Suggestions for beginner
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 91
Bikes: '04 Specialized Allez Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Suggestions for beginner
I am 5'6", 180lbs and want to get into cycling for fitness and future competition. I have no idea where to start looking for a good entry level bike that has some 'upgrade-ability'. I have looked a bit at a Motobecane, but have no idea what I need. Any ideas are welcome.
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
https://www.bianchiusa.com/site/bikes/21_Brava.html
This is a little more than 600. but you may be able to find it on sale this time of year. Bianchis are as good as it gets at any price level.
A good book about cycling from your library or bike shop will also be helpful.
A book that will teach you all about competition from A-Z is Serious Cycling by Ed Burke.
All the best! Feel free to ask questions here. You'll always get lots of answers.
This is a little more than 600. but you may be able to find it on sale this time of year. Bianchis are as good as it gets at any price level.
A good book about cycling from your library or bike shop will also be helpful.
A book that will teach you all about competition from A-Z is Serious Cycling by Ed Burke.
All the best! Feel free to ask questions here. You'll always get lots of answers.
#5
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Try as many bikes as possible. That Bianchi mentioned above looks to be a really nice bike. Somehow you just can't go too wrong with a Bianchi. Other bikes in this price range (~US$600) you might want to check out include:
- Jamis Aurora
- Specialized Allez 24
- Trek 1000
- Trek 1000C (comfort version of 1000)
- Giant OCR3
- Fuji Finest
- KHS Flite 300
- K2 Mach 1.0
- LeMond Nevada City - although this bike is a bit more than your budget, you may be able to find one on sale or clearance/closeout. I felt that it's a pretty nice riding steel frame for its price and had to be mentioned.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#6
It tastes like burning!
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SOUTH Jersey
Posts: 1,014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
nobody bothered to ask thetray what kinda bike he/she was looking to get. how do y'all know for sure they want a road bike??
#9
Life is good
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Posts: 18,209
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
Originally posted by deliriou5
nobody bothered to ask thetray what kinda bike he/she was looking to get. how do y'all know for sure they want a road bike??
nobody bothered to ask thetray what kinda bike he/she was looking to get. how do y'all know for sure they want a road bike??
__________________
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#10
Vehicular
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 194
Bikes: DeBernardi track, Bianchi homemade fixed, '93 Trek 2300 road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Find someone who knows bikes to help you get a used bike. For $600 you could get something that was $1200 new, two years ago.
Don't worry about upgradeability. When you want to upgrade, get a whole new bike. It's about half as expensive to buy parts together on a bike than piecemeal.
As bbarend says, ride as many bikes as you can to get a feel for what you like. If you give some more details about what you like in a bike, you'll get some more suggestions of particular models to try.
Good luck!
Don't worry about upgradeability. When you want to upgrade, get a whole new bike. It's about half as expensive to buy parts together on a bike than piecemeal.
As bbarend says, ride as many bikes as you can to get a feel for what you like. If you give some more details about what you like in a bike, you'll get some more suggestions of particular models to try.
Good luck!
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Yes, do you need to commute/shop or tour on the bike? Will you be riding in wet winter as well as summer?
There is a wide spectrum of "road bikes" from competition racer, to unladen fast tourer, winter training bike, commuter hack/beater bike, cyclo-cross, medium/club touring, to full loaded expedition bike.
They vary in their tyre clearance, facility to add fenders and luggage rack, gear ratios, and some other details.
There is a wide spectrum of "road bikes" from competition racer, to unladen fast tourer, winter training bike, commuter hack/beater bike, cyclo-cross, medium/club touring, to full loaded expedition bike.
They vary in their tyre clearance, facility to add fenders and luggage rack, gear ratios, and some other details.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 91
Bikes: '04 Specialized Allez Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thank you all for the great info and starting points! Luckily there are a bunch of shops around here, so I'm off to start looking. Thanks again!