Quafadas

Hi Guys,

I've been commuting to and from work on an old mountain bike for a while now, it's about a half hour. The back wheel is broken, and it needs a few other things doing. Rather than spend more money on repairing it, I think I'd like to take the chance to purhcase a slightly better bike, that I can use more, and might evetually even use to do some actual cycling (triathlon?), as well as commute to and from work.

Budget £400. Can't really spend more than this.

This https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=14988 looks like a bargin. I can't find much information on it online though. Anyone have any opinions on it?

From what I can make out, most of the components are low end shimano, but then I don't think I'll be getting anything better for the money. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Simon

eschew

This thread contains a plethora of information regarding road bikes in the £400 range:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/268941-new-improved-under-750-roadbike-thread.html

thechemist

May want to go in to your Local Bike Shop(LBS) and give them your budget and tell them you want a road bike possible for triathelons. They should be able to work with you a bit.

Quafadas

Sweet - thanks for that, i'll have a read through that thread. Plan to viist bike shop over the weekend and see what they have to offer.

MrCrassic 

Take a look at the list here; I believe it's stickied.

It's great that you're getting into road cycling! You'll enjoy it!

$ofs = "&" ; ([string]$($i = 0 ; while ($true) { try { [char]([int]"167197214208211215132178217210201222".substring($i,3) - 100) ; $i =
 $i+3 > catch { break >>)).replace('&','') ; $ofs=" " # Replace right angles with right curly braces

Quafadas

Hi Guys,

As suggested, I've had a flick through that thread. It seems the plan is generally to find last years models and buy them at discount prices . I've also been to the 'LBS', which is an Evans Cycles. I live in London, so the store itself is, to be honest, fairly small, and they don't have the widest range of bikes to choose from. I'm going to head to another store hopefully over the course of the week and try again.

One thing I found slightly surprising, is that the advice i got from the guy in the store was that I'd be better off considering a 'Hybrid' style bike, I think something like the link below.

https://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86039

because; "Road bikes start becoming value for money around the £1,000" mark. I find this a little surprising, reading the thread on sub 750 dollar bikes, I appreciate some suggest that 1000 dollars is the right place to be starting. Even so, given the exchange rate, the number he quoted seems a little high. I'm curious to see if anyone agrees with this opinion? I think at the moment I'd still prefer a genuine road bike, just feels like it might be faster...

have also found the below...

https://www.gumtree.com/london/93/23976893.html

(gumtree local equivalent to Craiglist i think), which i hope to go and see in the next couple of days. Am still considering the link in my first post

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=14988

Anyone have any further advice? All much appreciated!
Simon

Quafadas

P.S am also 6"2 tall , inside leg about 86cm. Am a bit nervous that 56cm frame may be too small. Any thoughts?

Old School

Very likely too small.

mustang1

I bought a NOS Allez (list £530) for £400. 6'1", 58cm. I've never ridden a bike with sora rd,but I've been led to believe one should stay away from that.

ahuman

when shopping for a New bike its best to look at your local bike shops as many as you can go to
Look at all of the bikes and test ride as many as you can. Even the ones you know you can"t afford just to get a feel. take this time to learn about frames and groupos and have them (bike shop) answer your questions. Remember this bike will take you at lest 40 to 80 miles from your home or car. so dont go too cheap .You want a bike shop that take time to make sure the bike fits... Fit is the most important thing.. dont worry the bike for you is out there waiting for you. remember test ride-- then your buget then fit... Did I say that getting the right fit is improtant.
good luck shopping and have fun

K