Help me choose my first road bike!

[OleOle]

Hi everyone

I am about to buy my first road bike and I am looking for some guidance. I will be using the bike to commute to work and also for some longer rides with friends at the weekend, once I build up my fitness. The commute is very short, but rather hilly.

I know absolutely nothing about road bikes. The last time I road a bike regularly was 11 years ago when I was 16! I have been trying to do some research, but I think some help is required! For example, I have no idea whether I need 18 or 27 gears?!

I am buying the bike through my work's ride to work scheme, so the bike must come from Evans. My budget through the scheme is £1000, but this includes the bike and all equipment. I have been looking at bikes between £500-£650, but could be convinced to spend more if it led to a significant improvement in quality.

Here are some of the bikes I am considering:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-16-2011-road-bike-ec025025

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-24-2011-road-bike-ec025026

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-sport-27-2011-road-bike-ec025028

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-sport-18-2011-road-bike-ec025027

I note the sport uses Shimano Sora, rather than the 2300, is this important?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/team-30-2011-road-bike-ec026238

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/12-triple-2011-road-bike-ec023939

Are there any bargains at Evans I am missing?

Obviously I understand that I need to go in and sit on them before making an decisions, but some initial guidance would be very much appreciated.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

For what it's worth, here's my opinion (please bear in mind that there are others here with far more experience than myself, so please feel free to ignore me, I won't be offended):

- research is good, but it's easy to get too hung-up on specs: as a beginner you'll learn more from miles-in-the-saddle than poring over endless reviews and articles.

- a year from now you'll have been bitten by the bug and ready for an upgrade, or your bike will be gathering dust in the shed: either way a grand is a lot to shell-out right now.

In short, in the certain knowledge that the bike you buy now will not be the bike you ride next year, I think you'd be well advised to beg, borrow, but not steal a bike in the short term and see what suits you: ANY bike will do for a short commute (granted, some will make for an easier ride than others) and it makes sense to learn from cheap mistakes than £600 ones.

However, I guess that you really want some firm recommendations rather than "old man" advice: Halfords have on sale their Carrera TDF Ltd for £299. At half your proposed budget it's a mistake you can afford to make; they're pretty common too, so try E-bay and the classifieds for a bargain and save your C2W allowance until you have some miles under your belt!

For good value, decent quality cycle clothing I recommend Wiggle's own-brand DHB gear.

Bonne route!

 

[vickster]

The chap above gives good advice...however, if you are set on using C2W and happy to go high (you may not have cash to buy now I guess)...and the route is hilly, as a beginner a triple may suit you so that'll be the Allez 27 or the Trek. Go have a test ride at Evans and see what you think

Or if you want something a bit different (lots of Spesh and Trek out there), these may be worth a look too...it really depends what you find suits you best as much as the spec

You also have the Secteur range which is still a road bike but has a less aggressive geometry and may suit a newbie better, and you can fit guards and rack for commuting more easily http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/secteur-sport-2011-road-bike-ec025005

Or this with a 105 triple on the back http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/zing-2011-road-bike-ec026553

Good luck, bike buying is fun

 

[Norm]

I went with a Secteur 2 years ago, as the first new road bike I've bought in nearly 30 years. I still love it.

I think that the 2011 Secteur Sports are down to £600 at the moment. I would be happy getting another, there's little (other than the brakes I just got a pair of 105's) I feel much urge to change. But I wouldn't want to blow much more on something that I might not enjoy.

 

[jugglingphil]

I'd recommend having a test ride or two. Evan's do take £50, then pay you back or reduce cost of bike. As you haven't ridden a road bike for a while the positioning may feel strange but if you go to Evans when they aren't too busy (ie not at the weekend, etc) then they should give you good advice.

You can't go wrong with a Spesh or Trek as a 1st road bike.