Entry level road bike for a 6' 4" student

[BigBigWill]

I am a 6’ 4” student living in London looking for an entry-level road bike between £200-£300. I give my height because I have read that frame sizes vary and suit cyclists of different heights.

Over the past year I have ridden a fairly battered mountain bike, which I recently fitted with slick tyres. These have been fine, but the gears simply do not go high enough for going fast on straight, flat roads (the reason why I am beaten by my female flatmate on her road bike!) and their frames are too heavy to accelerate fast and quickly build momentum.

Now that my daily commute to university will be 22km minimum, 37km if you include the days I cycle to the river and back to train for rowing, I need something faster!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[vickster]

Decathlon - good spec for the cash and come in large sizes - I would guess at a 60cm for your height? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/ They have a branch at Surrey Quays

Will you have a secure place to lock it up - bike thefts are very common in London. You'll want to spend £50+ on some good locks and get insurance

 

[smokeysmoo]

Hi Will, I'm 6' 5" with a 35' inseam, and my current three bikes all have different frame sizes. My Cannondale road bike is a 60cm, my Specialized Langster Steel is a 63cm, and the Peugeot tourer/winter bike I've just built is a 62cm.

Each bike fits perfectly as the fit is not just down to frame size, but geometry, reach, stem length, crank length etc, etc. I don't want any of this to put you off, but just to illustrate how it's not possible for anyone to tell you what size you need, advise yes, but you need to get along to an LBS, Evans is a great choice purely for the range they carry and the fact they do test rides. Get yourself fitted up, try some different makes and styles, and go from there.

Even if they have nothing in your price range don't forget 2012 will be coming thorugh soon, that means bargains on the 2011 range, although this is not always possible with larger frame sizes as I've found in the past, but still could be worth a shot.

Then if all else fails, you will be informed and aware of your sizing requirements, so you can go along to Decathlon and pick up one of their highly related yet very affordable road bikes

 

[Mad at urage]

The gears are too low and it's too heavy to accelerate fast?

Larger chainrings, smaller cassettes are the answer to the first. To the second: There's no such thing as a slow bike, just a slow rider . Since you train in rowing, think of the power that sprint-training on a heavy bike will give your legs! Heavy bike is good training, a light bike won't give you the returns in strength you are getting now!

MTFU and up the gearing would be my advice .

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Halfords' Carrera TDF Ltd is worth a look: on sale at £299, down from £449!

Being pretty common, you'll find plenty on E-bay and in the classifieds: get a test-ride from the shop then search for a second-hand bargain if it suits you.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Halfords' Carrera TDF Ltd is worth a look: on sale at £299, down from £449!

Being pretty common, you'll find plenty on E-bay and in the classifieds: get a test-ride from the shop then search for a second-hand bargain if it suits you.

Worth remembering that not many Halfords actually offer test rides, it certainly doesn't seem to be the norm going off peoples experiences on here. Not a bad recommendation though the TDF

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I stand corrected, I assumed that being a big outfit they'd offer test rides (are you listening Halfords).

 

[smokeysmoo]

I stand corrected, I assumed that being a big outfit they'd offer test rides (are you listening Halfords).

I've have heard on here that some do, but I also have the distinct impression that most don't. Like you said JTW, come on Halfords, get with the times. If Evans can do it then they have no excuse.

 

[vickster]

Evans can put a bike together however...I am a bit sceptical of their ability to pick the right size though (the test rides help, although once round the block isn't really a substitute for a proper fit)