dimez

Hey guys,

As you can tell from the amount of posts I have, I am new here. I am also interested in picking up cycling as a hobby.

Anyway, I've been thinking about what to buy as my first road bike. I have a hybrid now and I enjoy riding it. But I'd like to get something faster and a lot lighter. I'm just curious what your first road bike was and how did you pick that bike? Was it an entry level bike? Was it more expensive?

andrewluke

CAAD9.

Fantastic geometry gives great stiffness and responsiveness
U.S.A. frame (I do what I can)
It was on sale and the Specialized wasn't ($800 OTD)

I don't know if I'd call it an entry level bike because the riding position is very aggressive (a CAAD8 is a bit more relaxed) but it served me well once I gained the flexibility to take advantage if it.

FWIW, I have not purchased any other bike but a CAAD9 since the first. I adore this bike.

Velo Gator

Mercier Elle (WSD) from Bikes Direct. I loved it and still do. The biggest factor for me was price. It was a smudge above entry level. That's it behind the S2.

Jeepnut22 

Just happened to me this Spring after 20+ years of riding...

It is a decent bike, definitely NOT entry level, and I got it for the great deal available and the reputation of the company and the loyalty I see in those that own the brand...

Love this thing:

Tober1

I'm in the CAAD9 camp as well.
Been loving it since day one. I'll probably test a bunch before my next purchase, but not sure I'll go carbon just yet.

grwoolf

7th or 8th grade (around 25 years ago), bought a peugeot with my own money to replace a schwinn varsity. It was such a huge step up from the schwinn, but it was just a basic road bike. I bought it big and it turned out to fit me perfect when I stopped growing. I just sold that bike on craigslist last year and it was still in decent shape.

Any new mainstream bike will get the job done, but I would plan to spend around a grand at a LBS. That seems like the price point where all the mfg's are competing for business and you get a lot of bang for you buck.

wrr1020

I bought a 2010 Trek 2.1 back in April when i got into cycling. I rode a fixed gear for awhile and decided to get a road bike. I worked with the LBS i bought the Trek from in the past as they helped me with my fixed gear build and the guys their are awesome. I didn't wanna get something too entry level as i knew i would regret getting sora components so i upped my limit and went with the 2.1. Handles well, good components, was in my budget, fits well, and bought it from the LBS i liked most.

ciocc_cat

Gitane Tour de France in 1974. I'd just started college the previous semester, had outgrown my department store "10-speed" and was ready for the real thing. My Gitane TdF had sew-ups and a Reynolds 531 frame and was featherweight light compared to my old bike. I rode it for a few years then traded-up to a full-Campy Nuovo Record equipped Raleigh Pro when I started racing USCF.

Menel

Was dealing with 5th metatarsal running injury. Picked up bike as cross training. Had only ever ridden huffy/murry walmart mtn bikes in the past. What a difference! As cross-training, I give a lot of credit to the bike continuing to keep me injury free *knock on wood*

Starter bike yes, I have an itch for something nicer yet... But really, this bike doesn't let me down performance wise against others locally *shrug* though I could really make good use of a standard double crank instead of the compact, not the bike's fault. Compact was probably the right thing to start out on anyway.

$630 Fuji Al/Carbon, 105/Tiagra from Performance. Lifetime tuneups, etc.

Independent local shop tried to push a hybrid on me... yikes... how that would have sucked. Performance set me up with a bike more to my fitness level and testing the waters price range.
https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...3488&Type=bike
I've since replaced:
Saddle: san marco then Toupe
Lighter Easton wheelset
Bartape, now black
Ultegra pedals

Racey geometry, but comfortable. Did 120miles on it Sunday, only thing sore and beatup are my quads.



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redvespablur

IMG_0516..jpg

An 1986 Allez - but I bought in Fall of 2009 and updated drivetrain to 9 Speed Campy Veloce on Open Pros. A real speedy wolf in rusty sheep clothing


Allez Bicycling 5&.jpg

mzeffex 

1986 grand prix luxe purchased in 2009.

Giant Defy Advanced 2009 purchased the same year.

mtalinm

a used Spec Roubaix on craigslist.

got it after taking my all-aluminum commuter bike on half-century and coming home really, really sore and tired.

was going to get the Spec Secteur but they didn't have it in my size and told me to ride the Roubaix "just for fit." of course they were trying to upsell me. but there was no way I was going to spend that much money ... then I found a roubaix in my size on CL. seller let me ride it for 5 miles and I was hooked.

love it to death ... I use it for commuting whenever it's not raining

pigmode

In high school I had saved and bought a Schwinn Super Sport, mainly for riding around town and for transportation to and from work. Discovered an old crusty pro shop, and became fascinated by the culture of competitive cycling. The owner eventually built me a bike, based on a Campy Record group and a Raleigh Super Course frame. It wasn't such a great frame, the front triangle being Reynolds 531 and the rear chrome moly, but it was my first real 10 speed.

After pounding the ground for Uncle Sam in SE Asia, and a few years in garrison in CONUS and Germany, I worked my way home and picked up a new '76 Cinelli Super Corsa. That pre-Columbo family Nuovo Record-Cinelli was maintained, rebuilt, and ridden for the next 15 years.

truckstop

2008 Felt F75
I was hinting around at wanting a new DSLR since I was shooting a lot for work and the camera I have wasn't cutting it. The Mr. didn't go for it and then decided I should get a road bike instead (?!), which cost about as much as the camera I wanted.

It was a revelation after riding around on a $300 MTB with slicks on it.

Still haven't gotten the camera, but then I'm not shooting much anymore either, and work is upgrading their equipment so it all works out. Now I'm petitioning for a nice P&S.

96WX3

2010 Roubaix Comp Got it cause I wanted to ride more and faster. Mountain bike on the road was not cutting it anymore. Wanted to get into better shape and lose 10 pounds. I got it cause I wanted a carbon frame, I liked how my LBS (only sells specialized for now, small shop) treated me, and I liked the Sram group. Plus he had one in my size ready to go. So far no regrets. FWIW, I am pretty sure I would of been happy with a more entry level bike, but I could swing the Roubaix and its been great.

Having a great time with the road bike. Got the wife to test ride one a few weekends ago, she actually like it. Now to get her set up so we can do some nice long weekend rides together.

BTW, that BMC looks SHARP!

undisputed83

2001 GT ZR 4.0 I sold it on Craigslist. I kind of regret it now. But oh well.

gusmanchu

Cannondale CAD2 R300 - Traded a guitar for it after wanting to get into road biking for so long but sinking all my money into kayaking instead. Picked it up, put some decent tires on it and added a new seat and seat post. After adding clipless pedals I am very happy with this entry level road bike. While I work towards the next level bike I can build up my body with this bike and really get the most out of the next one.

umd

Allez cause it was cheap

timwu12

trek 2.3 because i had just broken my leg motorcycling and the doc said cycling would help rehab my leg, and since the woman said no to any more motorcycles, i figured a nice one time buy for the road bike would prob be best, so i picked something better than entry level, but not outrageously expensive like a carbon fiber bike.

NhiTrac

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster here.

Recently (last month), picked up a Cayo Focus Expert running full Ultegra 6700s. This is my first true road bike and I'm glad I took the bite and didn't opt for an 'entry' level bike which I would have upgraded in a years time.

This ones definitely a keeper for a while (or until upgraditis kicks in).

Previous bike was a Scott SUB30 which is a hybrid. Used this for a good 9 months before aching for a true road bike

Specialized2k10

2010 Allez. I came close to getting a Specialized Sirrus (hybrid). Good thing i went to another store and decided to ride the Allez just for fun without checking the price first. liked it more than the sirrus and end of story.

Machka 

I have no idea what brand my first real road bicycle was ... all I remember was that it was white, and my father gave it to me in about 1977.

Adrianinkc

After buying a brand new Trek mountain bike and riding it for a couple months I decided I needed something faster. I decided on a Trek 1.5 but I didn't like the 2010 color scheme so I went to a lot of LBS asking around about the 2011 until someone said yep I can order it today and have here in a week. So I pulled the trigger and waited the week (which was probably the longest week in my life.) brought it home and started riding, riding, and riding.

hurley.girl

Bianchi Campione. Solid entry-level road bike.

I was tired of riding a mountain bike on the road.

Had to save up for months, since I was fresh out of grad school with a mountain of debt and an entry-level salary.

It served me well for several years.

StanSeven

Look at that scratch on the S2.

Just kidding. But both bikes are spotless.