Originally Posted by
motorthings
if he wants to upgrade and work on it, it might even out, but if he has the $ and wants to spend it, a new bike may be cheaper than a CL purchase (that also requires him to be much more savvy than he probably is at this point).
How is a new bike cheaper than a $300 CL bike? Buy it and ride it. Rode it 20, 40, or more miles at a time. Something like 2x8 drivetrain with ergo shifters and 700c tires gets you all the roadbike experience without the big investment. Decide to upgrade or sell/replace later after deciding if road bikes are his interest. I just don't get this idea of jumping in with a big purchase when coming from riding a hybrid bike short distances.