Gramercy

I think you need 50 posts to PM but I'd be interested in your trek madone 58cm as long you haven't crashed it. My trek 1.2 is 58cm.

datlas 

qft

JamesInSJ

No crashes, no falls...shoot, not sure I've even laid the thing down on the ground once. I guess I better get 2 more posts in to hit 50 ;-)

Squeeze

I just got my first real rode bike (I don't count the ten-speed I had in high school) and I got into it very cheaply when a friend my size got something newer and made me a great deal on his old one. My LBS whipped it into shape quite nicely and now I've got a solid road bike in my garage for not much out of pocket compared to buying anything brand new.

But my goodness, all that other stuff really adds up! I haven't bought any of it yet, but have priced it all. When I ride my MTB, I just wear whatever shorts and tee-shirt and sneakers I happen to have on that day. That will work for a while, I guess, on the road bike until I start riding longer distances - so far have just done a couple short rides in the neighborhood on platform pedals wearing baggy cotton shorts to get the feel of the thing and learn how brifters work.

I tend to do without things that seems like fluff and luxury in general, but I can imagine the benefits of cycling-specific clothing. If nothing else, I won't have chain marks on my jeans legs.

Good luck to the OP from another road bike newbie.

milkbaby

+1... It's easy to get caught up in all the gear and bike talk that goes on in online forums like this one. The reality is that you can have a great time riding along on any bike that is functional in working order. And keeping it working is more down to maintenance than initial cost, IMO.

BikeAnon

Bicycle Truth: Weight Scam - True cost of riding - YouTube

RPK79

My first road bike was $350 used. Second (current) one was $1,000 built up new from a used frame. Now, if you add up all of the other bike related stuff that I have purchased that dollar amount jumps. Quickly.

palesaint

I bought a bike from bikesdirect for $400 back in 2007. I rode it for a little over a year. It wasn't a bad bike, 22lbs or so with Sora components. I didn't mind riding it and got a good workout. The shifting wasn't perfect and the ride was a bit harsh. I then bought a $2000 carbon fiber bike with Force components in early 2008. It has been an absolutely stunning bike. I have really enjoyed the SRAM shifting, and the frame is so much more comfortable. Vanity wise, it's so much better to look at also. I can safely say I have ridden more miles on this bike than I would have on the cheaper bike. It just does it for me.

It has now been 72 months since I purchased this bike. I keep looking and lusting at new bikes and will probably get a replacement in the next year or two. But, just looking at the exposed carbon weave of my 6 year old wonderbike still does it for me - much less the joy I get riding it. Even with maintenance costs, I am currently looking at a great bike that has cost me, averaged out over the years, $33-35 per month to ride. Once you find "THE BIKE", even if it IS $2000 (or $5K, or even $10K) it will be a good buy if it gets you motivated to ride and stick with it.

sfrider 

Get yourself an inexpensive bike from BD or performance. After you start racking up miles on it a more expensive bike won't seem as crazy. Buy yourself a really nice set of wheels that will likely cost more than that bargain basement bike. Ride it some more - the wheels and tires will make a difference. Develop a sense of geometry - how you like things set up. Then go buy yourself a nice bike without wheels, pedals, and saddle and move your favorites over to the new ride.

NoviceJohn

I bought the base level Allez last year and I love it. Granted my bike has the shimano 2400 group set (not that great) but I'm happy with it for now. I just started cycling 5 months ago and I've been riding the hell out of my bike for recreational purpose only. Once I've graduated, maybe I'll invest in a 105 set bike.

wphamilton

Lord no, $2K is over the top if we're talking about the "price of entry". For five or six hundred you can get a road bike that is practically identical functionally - I mean one that rolls fine, shifts gears, feels great and isn't holding you back, the differences being apparent at the extremes of physical performance.

I'll even go out on a limb (for this group) and say categorically that Sora level is fine for an entry level bike. For some parts, there's no problem going below Sora. I think if we don't get hung up on the model of the group set components it opens up a lot of options for decent bikes at good prices. Personally, I'd look at Bikes Direct and Nashbar.

MRT2

You can get an entry level road bike for around $700 or $800, around $900 to $1,000 for the next step up. That is full retail at a LBS. Don't know what you are looking to do. For sure, you can get a fine bike for $2,000, but that isn't entry level.

roadandmountain

Giant has really gotten their act together lately, and their road bike line looks fantastic. I like their geometry as they seem to do a good job combining slightly longer top tubes with decent standover clearance.

I test rode a trek 2.1 a few years back and it was absolutely fabulous. Would've bought it but I waited a bit too long and someone else snagged it.

Am looking into getting a new road bike this year, though.

seymour1910

This is a nice bike with 10 speed Tiagra for $749, if your local store doesn't have it you can ship it to the store.

GT Attack 2.0 Road Bike - 2014 Performance Exclusive - Performance Sales Exclusions

koolerb

I got lucky last spring, right place, right time. Walked in to one of my local bike shops and picked up an aluminum Giant Defy 1 he had sold the prior fall. The guy traded on something carbon, he just dropped it off the day before. I picked it up at a great price and the bike was perfect. Just start looking around, you never know what you'll run in to.

buffalowings

What's the difference between a recreational cyclist and recreational racer?.. (is there even a thing as a recreational race, or is that anyone who races out of their own wallet?)

sced

I can imagine that a person could view themself as a serious racer while those around him/her would be too polite to laugh in their face.

CommuteCommando

My first road bike was this. ALI at Masi in Houston, Texas, United States - photo by stab05 - Pinkbike Got it on clearance for $600 and rode it almost 6k miles from 260, down to 215 lb. and it served me very well. Now have this (From same LBS- a Masi Dealer) ******************************???MASI?2013???? - cyclist MSRP $2300, negotiated him down to internet price of $1600. It's a keeper, and I don't really need more bike. (2.2k miles including two centuries on it since new last September.)

MRT2

You build your inventory of that stuff slowly. If I had to choose, I would go with helmet, floor pump, spare tube, frame pump or CO2, and a pair of basic shorts. If you look for deals, that should run you about $200 for that stuff, maybe a bit more. You can wear a technical T shirt until you have money for a cycling jersey. If funds are scarce, maybe put off pedals and shoes as well. That will save you about $100.

JPeters

I bought an old fuji mtb for €130 that has taken me on my commute to work through ice and snow, and also allows me to keep up with hardcore riders riding some super-expensive bikes on some super-scary trails.

It's nice to talk about expensive components and frames, but it's the riding that counts IMO. So long as you don't get a walmart bike with plastic brakes and one of those cheapo bent-metal crankshafts you will have just as good a time riding as everyone else.

Cookiemonsta

Not at all. Decent brand aluminium frame, with Tiagra or 105 is nice enough, and that will set you back just about 1200 when buying new. Much less if you get it secondhand.

BikeWise1

Just understand that your expectations of just how easy a warranty problem is to deal with when dealing with companies like BikesDirect are to be adjusted accordingly. Plenty of people bring them in to my shop for assembly, and while I'm sure there are a few folks here that have had positive experiences, ours have been the definition of frustration. In one recent case, a gentleman brought in a BD hybrid for assembly. Both tires had twisted casings, so he contacted them about replacements. But they wouldn't just throw a couple of tires worth less than $10 in a box and ship them out. The required him to send them in "for evaluation". He ended up waiting over two weeks for the matter to be fully resolved. He was not impressed.

Probably have better luck with Performance, at least they have actual stores to help deal with this sort of thing.

Fit is incredibly important, too, so for beginning cyclists, it is wise to ask around and find a shop with a good rep for making sure your bike fits. I don't care how good a deal you get on a bike, is the fit isn't right, you won't be comfortable for those longed rides.

Good luck in your search!

Squeeze

Thanks for the reply. Fortunately as a MTB/commuter owner, I already have a helmet, gloves, water bottles, floor pump, spare tubes (for both my bikes now), patch kits, frame pumps for both, underseat storage bags, etc. I just don't any bike-specific clothing or shoes.

I'm looking at bike shorts first, shoes & pedals next, and then I'm sure more shorts, jerseys with long and short sleeves, then long sleeve pants for cooler days, etc. It looks like it will cost over $100 just to look the part on one ride.

That's okay, though, and it's not like it's $100+ down the drain - that stuff will last me long time, probably. I'll get there eventually. It's like any other hobby, I'm sure - guys who have been doing it for years have all the cool stuff, but they didn't buy it all at once.

MRT2

You can get shorts, pedals, even shoes online for a substantial discount, or luck out and find a sale locally. I bought a pair of cycling tights last fall at a bike shop for $40. Some of it can be pricey, but doesn't have to be. You can get decent pedals and cleats for $35 or $40. Shoes for maybe $50 or $60. You are right about stuff lasting a long time. I found a long sleeve jersey I bought 10 years ago but forgot about last year and has been my go to jersey on cold days ever since.

Beneficial Ear

Basically. Even a nice old school (or new for that matter) steel is plenty fine - especially if you put in a few bucks to get all the components into 100% working order. Main thing is to get something that won't break easily and maintain it properly, really if you plan on parking it outside for any period of time you don't want anything too flashy anyway... you can absolutely spend $200 and have a bike that will get you where you are going... but I'd say $500 is a good "entry level" point for a reliable road bike.