Hi all,
I'm looking to upgrade from my hybrid, which I have been riding regularly since last summer, and wanted to hear your opinions on what I should look for when choosing my first road bike.
First, I plan to use it for casual riding on paved bike paths, most likely for longer rides (50km+). I don't plan to do any racing or enter competitions, just for leisurely enjoyment by myself or with group rides. Still.. of course I'd like the bike to be able to go fast as well
Would a more comfortable road bike suit my needs better? (Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, etc.). Are they noticeably slower than their performance counterparts? And are the performance bikes tough to ride for long distances due to discomfort?
Second, as it will be my very first road bike, I'm not sure if I should over-commit budget-wise. I'm thinking around $1500-$2500 range.
I also wasn't sure whether I should dive right into a full carbon road bike for my first purchase or start off with an aluminum one. Are they worlds apart in terms of speed? I don't want to overspend, but also don't want to get the urge to upgrade soon after..
What is a good groupset to start off with? I heard that Shimano 105 is a good one, and going with any lower groupset will have quality issues. Is there any truths to this? Are all 3 brands of groupsets beginner-friendly?
Many thanks in advance