Beginners Road Bike

[Ness]

Hi there, I want to get a road bike as I'm starting to fall out of love with MTB. I'm not very good or very confident and crashes hurt.

Seriously though, I'm starting to really enjoy the linking sections of my rides more than the off road parts. Is this a sign of getting older? I'm 40 at the end of the year. It's hard work on nobblies as you know though, and I like the aspect of just getting my head down and keeping a nice steady cadence going.
I would also love to take part in sportives and longer charity rides. I definitely want a more upright geometry due to a dodgy back and want a compact double chainset. (This means the Triban is out of the equation, having 3 rings up front).
I don't want to spend a fortune to begin with. £500 or under seems a good starting point. If I really fall in love with road riding, I could then keep it as a winter hack and get something really nice. (I love the look of the Specialized Roubaix in the satin carbon colour for £1500, but that's way in the future).

I've seen these 2 at Wiggle.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-speed-sora-2013/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/battaglin-s11-sora-2013/

Has anyone heard of the brands? I haven't!!

Any other suggestions for as follows:

Up to £500
Preferably carbon fork (not bothered by alloy steerer)
Sora groupset as a minimum
Sportive geometry

Thanks in advance

 

[WorcesteRob]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_810707_langId_-1_categoryId_165710#tab2

Noticed this on the Halfords web site and thought it was a good price, it ticks a couple of the boxes you are after and with the money you save you could change the stem for a more upright posture.

Only medium and large left though I think.

If the link does not work properly it's the Carrera TDF road bike you are after.

 

[MikeW-71]

Giant Defy range are good Sportive bikes and have compact chainsets and 28t cassettes, beginner-friendly. If you can find a secondhand/ discounted one, all the better.

Defy 5 is bang on your £500, doesn't have the carbon fork, but does have 25mm tyres, which are a bit more comfy.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.giant.defy.5/11833/56807/#specifications

Defy 4 adds the carbon fork for an extra £100
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb...nt.defy.4.compact/11833/56806/#specifications

Either way, the frame is worth upgrading over time.


EDIT: since you are after Sora, then that gets a bit more tricky. The two you have linked to seem good, I have no experience of them but I have heard of the brands.

 

[vickster]

Giant as above

2012 Defy 4 in budget here http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-4-compact-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods ; a bit over budget for the 3 if you want Sora http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-3-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods

EBC have the 2013 Defy 4 on sale too

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/giant-defy-4-13

 

[Kestevan]

Guy at work has just prdered one of these from Planet X

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBBTVIPV/battaglin_vip_sora_road_bike

Looks like a good spec for the price - assuming the medium size fits you.

 

[Ness]

Thanks for the replies.
Carrera TDF: I saw that too! Went into my local Hellfrauds (shhhh don't tell anyone) to look at one. Not overly impressed unfortunately. And it would mean breaking my vow of never giving those muppets my money.

Giant Defy: Love them but for carbon fork and Sora, it's out of my price range. Coming up to end of model year though so maybe my local dealer will do a bargain!!

The Battaglin at Planet X is too small unfortunately.

Maybe I'm being too picky for a first roadie though. The idea is to get one to see if I like road riding. If I do (and there's no reason I shouldn't), I'll be saving towards something better straight away. I'm actually looking at the Ribble Sportive Bianco with either Veloce or Centaur groupset. I'm trying to be sensible by not going for that straight away, plus the fact if I get something cheaper, I've got a winter bike.
Or I could just put slicks and a rigid fork on my second MTB to have as a hack and just get the Ribble?

Oh I don't know. As much as I love searching for new bikes, it's also very frustrating....

 

[vickster]

Why do you have to have sora? The defy 4 on special from ash or ebc would be under £500 with carbon fork and 2300 groupset. I think all the campags shifters use the button system too?

I'd go to the lbs and see if a deal is to be had, if not on the bike the on all the other stuff you'll need

 

[Ness]

Why do you have to have sora? The defy 4 on special from ash or ebc would be under £500 with carbon fork and 2300 groupset. I think all the campags shifters use the button system too?

I'd go to the lbs and see if a deal is to be had, if not on the bike the on all the other stuff you'll need

Only said Sora because it's bottom of the "proper" range. I was under the impression that 2300 is so awful it's not worth bothering with. Or is that not the case? Tbh I'm not a massive Shimano fan anyway, but I know that's what I'll get at that price point.

Edit: And if I go for 2300 groupset, I'd definitely be financially better off to save a further 200 quid and get a Triban 3!!!

Like I said, I'm not overly clued up on road bikes!!!

 

[vickster]

Except the latest Triban 3 doesn't have carbon forks, and it sounds like the wheels are poor so an upgrade is needed swiftlly for many

Pre 2013 Sora also had the thumb button. I think there are plenty of people who are happy with 2300

In your situation, I'd be trying to find a lightly used bike

 

[MaxInc]

You seem fairly experienced when it comes to bike tech and I think you won't be satisfied for long with a bike in that price range. I would get a second hand road bike for £200-300 and save for the better bike you know you want if the bug catches you.

In terms of shifters and mechs, I visited an Evans shop and inspected and played with all kinds of shifters before I decided what might be a good compromise for me.

At the end of the day, if it's only a startup bike, they are all frames with a couple of wheels and some pedals. Properly adjusted, lubed and maintained, they all shift precisely and will last for years.

 

[Ness]

Yeah, you're right. Second hand is probably the way forward. I just need to get out and see if I enjoy it.
(Then I can save my pennies for a gorgeous carbon and Campag shod Ribble)

Could you advise of the best places to look for s/h roadies please? Is there a road equivalent of Pinkbike?

*Oh, and Vickster, nice to see a fellow Whyte owner!!!

 

[vickster]

Bikeradar, eBay, Gumtree, Classifieds on here

 

[Ness]

I kind of meant proper sites for buying s/h bikes. Ebay and Gumtree are a joke.
I must be blind but where are the classifieds on here?

 

[MaxInc]

I kind of meant proper sites for buying s/h bikes. Ebay and Gumtree are a joke.
I must be blind but where are the classifieds on here?

http://www.cyclechat.net/forums/classifieds.20/

Also is worth checking with LBS for some bargains and local advice.

 

[Ness]

Cheers MaxInc. Just clicked the link but I haven't got "permission to view this page". Maybe that's why I can't find it anywhere. Do you have to post x amount of times before you can see the buying and selling forum?