StormShadow

I'm completely new to road bikes, having spent the last 10 years riding a Carrerra hybrid for short ~5mile commutes. I am in the market for a basic road bike both to use for commuting and to start using for fitness and maybe progressing to some long distance rides.

I would welcome your opinions about Mango Bikes' new 18spd road bike. It seems to have only been released last year and I've struggled to find any proper reviews (road.cc says one is due soon).

Specifically I'm looking at this bike:
The Bumblebee 18 Speed Road Bikes - Original | Mango Bikes

Spec summary:
Steel frame, comfortable geometry;
41mm alloy rims;
Microshift R9

I'm not looking to spend more than £500 and this bike is currently on sale for £375. It's listed in road.cc 13 best beginner bikes and lots of the others listed are no longer in stock for a standard 6ft 32/33in inside leg person.

Thanks,

Si

velociraptor

So, what's up the placement of the FD on this bike? That's like almost 2" above the chainring.

Stucky

If you just need a bike for transportation, and that's all you can afford, it'll get you from point A to point B- but basically, it's a heavy piece of junk. It's hi-tensile steel- probably weighs 35 lbs.- and the components are crap.

You really won't get the road biking experience with such a bike. If that's all you can afford, look for a good quality older used road bike. Your hybrid is probably a lot sportier and closer to feeling like a road bike than this thing.

sced

It looks like a pretty good deal to me. Microshift is very good value. You might look around for a used bike as an alternative.

shelbyfv

That seems way overpriced for the dubious components and cheap steel frame. Look at Bikes Direct for comparison. A used shop brand bike will be your best value.

StormShadow

That is my thinking. They've been seeking single speed / fixed bikes for a couple of years and I can only find excellent things said about these in terms of value for money - this being the key driver for me as I'm not looking to spend a lot and therefore accept the bike will have a low spec.

Other bikes in in a similar price bracket that seem to be reviewed well are:
Giant Defy 5
Boardman Road Sport

Stucky

Just about anything would be better than that! That thing weighs what TWO road bikes should weigh; it weighs more than any modern mountain bike, even. It weighs more than your hybrid. What's the sense of getting something that weighs more and is of inferior quality to what you already have? I mean, I doubt it would fall apart or anything- it's probably built like a tank- but between the heavy weigh low-quality hi-tensile frame, and the cruddy components, it just won't be pleasurable to ride. Quite frankly, it's worse than anything we'd get here in the states at Walmart for $149. For what you'd spend on the POS, I'm sure you get an older, used, quality bike that weighs around 20 lbs and has quality components. Or as said above, a store brand or Bikesdirect type bike for the same money.

PiLigand

You could probably get a nice used bike locally for less.

I'm don't think that one's worth the money. But it doesn't look BAD by any means. If I had it, I'd ride it. I wouldn't buy it for close to 400 pounds, though. Maybe 200.