Hi guys. I am new to the forum and road cycling in general. I don't know if this is the route I want to take or not but I bought a mountain bike and returned it because it was generally too slow. I live in the mountains but most of the trails around here are extremely rough and I already have a tore ACL and don't want to risk endo-ing on some root again.

Thus, I quite possibly am in the market for an entry level road bike. I found this one -

https://www.rei.com/product/842588/sc...r-50-bike-2013

I like REI even though they are about an hour away from me. I know Trek is the revered road bike brand around here but I don't want to sink over 1k just yet in a bike.

Primary use will be public greenways (which none are exactly near me - I will have to haul) and some biking on my road. I will definitely not be using this to commute and will definitely not be racing or competing in any way. I will also generally not be using this on highways as I am just too damn scared to do it.

What do you guys think?

If its a 2013 they changed the frame to resemble the foil and internal routing.

After a quick google, I will infer this as a positive change.

Not a fan of 8 speed Sora, Didn't like the thumb shifter doodads. And Trek isn't revered. Cannondale is Specifically CAADs.

How would something like this fare?

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...eries/8_4_ds/#

It sounds like something I would want - trail capability but quick on paved trails too.

^ Sorry, Wife and kid came home while typing. Yes its good. Its more aerodynamic and the internal routing is nice. The previous version was designed after the CR1 - more upright geometry.

I just made the switch from hard tail mountain bike to road bike myself. And I got the s20 version of the exact bike you're looking at after testing every damn thing available. I rode Trek, Scott, Cannondale, Giant, Brodie, Cervelo and Opus. I chose Scott mainly on gut. After riding all the bikes, this one just agreed with me. It was stable and responsive when I rode, and I found it comfy. You certainly wouldn't be trading off any quality going with them. The bike is every bit as good as an equivalently priced CAAD, Trek or Giant.

Personally I'd see if you're budget would at least let you get to the Taigra level of components. You'll be happier with the shifters and 20 gears.

This.
I bought a Chinese bike with Shimano 105 shifters/crank/cassette/derailer/crank for $950 and it's a good bike, but part of me wishes I held out for a CAAD10 with Dura-Ace because it's a timeless design/American classic and shifting is a significantly better. However, I must give my bike credit because it's been fantastic for it's 2000 miles and I have zero complaints.

You absolutely do not want a bike with Sora shifting, SRAM Rival or Shimano 105 at the least. The thumb shifters are awful and the cables flopping around in your face are annoying.

If you're not ready to sink $1k into a bike, get something used of Craigslist until you are so over-powered that you submit and buy a nicer bike.

Thanks for the replies thus far. I can go up to $1500 so price isn't really an issue but I always don't want to sink too much into it as a beginner that doesn't have a whole lot of safe places around me to ride.