I am shopping for a new bicycle for the road. I am six feet tall & 230lb. What is the best cycle for the price? The local bike shop has a Specialized Allez elite for $1000.00 I took it for a ride and loved it but $1000.00 is alot of moola. Can I order a cycle online at a better price? Is the lighter cycles worth the extra moola? When I was 12-16 years old I road my 10-speed everywhere. I just turned 40 and I need to get in shape. I want something nice that will last along time and be a good ride. However I know nothing about these new cycles... how many speeds do I need?
Any advise would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Gregg

Welcome to BikeForums.

You can but I wouldn't since this is your first bike in a while. Bike fit is VERY important! If the bike doesn't fit you won't ride it!

I'm 57. Returned to cycling when I was 54. I bought a decent entry level bike (Raleigh R600 triple with 105 components).
If you want a bike that you will have for a while get 105 components or better.
If you have lots of hills where you live get a triple.
If you want to lose weight, cycling will help. I lost 40 lbs in my first year of riding.

Do some looking around at a few bike shops before deciding. Let us know what you get.

I am familiar with Specialized road bikes and they are good quality. I just sold a Specialized FSR Enduro Comp MTB. The one you rode is a nice road bike. I would only buy a bike online if you're a seasoned rider and know how to fit yourself properly. I just found the bike I bought online, configured it then drove to vendors store and finalized the fit...

IMO, first...determine how you're going to use the bike, ie: Commuting, touring, racing/training, mountain & trails, etc. Then get fitted properly on the bike that works for your main purpose. Fitting is different on different bikes. A good bike in any category is going to cost some bucks. How much you spend depends on your wallet. If taken care of, any bike will last a life time.

If the bike shop is a good one, its worth using it. You may need them for servicing later. Online buying is for when you know exactly what you want and can assemble and tune bikes well.

Make sure you get the right syle of bike. A competition road bike is good for racing or fast day rides, and Specialized are as good as anyones, but not so useful for commuting, slower paced long rides ,less athletic riding, hills, light touring, commuting. For these kinds of riding a sport touring bike is better.
Jamis make a nice example
https://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/aurora02.html

and so do a number of other makes, but Specialized dont do it.

For advice on fitting a bike, check out

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

GreggUSA,
This is all good advice. A very good friend of mine owns a LBS that specializes (no pun intended) in COLNAGO, CANNONDALE, GIANT. Most of his time is fixing broken bikes that continually come into the shop. Most of these are $89-$129 dept store bikes (including costco and priceclub). These customers think they are getting a great deal, but the $129 bikes are SO CHEAPLY MADE that things just seem to fall off of them. One kid rode his off a curb and buckled the wheel. Another man leaned his cheap bike agains the wall, the bike slipped and fell and the brake lever busted right off. Also, they are so heavy that there is no enjoyment in riding them. They are also so heavy that it takes 2 workers to put these on a bike repair stand.

There are alot of good values in the intermediate line (Shimano 105 - no lower). Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, these are all good options. If you want a road bike, buy from a LBS that specializes in the HIGH-END pro-level stuff - that way, there is a better chance that you will have a good fit.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll let you know what I get. Any more advice out there?

Gregg

Yeah,don't buy online unless you know what you are doing.Try to find a bike with 9 speed in your price range. Many don't like the shifters on the shimano 8 speed and if you decide to upgrade later it's a more expensive proposition.But if you like them, the 8 speed is functional stuff and does suit many. If you have hills,you may want to consider a triple front chainring. Names like Fuji,Jamis and KHS if available in your area are often better bang for the buck. $1000 will go alot further if you buy clearance and trying to go too cheap on a long term bike can be a bad investment.

Also keep in mind that (last I knew) Specialized's warranty is valid only if the bike was initially built and tuned by an authorized dealer. If you find a grey-market Specialized, or most any other brand, at Costco or online, be aware of that aspect. My humble opinion: if your local shop has provided a valuable service such as fit advice, guidance about what model suits your needs, and a test ride, then they've earned the extra money.

Welcome to the forum Gregg USA

Whatever you choose I Know you'll enjoy being back in the saddle again.

All good advice. But no one addressed the number of gearing options. I have an old 10 speed that covers from 52:11 to 33:31. That's a wider range most I've seen. I also have a 21 speed mtb (which doesn't have the high end of the road bike). I rented 24 speed Speciallized on a business trip. Great ride BTW. OK I'd like at least 10 options a few more and you don't get as an abrupt change - oh hum. More than 21 seemed too many. With the 5 sprockets in the rear they can be change one at a time to customize your gear set the larger numbers come in built together clusters or casets (sp?).

So I guess 10 to 18 is plenty. More than 21 and the change and gears get thin and I worry about danty little me (~240#) breaking things.

I like a wide range so I have very low for up hills and very high for getting a good run down hill to haves lots of speed for the next up hill.

I like the detent shifters on levers by the break handles better than the twist the hand grip kind.

Try lots of bikes then get the one you like best from the friendlest bike shop.

Joe

Gregg it also depends on what you are looking to do, what is important to you, and if you ride hard/ long/ for fun/ want to get into racing etc etc. You need to weigh all you want to do with this ONE bike. If you need help feel free to IM/PM me. I work at a shop and we specialize in Orbea, Raleigh, Orbea, Cologna, and Misa.

It's COLNAGO shop guy.No supper for you tomight.

Try the OCR line from Giant.