Road Cycling - Newbie questions

I've followed the Tour de France since before I could ride a bike, but this year's has really inspired me to get a bike and start riding. My main intention is just to get in shape and have some transport for when I go to uni in september (my BMX is not exactly practical and it's too damn expensive to leave out in the rain and get stolen). My experience with buying BMX stuff has taught me what to look for and what to avoid quality-wise, but obviously road bikes are very different animals and most of the companies and terms involved are completely alien to me.

Basically what I'm looking for is tips on geometery (I'm 5' 10", 20 years old, and about 220lbs if that's any help), specification, brands, etc. I can't really afford a top-of-the-line Biancci or Trek, I'm just looking for a cheap reliable machine (my mechanical skills are pretty good though). Also, what should I do about clipless pedals? Are they really worth the hassle of carrying a change of shoes?

And the other thing I'm unsure about is cyclocross. I live in the counrtyside, and there are lots of footpaths and fields that a mountain bike would be more than comfortable on, but I don't want an MTB. At the same time I'd kinda like to be able to ride those paths, so is a 'cross bike a logical choice? I know nothing about it, maybe it's completely inappropriate for me. What are the main differences between road bikes and 'cross bikes? Can I just change the tyres and gearing and go get muddy?

Of course the other option is to go second hand. I haven't looked in the For Sale forum yet, but other than here and Ebay, are there any other places I should look (and free ads papers and local bike shops obviously)? Of course I don't know what I'm looking for, which is why I need help.

I appriciate any help I get, here's to many a mile under my wheels :)

There is a pretty good classified section on www.roadbikereview.com

C'mon guys, I now you're good for it!

There are a couple of options:
A road bike
A lightweight rigid MTB with slicks
A cross-bike

An MTB with slicks can be very fast, have lots of rubber for wet roads, rarely flat and can go any where. A cross bike has V brakes not standard road bike brakes, a triple chain ring, extremely fast and can go off road also. However, I have never ridden one so I don't know what it feels like to ride through a field that high from the ground. Scary I imagine.

Giant make a huge range of bikes from cheap to expensive, I don't think they make a cross bike though. Cannondale do make cross bikes but are a bit pricier.

Good luck.

Mark

Dont forget a touring bike either. Modern cyclo-cross bikes have a lot of touring influence , so are more practical than their pure race versions.
If you want the bike for transportation as well as sport, and for riding through a winter you will need clearance for 28-32mm tyres and fittings for a luggage rack and fenders, and a choice of lower gears for when you dont want to ride hard.
If you want to race you will need a competative racing bike, but if you just want to ride, then a cx or touring bike makes more sense.
Compared to a road bike, a cx has greater tyre clearance, cantelever brakes, lower gears (low ratio double), and a higher bottom bracket for pedal clearance. Compared to a touring bike, the tourer will have a lower BB for stability, longer chainstays for pannier-heel clearance, low-ratio triple chainset hauling luggage (and shopping) up hills and slacker steering for stability when loaded, and more braze-on attatchment points for stuff.
There are intermediate and mixed style bikes, like the Bianchi Volpe, or the Eros, so dont get too hung up on which style a bike is, just get one which does the jobs you need.
Fuji are probably the best value new bikes.

Well most road bikes these days have very little clearance between the frame and the tire. You can't put a big tire on the road bike. So taking a road bike and doing cyclecross with it, probably would not work.

If you plan to ride on pavement and have any aspirations to performance, get a road bike.

I understand Giant has some nice entry level racers for around $1000 (equipped with Shimano 105).

Thanks for the tips. I went to my local shop today and their cheapest road bikes were about double my budget (Giant and Dawes), so I guess I'll either have to get something really crap or go second hand. Hmm.

Hey, I didnt see your location. Im in Norwich. There are loads of places to get good used road bikes in Norfolk. My local used bike specialist, Whippet Cycles of Suffolk Sq, Norwich always has some nice touring and road bike in stock.

Cool, thanks. Where abouts is Suffolk Square? I've never heard of it. I live near a little town called Diss BTW.

eBay can be a good source. I got a near-pristine Trek 2000 ('99/'00 model) for $290 ($1200 bike). Just ask the seller a lot of questions and get high-res picks. 98%, 30+ feedback sellers won't jip you. This was the only way to get into roadies. you're right! They're too expensive! :)

Anyway, after a few months, your new bike second-hand anyway ;)

I was bought up in Diss, got my first serious bike from Madget's bike shop and I even remember when his old man was running the shop. Ask Mick if he knows of any used bikes going cheap, there are a lot of roadies in this part of the country. You also have a new group of the Cyclists Touring Club.
Whippet Cycles in Norwich is about 100m from Chapelfield Gardens, cross under the underpass.