BlackPaw

Hello forums, I hope some of you can assist me in choosing a road bike that I will be glad I purchased.

Basically the criteria for me is

-Under 800$ or slightly above budget (most important criteria - absolute)
-Great reviews by various magazines, websites, users (important)
-Comfortable bike for longer rides, more upright position, daily commuting and really long rides (centuries rides once every 2 weeks maybe) in summer (very important)
-flexibility and versatility ill use analogy here, if i got a ferrari and the car breaks down on the road I will need special equipment or expert for ferrari to fix it. or if i want to load the car with boxes i wouldn't be able to, so a bike that doesn't have very special technology that it's hard to fix, a flexibility if i want to add racks for bag mounting for example or space to fit bigger tires. (very important)

What I don't care about is whether the cables run inside the frame, whether it has carbon stem or not. Also having disc brakes is not very important for me.

So to summarize a bike that is comfortable even in longer rides, flexible (space for larger tires, or rack mounts) and is under or around 800$ if possible

Also, post any helpful links for research.

Thanks in advance.

gsindela

Allez

https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gea...er-1000-32772/

https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/...le-work-scheme

sevenmag

Save up to 60% off new Shimano 105 Road Bikes - Gravity COMP22 | Save up to 60% off new road bikes

Good deal on a solid aluminum/105 bike if you're at all wrench savvy.

PepeM

Allez, Optimo, Contend, One Series. All the major manufacturers have a bike that fits your criteria.

ptempel

If you aren't afraid of wrenching on your own bike, then used is the way to go. I'd look at:

- LeMond
- Specialized Roubaix
- Giant Defy
- Cannondale Synapse
- Diamondback Century
- Trek Emonda

Those are designed with a little more relaxed geometry. I don't know if all would be able to fit bigger tires, however. So you will have to check out the specs for what comes up. Start combing craigslist and Ebay for what's available near you. You also will need to have a good idea of what size will fit you. Also search for good bikes folks use for audax or randoneuring events.

dirtydozen

I would buy second hand. Go throught your local second hand thing, and when you see a bike that has the right size for you, just look at reviews to be sure it will fill your needs.

Before buying you can watch one of the numerous videos that tell you what to watch out when buying a second hand bike so you don't end up with a broken one or whatever

zymphad

Don't forget looks, the one that is comfortable and looks awesome.

The only criteria that really matters is?

When you look at the bike, you want to ride it. That's it. If you look at the bike and you just walk away, that's the wrong bike. Whichever gets you moving the most, is the right one.

For example, if someone wanted to give me a $10,000 Specialized Roubaix with everything top of the line... wrong bike, as all I would want to do is put it up on Ebay or Craigslist.

And looking at that Cube Axial, I want to ride that. I want to feel what it's like to ride that, that bike interests me.

BlackPaw

thanks for the replies everyone, i have been researching these entry level bikes by some of the big companies in the bike industry...

i was looking in the contend and allez e5 specifically, since those are the bikes that fulfill most of my criteria

i was wondering how much more comfortable position do i get from the contend based on comparing their geometries

https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/s...l-2017-l-53-5/

PepeM

The Allez is racier but both should allow for a comfortable setup as long as you get the right size. You should test ride both if possible.

gsindela

+1

topflightpro

I'll second the suggestions for the Roubaix, Defy or Synapse.