Racing bike recomendations?

[kimolsen]

Hi i am new to this forum but have been reading with great interest over the last few months. About 6 months ago i decided to give cycling a go as a way of keeping fit. I went down to the local bike shop and was recomended a hybrid bike as i could use it on light off road tracks aswell. Since then i have been out about 3 times a week and really clocked the miles up. A couple of weeks ago i was out on a Saturday morning and i managed to clock 45 miles and was home for 12.00 p.m.

I now feel i want to take my cycling to the next level and perhaps take up a challenge for charity. So i have come to the conclusion that i would be far better off riding a racing bike with drop handle bars.

I presume that i would get a poor return if i part-ex my bike down at the local shop so i plan to sell it on ebay. I am looking to spend between £300-500 on either a new or nearly new racing bike.

Has anybody got any recomendations on either a bike model or the best place to buy, or new or secondhand?

Many Thanks.

 

[Willow]

know nothing about road bike but would be tempted to keep the hybrid so you can still do tracks if you want to. I now have a hybrid got rid of the mountain bike and regret it as now I'm back into cycling some of the routes I take at the weekend ie. non commute would be better suited to the mountain bike.

 

[gavintc]

I agree with willow although your finances may demand that you liquidate the asset to help pay for the new bike. Have a look around the local bike shops, some have adverts for 2nd hand bikes. Equally have a look at the web sites of the local road clubs for 'for sale' ads. I got my first road bike from the 'for sale' ads on C+ web site. It certainly saved me money, but be prepared to buy a new chain and cassette on any 2nd hand bike and maybe a service.

If you go with new, you may benefit from the end of season clear outs. Remember that the 2009 models will be arriving in Sep and shops may be shifting old stock cheap. I have not done much research into this part of the market, but look at Giant, Specialized - these makes seem to do well in any road test in the mags. In addition, have a look at Ribble - pretty good bikes and not too expensive.

 

[kimolsen]

Cheers for your help folks, can anybody else help?

 

[Dayvo]

Cheers for your help folks, can anybody else help?

In other words, their advice wasn't much help!

Are you new to cycling?
Where do you live?
What is the terrain like where you are?
Is there much traffic?
Do you ride in all weathers/all year long?

There is no one answer to your question. For your budget you'd get a decent new road bike, depending on your needs!

Not wishing to endorse a particular company, Wiggle seems to have a decent selection of bikes, as does Evans; you just need to look around/read up on the bikes and go to your lbs and have a ride there.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/Cycle/7/Road_Bikes/

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/complete-bikes/road-bikes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/Cycle/7/Road_Bikes/

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=862

Something to be looking at!

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

[gbb]

Hi kim...
What bike do you have at the mo, and how old is it. It may be worth selling it locally. Try Friday Ads. They have an online version and you should be able to get a free paper copy at garages, newsagents etc. I sold my Bianchi within a day of it appearing in the paper.


My LBS explained they didnt like taking bikes for trade in...they tend to get stuck with them, and although they didnt say it, i suspect they want to sell new ones...not s/h, more profit probably.

If you're on a hybrid now...it's quite a leap when you get a roadbike. Faster and lighter, and although you sacrifice some comfort, they're a world apart.