homeriscool

Hi all, im just after your advice. Im 245 lbs and want to get into biking and get into shape. i have a budget of £600, so i would just like your input for which may be the most suitable bike for me. I will be buying from either here https://www.evanscycles.com/categorie...rt=popularity;

or here

https://www.cheshireoakscycles.co.uk/...oad-Bikes-Mens

Im 245 lbs and 6ft 2 inch tall.

I have never rode a road bike and i know very little about all the technical stuff

Thanks for all your input

nymtber

Make sure you get 32 hole 3x built wheels, at least the rear wheel, and have the bike shop properly tension and true them!

https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec046307

Felt seems to be a good name in cycling, local shop here carries them and they sure look nice. Lower end drivetrain, but ALL of Shimano's road stuff is decent stuff. I had Sora on my last road bike, and it held up and was always spot on. The radially laced front wheel, if properly tensioned, won't likely be a problem. The rear looks to be 32h 3x and that is the important wheel!

Is Evans Cycles close to you? I definitely would recommend going and test riding a few bikes. That is the only real way you know it will fit you!

chasm54

Difficult to advise, really, as there is so little to choose between the specifications of the bikes at this price point. For example, the Specialised Allez, Trek 1.1 and Pinnacle road bikes on sale at Evans are all £550 and all use very similar (mainly Shimano 2300) components, as does the Cannondale at the other shop you linked to. So I'm afraid it's going to come down to your preference, either for a particular bike or for the shop you think will give you the better service with regard to advice, help with bike fit and servicing, and so on.

All the four bikes I have mentioned are perfectly decent, highly reputable bikes, so you needn't fear that you are buying something inferior when making your choice. Your weight is no problem (but check that they have tensioned the spokes before selling you the bike - machine-built wheels can need tweaking) and at 6'2" you might need anything from a 58cm to a 61 cm frame depending on your proportions. Get them to sit you on the bike and fit it to you. If two frames - say, a 58 and a 60 - can both be set up to fit you I'd suggest going with the larger one, because you're new to road bikes and the taller head-tube will mean you are in a less aggressive riding position. however, that advice is subjective and someone else might tell you different.

Enjoy.

digger531

Pick the shop first, then the bike.

Pamestique 

This question is like asking a school kid "how do you build a space rocket..." it is very difficult to post a quick question without alot of detail and expect an informed answer in return.

My advice is to do internet research. Key issues that need to be address: 1) why are you cycling - for hobby, sport or exercise. 2) what are the conditions of the roads or trails you plan on riding? 3) price range and style of riding 4) health issues and other concerns that need to be addressed 5) how much do you know about maintenance and repair - can you do it yourself or do you need a bike shop to assist...

There are really lots of questions and just as many answers. Just my opinion for what it is worth - there is no such thing as a bike that does everything. There are bikes that can be used adequately for different surfaces and functions but there are fair if not marginal.

If you know all you want to do is ride on roads or paved trails, then look at a road bike. Road bikes come in many styles but I suggest you look at a classic style bike, not a sport or hybrid style. Size is then a real issue. Just because you ride a 60cm on one bike doesn't mean you will on all bikes (I am 5'8" and have bikes in my stable that range from 51cm to 55).

This is where internet research is helpful (explaining how to size a bike). Do you know what materials and components you like? Again the internet will explain all the different types of materials (steel, aluminum, carbon, Ti) and how and why one is better than the other or for you. If your price range is low your compenants are limited but always get the best groupo for he money you can spend. This is why knowing the various groups is important (again check the internet). For instance a friend recently wanted to buy a bike. She was looking at spending $1500 (although there is nothing wrong with your budget) and was looking at Specilized with a very low end groupo. For the same amount of money I ot her on a carbon Trek with full Ultregra. She didn't know the difference betweem Alivio and Ultegra.

Do you have friends or acquaintenance that ride or know something of bikes? If so, take them with you to the bike shop so they can ask the right questions, make sure you are sized properly on the bike and you aren't "upsold" something you don't want or need.

Lastly take your time and know what you want. That's alot of money to spend on something you won't like or ride...

Pamestique 

Homer... just something to understand... for instance I checked out the Evans cycle website... for the same price around 600 - 700 or so the Specialize bikes comes with Shimano 2300... that is as low end a component as you get - basically almost WalMart bike. By looking at the non-BIG BOX name bike the Dolomite the components are Sora not high end but fair-good. Don't just look at price - make sure you are checking out components etc.

I can't emphasize enough put on some work out clothers nad go test rides bikes. Not just 3' in the parking lot... spend some time on a bike...if a shop rents a bike by the hour, all the better.

bikingshearer 

I would agree that, except for the wheels, your size does not rule out any decent road bike. At 6'3" and about 270 pounds, 32 or 36 spoke wheels are the only concession to size I make on my road bikes. Well, that and 25mm wide tires or wider.

I also agree that the main thing is to test ride as many candidates as you can. Fit is everything - don't let a shop try to shoehorn you on to a too-small or too-large frame. Also, if the reach is wrong bu the bike size is otherwise right, the shop should be able to swap out the stem to give you the right fit for no charge or a nominal charge.

phread59

Between a 1.1 and an Allez there is no doubt, Allez all the way. The Allez I believe has a carbon fork verse the 1.1's steel. I rode a low end Allez. It handled very well and rode surprizingly well. I rode a Canondale CAAD8 in a mide range offering. It handled well but rode very harsh. The other linked bike I have no knowledge of.

The Spesh had a mix of Sora and Tiargra. I didn't see any 2300. This was last years models. I don't know what this year's are shipped with. I would vote Specialized. If I had not come across a used Fuji Professional full carbon bike I'd be schlepping an Allez myself.

Best of luck with you're search.

Mark Shuman

rumrunn6

welcome, I'm 20lbs under you but I usually carry 20lbs of junk with me so I guess we're equals. +1 for 32 spokes wheels and also be sure the tech trues/tensions the wheels before you ride and again after the 1st 100-300 miles

Myosmith

This is where a good LBS is golden. If the first question they ask is "How much do you want to spend?" you've got the wrong shop. The first question they ask should be more along the lines of "What kind of riding do you want to do?" or "What are you expecting from your cycling?". The sales person should be willing to take some time to educate you about features, different levels of components, advantages/disadvantages of frame materials, wheels, etc. They should tolerate a fair number of questions and allow you to test ride several bikes.

My advice is usually to pick the "beginner" bike you think you want, then buy one component group better. Many newbies look for bare bones entry level bikes with the idea of upgrading components later. I'm not knocking entry level bikes and you can certainly get many good miles out of any brand name bike even with lower end components, but substantial upgrading can be costly if you find out six months into it that you are already looking for better performance.

If you are looking for an all-around bike you might want to consider a cyclocross or touring frameset both of which are durable and have a more relaxed geometry than road bikes. They give you the added advantage of being able to run wider tires for commuting, touring, endurance rides or multi-surface paths. Either of these styles will also usually accommodate fenders and racks if you wish. Don't let them fool you though, either a cyclocross or touring frameset can be set up to lean toward a road bike and can be quick and agile. There is a rider in one of the clubs I ride with who has a Surly CrossCheck set up as a roadie and he absolutely hauls butt.

+1 on 32 or more spokes laced 3X. I'm a fan of bulletproof wheelsets and am willing to put up with a slight increase in weight for durability and reliability. Another advantage of 32 or 36 spoke wheel laced 3X or 4X is that they will usually remain ridable with one, or sometimes two busted spokes. A radially laced 24-spoke wheel may not, leaving you with the walk of shame to get the bike home. Some will call it overkill but for a fitness/recreational bike I like a 36-spoke 4X in back and a 32-spoke 3X in front both with double-walled eyeletted rims. Properly trued and tensioned, a wheelset like this will last many, many miles and will take a lot of abuse from rough roads and potholes. If you're looking at competitive riding or just like to go really fast, you might want something lighter.

On a budget, there is nothing wrong with buying a used bike in good shape. Here's another place where a good LBS should be your go to as a reputable shop won't let anything out the door that isn't in sound mechanical condition and likely to please the customer. Purchases from private individuals or pawn shops can be risky if you don't know what to watch out for.

digibud

didn't go to the web site. gotta log off...but the Allez would be my last choice for the average clyde. it's meant as a low end race bike with fairly agressive geometry if I recall correctly. If that's the case, it's a poor choice for most clydes unless you are in good shape and just heavy, with a strong back and ability to get in a pretty low position. many other bikes are more relaxed. At least I suggest enough research to learn which of the possible bikes are more relaxed and which are meant for racing. Even a hour on the bike out of the LBS won't tell you too much about how comfy it will be in 5-7 hours so get some sense of the type of geom each bike you're looking at has. Good advice on components...and wheels. The frames of nearly all of your choices will hold you fine, but you may have to buy other wheels or wheel and deal with the dealer if your bike doesn't come equipped with wheels that will work for you. Most of what I've heard about today's Sora is that it's pretty darn good. I would avoid going lower than that. Save up more if you must. No point in buying much less than Sora. At that point I'd be looking for a good used bike with Sora or better regardless of how long it took.

brawlo

My vote would be for the Specialized. Just before christmas I bought a Felt F4, but I was also toying with the idea of replacing my old aluminium frame with another newer model. The CAAD10 was at the top of my list, but the Specialized Allez was definitely next, and I very nearly went that way, and I still might in the future because I've still got that bike in a trainer. BUT I do race and stiffness for me was a necessary quality.

You DO have to ask yourself what you want from the bike. In looking at the specialized, the frame is a keeper and you can upgrade the components. If you enjoy the cycling thing, then you will no doubt want something that will resale well, because you WILL want to upgrade if the bug bites. Getting a bike because it has Sora over 2300 is a null point in my opinion. The performance difference will not be that big and the frame will most likely not be as good. Add to that, you're a new rider and you probably won't notice any difference anyway.

Did you choose the shops due to proximity? I would do more looking for shops carrying 2012 and earlier stock. You will get a better bike for the money you are looking to spend. Also consider going second hand for the same reasons.

Have you considered Chain reaction Cycles? They have a Giant and the Kona ***** Tonk in you price range. Not sure if shipping might kill those off too. They're well regarded frames and better component specs as well.