First road bike for around £700 budget

[Handlebar]

Planning on doing sportive rides done a few on the mountain bike but time to get a road bike but don't know anything about them, so any advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Handlebar]

Is this any good

 

[Bonacentral]

Try Decathlon for best bang for buck. Also Planet X, Ribble, Merlin, Wiggle, Start fitness and Chain Reaction.

Personally I wouldn't want to pay more than £500 for a Claris equipped bike

 

[biggs682]

Try Decathlon for best bang for buck. Also Planet X, Ribble, Merlin, Wiggle, Start fitness and Chain Reaction.

Personally I wouldn't want to pay more than £500 for a Claris equipped bike

have a look at some of many lightly used bargains out there you can pick up a decent used low mileage one for less than £200

 

[Drago]

Evans a and Paul's Cycles are often good sources of last years models at knock down prices. Now isn't a a bad time to buy, as most have announced their 2018 ranges already, so prices of old 2017 still will start to fall.

BTW, if you're Sportiving you may want something with mudguard eyelets. I've never been fully satisfied with these Crud systems designed for close clearance road bikes.

Happy hunting.

 

[Dirk]

Giant Defy 1 (Shimano 105) - £599
Offer ends tomorrow.

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/318562/products/2016-giant-defy-1-road-bike-white.aspx

 

[Cycleops]

Don't think you'd get a better deal than the Defy1 suggested by @Dirk from a major name
Unfortunately its gone!

 

[vickster]

Giant Defy 1 (Shimano 105) - £599
Offer ends tomorrow.

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/318562/products/2016-giant-defy-1-road-bike-white.aspx

Sold out according to your link, Paul's have the Ultegra 0 though for £750

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6992/GIANT-DEFY-0-2016

Ash have the 1 for under £700, in all sizes apparently

https://www.ashcycles.com/site/defy-range-2016/giant-defy-1-2016?zenid=b05j146rlgvh8a1iaanb0ngl86

And loads of other reduced road bikes from various brands

If you like the Synapse (presumably you've had a test ride?), Paul's have last year's Tiagra disc model in budget

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6600/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-ALLOY-TIAGRA-DISC-2016

@Handlebar where do you live?

If a Decathlon closeby... https://www.btwin.com/en/road-bikes/sport-road-bikes/19896-triban-540-road-bike-red-blue.html

 

[Dirk]

Don't think you'd get a better deal than the Defy1 suggested by @Dirk from a major name
Unfortunately its gone!

Blimey! Someone got in quick. It was still available when I put the link up.

 

[vickster]

Blimey! Someone got in quick. It was still available when I put the link up.

Or the IT dude got to his desk and updated the database...many a time something looks available and then isn't

There's something screwy with the page, it says in stock but then when you click to choose, it says sold out

 

[Cycleops]

How about this Fuji disc Sportif from Evans: https://www.evanscycles.com/fuji-sportif-1-7-disc-2017-road-bike-EV280192
Right on budget and I think they have a trade in deal at the moment for more money off.

 

[Bonacentral]

Wish I didn't post on this thread - some nice bikes at tempting prices there!! You can get a lot of bike for your money nowadays. My 1st road bike was an insurance replacement Specialized Allez 2011 and that came with Shimano 2300 triple. Had an RRP of £650 haha!

 

[vickster]

Wish I didn't post on this thread - some nice bikes at tempting prices there!! You can get a lot of bike for your money nowadays. My 1st road bike was an insurance replacement Specialized Allez 2011 and that came with Shimano 2300 triple. Had an RRP of £650 haha!

Does anyone much pay RRP though unless on C2W or insurance?

 

[Bonacentral]

Does anyone much pay RRP though unless on C2W or insurance?

No I don't think they do nowadays but 6 years ago I'm not so sure. And I was a complete novice. Your friendly LBS will be charging full RRP. Ones round here do anyway!

And not that friendly either! It's all a, quite steep, learning curve. Luckily I have a shop that just does repairs round here so no ulterior motive and he's absolutely thriving. Great business model really. He could easily franchise it and it'd do excellent but I'm guessing most towns have simply repair shops nowadays?

 

[Grant Fondo]

https://www.merlincycles.com/felt-z85-road-bike-2016-93845.html
£525 Tiagra but only 51cm frame size left