j814wong

Does anyone have any suggestions? As I'm only a beginner, I don't plan on doing any racing but when I get into college, I plan to join a bike club for group rides. I am a 5'10" male. I am not willing to spend any more than $375 in any case. I currently have a very cheap mountain bike from Toy R Us for 3+ years which works fine but is insanely heavy and by nature of the type of bike it is, not suitable for going fast on roads.

To help me narrow my search, what types of shifters should I look for? What brand hardware should I avoid or look for? Besides size and fit, what aspect of a bike is most important?

Thanks a lot.

Here are some bikes I am looking at.
Giordano Libero White 700cc 22 Inch
https://www.amazon.com/Giordano-Liber...X1BU82E4&psc=1

Schwinn Volare White 18 Inch
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Volare...I2RW46MZ3ONFRF

Schwinn Seneca 700c
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Seneca...GFULAQGM&psc=1

GMC Denali
https://www.amazon.com/GMC-Denali-Roa...I2FQ7P5RK2WEAL

Mercier Galaxy Tour
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...alaxy_tour.htm

Motobecane Cafe Latte
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fe_latte_x.htm

Windsor Wellington 2.0
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington2_IX.htm

Gravity Avenue C
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...y/avenue_c.htm

Mercier Galaxy AL SC3
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._al_xi_sc3.htm

You professionals, in all your experience, will most definitely scoff at these bikes and my $400 budget but keep in mind that I am not a professional. Maybe I might, after mroe experience, join competitions or races just for fun.

TampaRaleigh

check out Bikes Direct.

dtrain

Craigslist. Something with Tiagra would be outstanding like this: https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/bik/3601832743.html

island rider

+1

unionmade

At that price, you should be looking at CL. Depending on where you live, you might find a shop that sells a lot of close out old stock. I got my daughter a new 2011 Jamis Satellite Sport for $330 before Christmas, but you need to look.

Yo Spiff

I'm not familiar with he Giordano, but all the others are department store quality bikes. Schwinn has two separate lines of bikes these days, bike store bikes, and mass market bikes. These two Schwinns are the latter.

For $400, I would suggest keeping an eye out on the used market and getting a used but higher quality road bike. $400 can get quite a nice bike on the used market. You'll have to educate yourseld of what to look for, however.

On an older bike you may find downtube shifters, though at $400 you can also find something with integrated shifters.

Have you looked at Bikesdirect.com? Many people here have bought from them and the bikes are a notch or two better than what you have linked above.

Sidney Porter

Out of those 4 the Giordano or the Denali based upon the 8 speed cassette and brifters vs the stem shifters. What size do you ride?

Really for $400 you can get a used entry level big brand bike. Which is going to be better

Check out bikes direct
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm

merlinextraligh

Unfortunately, its tough to find a good bike with components that are going to work well, last, and repairable. At $400 you're getting toward department store bike territory, that won't hold up to serious use, with the possible exception of a bike from a deep discounter such as Bikes Direct.

Thus, finding a well maintained 5 year old, or so, bike that retailed originally for around $1,000 will likely get you a much nicer bike that you'll get more service from.

Hence the C-list reccomendations.

marqueemoon

Something Japanese from the early 90's with a tricolor Shimano 600 group.

You might even be able to get 90's steel Lemond for that.

If you don't have an irrational fear of downtube shifters or quill stems you can find a very nice bike for under $400 that you can modernize or unload for similar money if you decide to move on.

Nachoman

I agree with Craigslist recommendations.
A buddy of mine found a six or eight year old Cannondale, with 105 components, for $350.00, that has worked perfectly for well over a year now.

bikerjp

BD bikes aside, nothing in your list is suitable for going fast - not if you value your life. BD bikes come with "some assembly required" and would only be suitable for going fast if properly assembled and unless you are a good mechanic you will have to pay someone. Point is, you cannot really get a decent new bike in your price range. Buy used.

Sidney Porter

I wonder when the Denali switched to the microshift brifters? The only one I have ever seen had gripshift mtb shifters that they somehow got on.

Yo Spiff

This appears to be a higher level of bike than the $150 Denali most of us have seen at Walmart. Take a look at the rest of the componentry, it's all a higher level. Interesting. I wonder if it uses the same frame as the cheaper ones?

dtrain

BD also has a scratch-n-dent clearance site: Bikeisland.com

But I'd try the used market first.

datlas 

If you are "not willing" to spend more than $375 and want to "go fast on roads" I agree you are mainly looking at used, and even then you need to be careful with what you get.

Any chance you can reconsider your budget??

Whatever you get, make sure it fits you properly.

j814wong

If possible, I will do the bulk of my research if not all of it online. Then, if possible, I play to see if I can find any scores locally where I can try it out or simply get a better deal.

The most my parents will probably allow is $400 and 375 is already pushing it. Anything faster then a heavy mountain bike on roads is really fine as I not in the market for any speed demons.

j814wong

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'all research the used bike market but the ones on Craigslist are ancient, older then I am.

thechemist

Save more money

hsh101

Lots of good advice here. I'd try to see about spending a little bit more, rather than buy the low-end bikes listed above. What you'd like to get and how much you're willing to spend makes this very difficult for you.

As for CL, keep checking daily... you may find something show up, but maybe you'll need to be patient.

Andy_K 

Nothing wrong with that.

MegaTom

Some might even consider such a thing desirable.​

j814wong

I'm also considering this CXbike by Motobecane. bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm as well as one by Gravity which has multiple gears unlike the aforementioned Motobecane one. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...liberty_cx.htm

I like the roadbike-mountain bike combo that is the cyclocross bike.

datlas 

Another option is to get a set of lightweight MTB wheels with high-pressure slick road tires and ride your mountain bike on the road.

That's not ideal, but certainly fits your budget.

datlas 

That is a single speed. You did not say you want a single speed.

Do you?

j814wong

Come to think of it, I'd prefer multiple speeds. I want the bike to be fairly versatile and the Gravity Liberty CX seems to do just that. Also, I want to replace my MTB entirely as my bike. I also want a lighter bike with drop handles and road and CX bikes fit the bill.