entry-level road bikes
 

hello everybody.

i'm sure there are loads of threads that'll answer my query, but i can't seem to find them, so i'd very much appreciate your help please.
i am coming back to cycling after many years, and would like to buy a decent (for the budget) bike for recreational use. i have read that buying used is a minefield for those who don't know what to look for. this is a shame as i'm sure i'd get better value that way.

so i am looking at entry-level road bikes for about £500 (trek 1000, schwinn fastback sport etc). i am aware that much is down to personal preference and i do intend to test-ride several, but i'd like a shortlist of bikes to include and bikes to ignore please.

thanks for your help,
mark the gardener

According to the May 2007 issue of Cycling Plus your best bets are the Trek SL1000, Specialized Allez and the Giant SCR3.

They preferred the Trek for its versatility, and I'd be inclined to go for that due to the fact that it has Tiagra as opposed to Sora on the other 2 bikes.

They did say that the Specialized was more upgradeable though.

hey there - as well as asking here have a look at the under USD750 thread for some ideas

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=268941

If I were you I'd take a look at Ebay or Craigslist if you're not sure what you want. You can buy a good second hand machine with high quality components and save a lot on outlay. A few people buy and then decide that either they don't like the model, or cycling is not for them. Then If you don't like what you've bought there's less harm done, and you can always re-sell.
phantazy

many thanks for your help everybody.
i've got my eyes peeled on ebay and am investigatin' your other suggestions.
cheers,
mark

Take care on ebay, there seems to be a lot of suspect sales recently. There's also a huge amount of sellers upping their own sales that appear sold only to reappear again and again and most are fetching shop price anyway!!

Most bike shops are discounting models now trek, specialised & c'dale included so go and buy a shiny new one with warranty etc. there are still lots of 2005/6 models to be had at bargain prices ;)

just to add : if you go to your LBS they will ensure the correct size ( or at least should ) but you will at least feel the fit for yourself

I have bought 2 bikes off ebay in the last 2 months, one for myself and one for my gf, and both have been complete corkers, though I would be the first to say there has to be a little bit of luck involved.

I bought a beautiful condition Felt F70 that was 2 years old but immaculate for £470, Aluminium frame, Carbon forks and rear stays, 105 groupset, and weighs less than 9KG - gorgeous bike.

A few weeks later I bagged my gf a 52CM Trek 1000 SL, 2006, ex display from a bike shop, this was also a super bargain, £310! I think I got it for so little, because the auction ended mid morning on a week day.
It also has carbon forks, and has a mix of sora and tiagra, and it's a little beauty!

I think you can get them or ou could, for around £399 online, which seems a corking price.

Good luck anyway, I appreciate road bikes hugely now, having never ridden one, and only been in to mountain bikes, I can now appreciate and enjoy both varieties :-)

Dan

thanks for your help bumper.
some of the bikes i was watching on ebay got pulled from sale just before the end of auction time, bearing out what you had said.
however, i managed to get a beauty in the end, so not everyone is dodgy.
cheers,
mark

hi dan,

delighted for you that you've found 2 such good bikes.
i too am absolutely thrilled with the bike i've just got from ebay. it's a top-of-the-range saracen galibier with a 7005 frame; carbon forks, stays, seat post, handlebars and bottle holder (!); krysiums, and ultegra throughout. it is pretty much as new and rides like a dream. i paid £650 including delivery which was a bit more than i wanted to spend, but i'm very glad i splashed out the extra. ...and it was a £1600 bike.
now i've just got to get some padded shorts!

cheers,
mark

Glad you got sorted, that's a nice bike & price ;)

It's a shame ebay let knobs ruin the selling for genuine people but at least you dropped on a good one. Just get some miles racked up on it now :D

ta mush.
doing me best, but i've got 20 years of driving to shake out of my bones. so a bit at a time for me...
...especially as it rides so beautifully that i want to go flat out all the time. :-)