Road Cycling - first bike, what do you recommend? plz plz plz help me! i don't want to get stung!

ive just been looking on the shimano website, and i think im definately going to go for a bike with Shimano105 on it, with the compatible flight deck computer, how much would an entry level road bike be with that? and with how many gears? 3x9 or 3x8 so thats 27 or 24 gears..... probably more than i know what to do with there. i havent got a clue about frame, or wheels, saddle, tyres, or manufacturer! Help and advice on that side of things would be appreciated.

also been looking at their pedals and footwear.... the SH-T092 Shoe with the PD-A515 (SPD) Pedal seems like it might be a good combination. Im going to have a mooch in halfords at their cycling gear, helmets and clothes.

i dont see a pricelist on the shimano website so will i be in for a shock? im trying to find prices now! :crash:

i only want to spend between £0 - £1000 if i can help it..... i have the money to spend more but im not sure as it is my savings and i will be wanted a new motorbike once ive passed my test too..... i think i'll play it safe for now.

The best thing you could do is go see a reputable bike shop. Let them fit you, understand your goals and budget and go from there.

There are about a million threads on this :)
The responses are usually the same so I'll say what I usually say: don't worry about whether it's 105 or Ultegra or Dura ace. It's easy to replace parts of your drivetrain...but you can't really swap your frame out like you can swap out a cassette, therefore, it's the frame you should be worried about.

Trek, Cannondale, Bianchi, FELT, Giant...the list goes on :D

I am going to buy next year and have set a minimum of 105's for components. With that range, you will get a decent frame which will last. Hopefully, my budget will allow for full Ultrega grouppo. A full 105 bike will run about $1200 or an Ultrega will start at around $1500.

But parts being parts, the advice about getting the best frame you can afford is the best advice. If you are buying a complete bike, go with the best component grouppo you can afford and that will, most likely, net you an outstanding frame.

Check out frame warranties, however. In my searches, I have found full Ultrega bikes for $1100, but the frame is only warranted for 1-2 years. The 105 and Ultrega Treks, Cannondales, Giants, LeMonds...etc., all have lifetime frame warranties.

P.S. Haunt the LBSs. Find one that you feel comfortable with. Then check it out with the Better Business Bureau, local riding clubs, other cyclists, etc. Nothing is better than a great bike from a great LBS.

Look, the bicycle manufacturer only makes the frame. This isn't like automobiles where the manufacturer makes the engine, the transmission, the brakes, etc etc etc. And making frames is not that hard. The dimensions of a good bike frame are well known.

A LBS will not even offer a bad bike at any price. Once you get up to Shimano 105 components, you are getting pretty good stuff. OK some Shimano 105 bikes have frames that are just basically good, reliable stuff and other 105 bikes have some fancy stuff like titanium or carbon fiber. But you really don't NEED that.

As a word of reassurance, over the years, I have had a few things fail on recently purchased bikes and I took them back to the LBS. The LBS called up the manufacturer and said "looky here we got a guy here that broke an "X" made by you guys in just "y" miles". The manufacturer just said, "give him a new one on us". These people will usually stand behind their stuff, assuming that you did not do something like run into a tree to get it to fail.

So go to the LBS. The important thing is the bike fits you. An LBS will see to that.

To give you an idea, there are plenty of people who make custom bikes for people from steel tubes and these bikes are often superb. It is nice to have a bike that is made to fit just you and your style of riding. These guys use pretty simple equipment. If they can do it, a well capitalized bike manufacturer ought to be able to get it right.

To put it another way, I have put 30,000+ miles on four different bicycle frames. One broke and the break was not something that would have caused a crash or anything. Even after 30,000+ miles, the manufacturer sent me a new frame. Since they did not even make the frame I had anymore, they sent me a better one! Is that great or what?