CafeVelo

I sold an espresso machine to a friend to finance my first one. (I used to restore antique and vintage machines)

big chainring 

I got a job at the local hardware store when I was 15. 20 hours a week netted me $35. I didn't spend any of my money for 10 weeks. Bought a full Campy Motobecane LeChampion, and a Lutz track suit, $425 tax and all. Custom 49/52 - 15-24 gearing. Raced in the first Boul Mich Bike Rally in downtown Chicago, 1974. Obsessed with racing after that.

tjkoko

Not many people possess that level of electrical and mechanical skills. Congratulate yourself!

wphamilton

My first road bike was $139 ordered from Amazon (in 2009, I'm not an old-timer retro-grouch), and yes it did feel good and I wanted to ride non-stop. I enjoyed that for several years but wanted something better so I built one on a Nashbar road frame, that I've been riding for about four years now. I finally put new shifters on it this weekend, so I've got maybe $700-$800 total in the bike. It still has the seatpost from an old Huffy or something but that's the only recycled part now. About 20,000 miles on that bike.

My point is perhaps having the best Road bike is not the best plan if it means denying yourself the pleasure of a good ride while you save up for a better one. Get a road bike now AND save up, but while you're riding, not waiting.

Nachoman

When I was in college, my dad bought me a Nishiki Competition with bar end shifters. I loved that bike.

10 Wheels

$15 and it was 23 years old

Willbird

I guess I'd have to say "which first?".

Ten speed, actual ten speed way back in the mid 70's I bought with paper route money, something like $69.

First real new road bike was a Bianchi Premio $399 or so in 1992
Fast forward to 2014 and my Fuji Sportiff I bought with Christmas Club money for $809...so "saved" for that one I guess :-).

f4rrest

I worked and saved $800 to buy my first dirt bike. A used Yamaha YZ 125.

We didn't live where the roads were paved, so I went from BMX to dirt bike.

topflightpro

I financed my first road bike. I took advantage of a six months, zero interest offer. I had the cash in savings, but I figured why pull money out of savings when I could just pay it off over time.

Zero interest options are great if you have the discipline to pay it all off in the zero interest period.

Maelochs

In any case, to me it is a source iof pridwe when I saver for something and buy it ... as topflightpromentions, it is the discipline, and waiting and wanting a thing, doing without other things to eventually get what I want, so that when I finally get it, it really means something.

Whether you buy something cheap just to beat around on or not, start saving for a nice bike, and when you get it, it will be a much better bike for you than parts spec or frame weight could ever describe. It will be a Great bike, to you.

Hardrock23

Awesome!
Same here kinda, but not alcohol, and i waited till my 1.5yr mark (when i just could not find anything of interest, joy, etc)...

I instantly loved riding and learning about bikes, the history and trying to work on them.




I bought a mtn bike first though because i wasnt sure if i would love riding, but a road bike was what i wanted if i stuck to it. I finally just moved on to my first road bike about a month ago now. I saved for a few months to get my 1987 Schwinn Prelude - $125. Its a good feeling when you can save up for what you want, even if it takes awhile!

topslop1

27 years old, borrowed $600 from my sister that I paid back over 2 months. That's the truth.

T Stew

Nope, bought my first road bike 2 years ago for $80 used... '88 Schwinn LeTour. Great bike IMO, I wouldn't have any problem if it was my only bike still, but the bug bit me that I had to buy more and higher end bikes. To be honest, the higher level bikes never seemed like much of an upgrade, with the exception of more comfy brake levers. But you can always upgrade bars, levers, shifters, anything really.

Like most I first went into a couple bike stores and looked at new bikes. Wow a lot of money especially for something I didn't even know if I'd use much or like. Very glad I went with some older decent used bikes instead of a new bottom end bike. I probably have 5 great running bikes now for the same cost as 1 new middle of the road bike.

dcsix

Right, so for the time being, as a politician said a couple of years ago..embrace the suck. Use what you have to become a stronger rider while you save. I had been riding bikes of all sorts all my life when 7-8 years ago I decided to be all-in with road. I rode my mountain bike a ton before I finally bought my Roubaix. Obviously it takes money, and a good used bike surely makes sense, but don't sit around feeling sorry-get out and ride!

CafeVelo

I rode a rigid mtb for years before I got a road bike. By the time I dumped it I was averaging 15mph on it. Got a roadie and that jumped to 18 really quick, and my range extended from 20 miles to 40 overnight.

I fell in the hole of competitive riding and became considerably faster, but nothing will ever net as great an increase as getting a proper roadie.

dcsix

Exactly! I cleaned up my Rockhopper over the weekend and took it for a spin-wow, that bike is HEAVY. Great trainer!

Vicegrip

My first road bike starting in the 1970s was an Iverson Grand sport. 44 pounds of gas pipe, lumpy welds and wavy wheels. Paid cash for it earned from mowing lawns at $3 a shot. Loved it even knowing in the back of my mind that it was a crap bike.

Next true road bike was a 2012 Fuji SST followed a year or so later with a Specialized Tarmac pro I built with DI2, carbon wheels and H bar. Have added in old steel, CX and tandem bikes to the collection. All were from simple "pocket money".