newbie for road bike

[lordjenks]

im really new to this sorta stuff.....im lookin for a road bike and i will have bout £450 to spend at the end of xmas. i am bout 170cm but still growing as i am 15.. i am bout 9st
i am looking for a new road bike with drop handlebars and one that looks nice i have been looking at the new giant defy 409 but i was thinking about geting one 2-3 years old so it would be of a better quality.
i know this is very open ended but any help i could get would be good becuase my local bike shops...around reading arent that good- i havent found any that good
thanks guys

 

[Radius]

How about what I'm getting
BeOne Storm 2.0

(Shimano) Tiagra equipped (decent-ish mech, rather than Sora which is still alright but entry level, and much better than 2200 below that [which incidentally is what is on the Giant Defy 4 you're looking at], decent frame, and the company has a good rep for making good stuff at cheaper prices! And all for the princely sum of £400! Bargain!

Not sure how long it will last though as it's the 2008 model.

 

[Young Un]

The BeOne looks excellent value for money.

But do look second hand as I saved 235 pounds by buying second hand and there was nothing wrong with the bike ie brand new condition.

Steve

 

[lordjenks]

jeeze guys that was realy quick, thanks tons.... the BeOne storm looks really nice..u know what size i would be at 170cm und still growin... 54??
any other sugguestions...thanks tons

 

[Radius]

Yeah probably a 55, but it's all dependant on other variables separate from your height. That's a general rule, obviously you can't test it out. Remember it's easier to make a small bike bigger than a big bike smaller, but on the other hand if you're still growing you don't want to buy something you'll grow out of quickly...

 

[BIGSESAL]

How about what I'm getting
BeOne Storm 2.0

This will come without pedals so you will have to pay more than £400.

Im in a similar position and have been looking at this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/roubaix-2008-road-bike-ec000287.
It,s last years bike but that means you will get it a bit cheaper. Also it comes with carbon forks unlike the Giant.

I was looking at the Giant for a while too. With the Giant you get a 5 year frame warranty, plus it is a good make.

As for sizes this might help http://www.evanscycles.com/help/bike-sizing.

I am in a similar position to you so my advice probally isn't excellent. Hope you find something good,
Scott

 

[Radius]

This will come without pedals so you will have to pay more than £400.

Actually, not according to someone else on another forum, he said it comes with standard cheapo flats even though it says it doesn't...

Im in a similar position and have been looking at this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/roubaix-2008-road-bike-ec000287.
It,s last years bike but that means you will get it a bit cheaper. Also it comes with carbon forks unlike the Giant.

Again, componentry: Sora, rather than Tiagra, and you're actually paying more!!!

I was looking at the Giant for a while too. With the Giant you get a 5 year frame warranty, plus it is a good make.

Don't mean to pick up on everything you said (sorry! ) but that generalisation can tend to be why they make a lot of their money. There's nothing to say that anything else isn't a good make apart from experience. Granted, Giant are known as a good brand, but I'd be wary of thinking like that, especially in the low end of the market as some manufacturers (once again probably not giant) can be guilty of exploiting their reputation in order to glean sales from unwitting new buyers!

 

[Dave5N]

I know I say this all the time, but really, join a club if you haven't. You'll get good advice, and they are usually quite nice nowdays.