First cheap road bike?

[HJM]

Heya,

Looking to buy a bike soon, for my short commute.


Although my experience with bicycles are very limited, i just 'prefer' road bikes to mountain bikes? Aesthetically and for the what i need it, aint no body got time for offroading.

I guess Hybrid's are an option, they seem to be cheaper as well, i just prefer the look of road bikes .

So yea? Any suggestions to a cheap road bike?

Also, i guess second hand is an option, although i really know nothing about bikes so would be buying blind.

Cheers chaps,

HJM.
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[The Shaggy D.A.]

How short is your commute? I'm swapping our Trek hybrids for a pair of folding bikes. Just the difference in rolling resistance on the road is worth it.
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[HJM]

Its a mere 4miles there and back, so very short lol.

But will probably be used 5-7times a week, going to town, mates house's ect.
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Get hold of a second hand Specialized Allez thats been looked after. Should be cheap (pay nor more than £200) but theyre exceptional bikes for what they are.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[HJM]

[HJM]

Also - how/why is this so cheap?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Spectre-Lightweight-Road-Racing-Bike-2013-/290896949552?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&var=&hash=item43bacf3130

Viking have other bikes retailing for £400, this one is more then half that.



Edit - Last thing, With frame sizes, is there any adv/dis to the different sizes.

Im 6ft, so would assume a bigger frame size would be best?
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Viking are cheap because theyre tat, avoid at all costs. Consider getting a Boardman or even a Carrera at a push if they turn up though. THe Carrera would have to be very cheap, i.e. <£100.

For sizing a Large frame would be about right, Depends on personal preferences and leg length etc. This might help though: https://www.evanscycles.com/help/bike-sizing#road
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[HJM]

Great stuff, will make sure to avoid Vicking.

Will keep an eye for the bikes suggested.

Anywhere special to check for second hand bikes? apart form the obvious.

Cheers again.
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[duhawkz]

triban 3, £300 beans brand new and it knocks spots of most sub £1000 bikes.

in fact there should be a sticky about it

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-road-bike-id_8167038.html
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"The guy is a worthless cunt and I honestly believe I would be a slightly happier person if he died." - Chris-Red

[HJM]

[HJM]

hey just on a side note, getting into to biking (pedal bike), what are the running costs on...say the one linked above?


How often are we looking at changing the tires, and how much are a new set?

What other consumables are there that are expensive ect?


Much love BCF, should prolly join a cycling forum .
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[duhawkz]

[HJM]

Cheers bud, will make sure to sit on one and make sure it fits all good.


Top lad for helping a n00b out, appreciate it greatly.


Take care, ride safe.
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[G]

I've got a hybrid but I've come to the conclusion that the best choice for road use is, well, a road bike!



So I wouldn't worry about your choice on that grounds.

(Used plenty of different bikes on the road include, BMX's, trials, hard and bouncy mountain bikes etc.)

Just make sure you've got gearing low enough for your needs.
(My hybrid has a 1:1 minimum ratio, but some road bikes with a similar setup don't go that low - and that could cause problems on a few of the silly-steep bits around here (where it say gets really steep around a hairpin in the road.)

[HJM]

[G]

The number of gears doesn't have to mean much - just as with how you'll find some motorbikes with 5 gears that have a better selection than others with 6.

My hybrid has a 'compact' setup, which means instead of 3 gears at the front, you only get two - in this case 34 and 50 teeth.

At the back it has 9 gears - ranging from 11 to 34 teeth.

So the 'quickest' ratio it has is 50:11 and the slowest is 34:34 (which is 1:1 of course)>

A road bike with the same gears at the front would often only do 11 to 25 teeth at the back, so won't go to quite such a low ratio.
(It is particularly hilly around me!)

[Bike Bunker]

infinity alpe du huez cheap bike with alot of flashy bits and bobs hard to find since they was made in 2009 but i picked a second hand one up just the other day they are 400 brand new and probly a lot less now

[HJM]

[HJM]

[_Will_]

I know its halfrauds and it'd be best to get others opinions first but I saw this t'other day, not quite as pricey if you're only testing the waters - so might be worth investigating.

https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_912087_langId_-1_categoryId_165710
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[HJM]

[G]

Apollo bikes are rarely worth it, not good enough components - while Halfrods Carrera tends to have decent components on a cheapish frame and are often good value. Boardman (another Halfords brand) tend to be decent too.

[yaigi]

Little tip for when you're sitting on the bike trying to work out if it is the right size for you: with the pedal at the lowest point, put your heal on it. Your leg should be almost (but not completely) straight. This ensures you get the maximum power into each round of pedalling you do
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[HJM]

Thanks for the replys guys and girls, will avoid Apollo then , shame tho they look nice and cheap.

I guess you get what you pay for, unless you spend 2grand on a carbon fiber bike that snaps in half when you drop it.
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[Drew]