it to fit you, then as you get used to riding maybe look at tweaking the position, slowly drop the bars etc. consider that the saddle matters ALOT!! you will be in the saddle for a long time and minor annoyances can be become a real pain.

As for bikes, it doesn't matter that much, get one that looks nice and you like.

Giant TCR's but he said they were a little too race orientated and would stay clear for a first road bike....

Knickers to that.

At the moment I'm riding a TCR1 and a PX SL Pro. The Giant is very stiff in the right places, but is waaaay more compliant than the more flexy Planet X.
Giant is a well known advocate of stiffness combined with ride comfort. That's why I think they're a good choice for punters like us.

All good choices though.
4th Cube, because all the ones in the club are cracked.
3rd Canyon, blinding spec but a little unknown. Yes I know pros ride bikes with Canyon written on them.
2nd Giant, wheels on that might be branded up DT Swiss as Giant own them.
1st Madone, superbe all rounder, all faults ironed out though a little long in the tooth now.

If you look around you can get a Cannondale Caad 10 Dura Ace for £2000

sorry to harp on, but the Trek Madone 3.5 has a top rated carbon frame and a mix of Ultegra and 105, and can be got for only £1600 - so I have been telling the wife for the last week, to no avail.... 😡

Please Santa !

Why d'ya need to spend so much on a first road bike? Seems daft. Merry Christmas 😉

I've never heard that Giant own DT Swiss, and neither company makes any reference to this. I was wondering where you'd heard that?
...and as said above I'm quite surprised that someone would spend so much on a first road bike and especially considering buying such disparate bikes and asking random random people on an Internet forum. I'd really suggest going to a couple of decent road shops and trying a few different bikes out.

Have you thought about a Boardman? Im in the same boat as you, mtber with a curiosity to explore......
I looked at a few bikes but nothing came close to the Boardman in regards value for money...expecially with almost 30% off RRP at the moment. If you can get over the Halfords 'thing' (and i genuinely dont give a shit what name is printed on the frame) i cant imagine much better for the money. Ive just unboxed it..cheers Santa!

I don't see the issue with spending this much, plenty of people spend that (and far more) on a first 'proper' bike without knowing if they even enjoy cycling- that's a far bigger risk. If I'd come into road riding via my Allez I'm not sure I'd have liked it; heavy slow and uncomfortable - why not spend a bit more to get it right first time!

For my money, on paper, it'd be the Madone. I've still got a 2004 Madone SL 5.9, and it still makes me smile, great bike!

Fit matters way more on road bikes imo/e ap you barely move around when riding, unlike mtb.

aP Lower end DT and Mavic wheelsets are made in Giants production facilities.And a suprisingly large number of other frames/components (including the 3.5frame!!!).

Ok - doesn't surprise me, however that doesn't mean that Giant owns DT Swiss surely?

Try the Giant TCR before you exclude it.
I got an Advanced1 and find it superb. Long rides and long climbs it really does perform.
Really noticed it since riding the winter Ragley cragvale.
Never realised just how big a difference a couple pounds and a great frame made!

Thanks for all your thoughts, its really difficult to narrow things down as most of my buying decision is based on looks alone which is a dangerous and probably costly approach.
Im going to have a busy week trying to get on as many bikes as I can. Im getting the impression that the Trek is coming out as a strong all rounder. (not forgetting the TCR too).
Does the Trek have a way better frame than say the Giant or Cube to justify the price vs Groupset choice.

Then I like the look of the Specialized Roubaix Elite, but thats £1800 with 105 spec, is the cost in the brand or frame.
[IMG] [/IMG]

Id be interested in the stock weights of the Giant, Trek & Specialized?

I ride a carbon TCR and have done for a few years. Its quite low and stretched out, and if thats racy then so be it.
I ride it for recreation, no racing, and its great.

As for bikefit, biggest scam ever. Complete waste of money. Things have definitely moved on from sizing bikes by seeing if your nuts clear the toptube, but its not 'science'. Everyone should ride a bike that is the right size, but it really does not need a session of measuring and changing parts to find a perfect bike.

If i were buying a new bike today, it would be a carbon canyon in pink fwiw

Does the Trek have a way better frame than say the Giant or Cube to justify the price vs Groupset choice.

Of all the bikes you've chosen for your shortlist, the Giant will have the best frame for definite. Giant, as has been stated already, makes half the frames in the world for other manufacturers anyway, but they always reserve the latest and best technologies for their own frames. The Defy is a lovely bike, I've got a cheap ally version and it rides way better than the price would suggest, and a whole lot better than many more expensive road bikes I've ridden. Can only imagine that the same in Carbon, with lighter wheels and a better groupset, would be magnificent to ride!

Steve - as you might have seen from my road bike thread I am having similar thoughts on a road bike at this cost level. I have narrowed my choice down to the Trek Madone 3.5 and the Roubaix Elite. The Spesh is £200 more than the Trek with pretty much the same spec (Although the Trek does have a bit of Ultegra on it). I do have a suspicion that the Spesh will be more comfy for me, being used to a cx bike. Anyway, I'm going to get test rides on them both and then decide. I do prefer the look of the Spesh though...

I initially thought I would want a road bike with relaxed geometry but my boardman is considered quite racy and I like it a lot

the fun is in going fast, so might as well have something as fast as poss, eh?

Stevo - what about Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 ? I was just looking at it there on Evans site - pretty similar to the Roubaix

Of all the bikes you've chosen for your shortlist, the Giant will have the best frame for definite. Giant, as has been stated already, makes half the frames in the world for other manufacturers anyway, but they always reserve the latest and best technologies for their own frames.

I have narrowed my choice down to the Trek Madone 3.5 and the Roubaix Elite. The Spesh is £200 more than the Trek with pretty much the same spec

Cant see where the extra £200 pounds comes from on the specialized.
Carbon Synapse looks nice but spec's low, which brings me back to the 'what are you actually paying for?' thought.

Another vote for getting measured properly and getting the bike that most closely fits that.

FWIW, I've only heard good stuff about the Canyon's, and the spec is killer for the price.

BadlyWiredDog - Member
Why d'ya need to spend so much on a first road bike? Seems daft. Merry Christmas

Pah, I heard your new wheels were worth nearly that much 😉

I initially thought I would want a road bike with relaxed geometry but my boardman is considered quite racy and I like it a lot

the fun is in going fast, so might as well have something as fast as poss, eh?

Does the Trek have a way better frame than say the Giant or Cube to justify the price

Giant no.
Cube yes.

Though if you pop onto the Cube website, they'll tell you loads about the design process. The way they manufacture their frames, how the carbon is laid up and for what reason it is done so.......not.

Most Road/Race/Dropbar bikes have high gearing, poor brakes and steep head angles. They therefore do not go up steep hills very easily or stop very well, and they feel very nervous going downhill.
They ARE good at effortlessly getting 25MPH or more on the flat.

Unless you live in Lincolnshire.....Save your money.

You'd have to look online but I think the Spesh Roubaix used to have a more relaxed headangle and no toe overlap, and might feel more secure descending.

Treks are generaly more staid and feel more secure than some others.

Kinesis might be worth a look, nobody's mentioned them yet. Tend to be a bit of a harsh ride but fairly sorted bikes...I've got a Crosslite which I'm pleased with and I've ridden a Racelite.

Ignore the next suggestion....do not discout Raliegh for value Carbon Road bikes, a mate has a £1300 one and is well pleased, another bloke I know had an Ultegra equipped similar model and was well pleased (does currently have a warranty issue though) and I recently rode their "Avanti"?????? £3,500 model which felt pretty good to me.

Most Road/Race/Dropbar bikes have high gearing, poor brakes and steep head angles. They therefore do not go up steep hills very easily or stop very well, and they feel very nervous going downhill.
They ARE good at effortlessly getting 25MPH or more on the flat.

What is a steep hill? rode up a 1:4 last week without to much problem. that with a bottom gear of 39x26, as for the brakes well there isn't exactly much rubber in contact with the ground, so lots of power is pointless. As for the geometry if you enjoy riding a barge fine, but a decent road bike needs to be thought through corners rather than muscled through. the downhill nervousness is as much the low wheel weight as anything else in my opinion, what i would add is light, tall and fast descents are a horrible combination!

I know it's Christmas and all that, and I don't want to argue...but.

Most Road/Race/Dropbar bikes have high gearing, poor brakes and steep head angles. They therefore do not go up steep hills very easily or stop very well, and they feel very nervous going downhill.
They ARE good at effortlessly getting 25MPH or more on the flat.

Surely deserves a WTF?

Surely deserves a WTF?

EXACTLY what I was thinking when I just read it... 😕

Surely a good road bike has to be good at going up, down and along, not just one of the three? Granted, 99% of the performance is due to the rider, not the bike, but even the 1% difference it makes, the bike has got to be good at going up, down and along...

They get better and better all the time, you won't be disappointed whatever you get.
Most have compact gear set ups and will get you up anything.
Modern dual pivot brakes are more than capable of stopping you.
Steep angles will get you to the top of things easier.
Newer generation frames are super stiff up front and rail round corners and are blindingly controlable on the steepest of descents.

Most Road/Race/Dropbar bikes have high gearing, poor brakes and steep head angles. They therefore do not go up steep hills very easily or stop very well, and they feel very nervous going downhill.

I would also like to add a WTF to this.

Haven't read all of the above but a few contributions:
1. Consider spending less (c£1k for your first bike, see how you get on with road riding and in a year, sell it and upgrade. Road bikes take a lot less of a battering than an MTB and you've a good chance of it holding most of it's value.
2. It'll make you stronger on your MTB
3. Def consider getting a proper fit. Sitting down, not moving, and pounding out the miles means fit is far more important than it is on an MTB and will keep you from injuring yourself
4. Consider riding with a local club, you'll learn a lot more about bikes, and will get fitter and a better bike handler
5. Definitely test ride as many as you can to find a brand that suits you. Much easier to get a sense of a road bike round the carpark than you will for an MTB

Enjoy, it;s all riding bikes!

my 2p:

look at the geo of the bikes. You'll find a Defy is much more "relaxed" (sportif) geometry compared to say a madone.

in reference to the bikes you've posted, the Cube is good value, but you'll certainly need a size up in one, they have very short top tubes size for size compared to say, a trek/specialized/giant.

If it was me, i'd be looking at the madone or a TCR for a balance of kit vs quality and go for a bike fit. I was riding a 54cm with a 110mm stem, and hated riding it. it was only after paying £140 for a bike fit at my local specialized concept store that i found my "ape index" was 6ft 2, considering that i'm 5ft10 this means i've got epically long arms and the reason the bike handled so badly was the fact the weight distribution was too far back. The bike fit corrected my knee over measurement so corrected all my pedalling dynamics, then they wound the stem out to 130mm. I actually really like the way the bike handles now and enjoy riding it and have done maybe 2500miles since then on it.

I did also test ride a few 56cm Specialized Tarmacs - longer top tube meant i needed a 110mm stem to achieve the same riding position, however i didn't like the handling balance as much as the 54cm with a 130mm

Haven't read all of the above but a few contributions:
1. Consider spending less (c£1k for your first bike, see how you get on with road riding and in a year, sell it and upgrade. Road bikes take a lot less of a battering than an MTB and you've a good chance of it holding most of it's value.
2. It'll make you stronger on your MTB
3. Def consider getting a proper fit. Sitting down, not moving, and pounding out the miles means fit is far more important than it is on an MTB and will keep you from injuring yourself
4. Consider riding with a local club, you'll learn a lot more about bikes, and will get fitter and a better bike handler
5. Definitely test ride as many as you can to find a brand that suits you. Much easier to get a sense of a road bike round the carpark than you will for an MTB

Enjoy, it;s all riding bikes!

Not looked in to it but I can imagine a bike fitting is of great benefit. I have spent the last 2 years faffing with my setup, shifting seat height, bars etc. Being measured and an optimal position suggested would be welcomed, if not only to keep niggling knee ache at bay.

its literally the best £140 i've spent on anything cycling related.

Its particularly useful if you have an underlying knee problem - you'll get a full cleat positioning as part of the setup, and with a BG fit they checked all of my body geometry, made sure my legs are the same length and parallel, flexibility indexing and generally a bit of an MOT. They observed my left knee was kicking outwards on the down stroke and fitted a vargus wedge to my left shoe to correct it

it was only after paying £140 for a bike fit at my local specialized concept store

They ARE good at effortlessly getting 25MPH or more on the flat.

PMSL
OMG
WTF

If or when I can average 25MPH on the flat I'll check to see if my HRM tells me how effortless it was and what a lazy son of a bitch I am.

Getting fitted? Nah. Life's too short. Just get out and ride!

Thats pretty steep aint it. How long was the process?

about 4 hours. Other local places were £180-200.

and as for lifes too short...i thought the same as you, built the bike and went out and rode, and hated ever second of it. Literally getting fitted changed my entire opinion of road riding.

My fitting was free with the bike purchase, but £100+ sounds about right if you were just paying for it without committing to buying a bike from the shop.
By all means get out and ride without one, i did (you can do a rough self fitting by feel and looking at where the front hub is in relation to your bars etc.) but i was suprised just how different, and better, my position is post fitting.
If you're coming from mtb/bmx then you will probably have a tendency to want to sit too upright, which is fine to start with but it's nice to at least have a good position to aim at even if its not comfortable/familiar to start off with.

Oh, and buy a red one, they are faster 😀

There's a lot of shit floating around this thread!

Of all the bikes you've chosen for your shortlist, the Giant will have the best frame for definite.

That's a WTF. As are the ridiculous comments about not being able to ride steep hills. Billyboy: genuine question... What do you think would be better downhill? Do you think Cancellara would be quicker with some 2.3" tyres and 180mm disc rotors?!

Not sure I would pay £100+ just to have somebody to tell me what size frame they think I need.
Its down to your prefference not theirs after all. Best just try the size up & down from one you had in mind ..
I ride a medium TCR and i am 2inches shorter than a guy who rides a small TCR .. He told me says i am riding the wrong size - where as after trying a small, i swear he must be riding the wrong size..

Brakes on a roadbike will never compare to a mtb ...for obvious reasons!
But climbing on a roadbike is good, and descending is superb ..really cannot see how anybody says differently??
As for not spending too much on a first roadbike... I would say, spend as much as you can afford.

Not sure I would pay £100+ just to have somebody to tell me what size frame they think I need.
Its down to your prefference not theirs after all. Best just try the size up & down from one you had in mind

theres actually quite a lot more to it than just measuring you and then going "yeah you should ride a 56cm" coz on paper, i "should" ride a 56cm, but i don't i ride a 54cm with a longer stem. Bike fitting is all about getting comfortable in a position on the bike which is relative to how flexible you are, and not trashing your back/knees etc in the process.

Most Road/Race/Dropbar bikes have high gearing, poor brakes and steep head angles. They therefore do not go up steep hills very easily or stop very well, and they feel very nervous going downhill.
They ARE good at effortlessly getting 25MPH or more on the flat.

Unless you live in Lincolnshire.....Save your money.

You'd have to look online but I think the Spesh Roubaix used to have a more relaxed headangle and no toe overlap, and might feel more secure descending.

Treks are generaly more staid and feel more secure than some others.

Kinesis might be worth a look, nobody's mentioned them yet. Tend to be a bit of a harsh ride but fairly sorted bikes...I've got a Crosslite which I'm pleased with and I've ridden a Racelite.

Ignore the next suggestion....do not discout Raliegh for value Carbon Road bikes, a mate has a £1300 one and is well pleased, another bloke I know had an Ultegra equipped similar model and was well pleased (does currently have a warranty issue though) and I recently rode their "Avanti"?????? £3,500 model which felt pretty good to me.

Brilliant ! I just laughed out loud, this is probably the most ridiculous thing i have ever read, chapeau sir, you are a legend !

I ride a Giant TCR advanced, awesome machine, just about to get ready for a ride in fact, this post will keep me smiling as i struggle up those hills on my high geared, steep head angled, poor descending bike.......... 😆

The Spesh Roubaix Elite is £400 off at Dales Cycles at the moment....

Partners daughter has had a Planet X Sl for about six months and loves it.
Stupidly light, fun to ride and great value.

I like Ribble too, they used to do free bike fitting for their frames in Preston, worth a look.

There's a lot of shit floating around this thread!
Of all the bikes you've chosen for your shortlist, the Giant will have the best frame for definite.
That's a WTF. As are the ridiculous comments about not being able to ride steep hills. Billyboy: genuine question... What do you think would be better downhill? Do you think Cancellara would be quicker with some 2.3" tyres and 180mm disc rotors?!

BadlyWiredDog - Member
Why d'ya need to spend so much on a first road bike? Seems daft. Merry Christmas

Pah, I heard your new wheels were worth nearly that much

I guess I'm just a little envious. When I bought my first road bike a few years back, it cost me 350 quid - Giant OCR2 second - because at the time I'd never really ridden a road bike and I didn't know whether I'd enjoy it or not and it seemed to make sense to buy something entry level to start with, and then, if I found I liked road-biking and once I had a better idea of what worked for me, invest in something a bit nicer.

Which is what I did. And I enjoyed riding the OCR and, if anything, its shortcomings, helped me when it came to working out what I really wanted to buy when I upgraded.

I've known a fair few keen mountain bikers who've tried road riding and hated it.

I guess if 1600 quid or so isn't a lot of dosh to you, then you might as well splash out on something nice, but I do think you'd have a better idea of what that might be if you actually got some experience on an entry-level bike.

Here's the thing, once you're used to a super-fast, super-slick tarmac burner, yes, entry level bikes do feel a little sluggish, but if you're straight off a mountain bike, you won't know that, you'll think any half-decent road bike is a rocket-ship, full stop...

Anyway, wheels matter, always invest in wheels 🙂

£1600 is a lot to spend on a bike and its not a small thing to me.
I guess thats why Im asking peoples opinions and experiences so I get in the right ball park of characteristics and the like.

Riding the bikes is definitely good advice but knowing which chosen few those should be is another 🙂

My wife is reading this and agrees it is a lot of money!!!! 🙁

how tall are you?

Have you considered buying a 2nd hand frame and building it up? if so, depending how big you are i might be able to help you out.

An Elf-like 5,7 A build isnt something Im really after on this occasion. What did you have on offer?