Road bikes under £250

[Chris Norton]

if your in the market for a halfords bike, spending a few quid on british cycling membership may save you the cost of membership plus a bit in the discount.

Just saying like.

 

[Sully]

Hi Chris can you explain that to me please DOH sorry

 

[Cycleops]

Friday night wind up?

I think you are probably right, our friend hasn't been back.

 

[bozmandb9]

Damn, I was going to ask on here if anybody local knew the stock levels before I rang the store. I reckon I need a 54 frame as I'm 5'7 with a 31 inch inner leg, but would have liked to have tried a few more sizes.

Its a long way for me to go just to look, but its my closest store.

I've been checking stock on the Red, and you're in luck, the 54 seems to be in stock and in good supply, but it's the only Red they still have, and they assure me they won't be getting any more, because they weren't making enough margin on it, hence the downspecced White 2013 edition! So if I were you, I'd snap up a Red now!

 

[bozmandb9]

Lad was 11 on the day of this ride, 45 frame - shortened the stem and fits fine ... 650 wheels, need to search for lighter ones.

Thanks, we've found a 45 locally, I assume you couldn't get a Red in his size? Also I guess the 650 wheels are a slightly better option at this size. So has the white been good for your body? How long's he had it? Do you take him out frequently? etc etc (Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!) ;-)

 

[Tcr4x4]

I've been checking stock on the Red, and you're in luck, the 54 seems to be in stock and in good supply, but it's the only Red they still have, and they assure me they won't be getting any more, because they weren't making enough margin on it, hence the downspecced White 2013 edition! So if I were you, I'd snap up a Red now!

Thanks for that, I might give them a ring and see if they can reserve one. Not sure when I'll be ale to get over there though.

 

[Sully]

Have you compared the TB3 (red) with other bikes within this price range then Tcr ?

 

[Tcr4x4]

Haven't ridden any, but the reviews of the triban and the fact even second hand they are selling for £299 or more speaks volumes. The other bikes I'm looking at are the carerra virtuoso, and the tdf, although im open to any suggestions of more.

I'd prefer a new bike if I can, and the triban is the right spec and the right price.. I've spoken to decathlon, Reading have the red in a 54 frame, however the price will be £329.99 not £299 as that's a web price only, so I've got a decision to make.

 

[Radchenister]

@bozmandb9 - IMO the white is a more robust, with the steel forks perhaps even being a bonus for a young one to deal with bumps and scrapes (crashes eek (?) - he's had a few on his MTB) and due to the shifters, they're more user friendly for small hands, my lad also has white bikes as a sort of signature thing - circa three proper rides so far, longest 43k, he's doing fine.

 

[Chris Norton]

Hi Chris can you explain that to me please DOH sorry

Membership of British Cycling can cost £14 with the right discount code. 10% off at Halfords on a new bike and you have the cost back and some more. Buy some lights, computer and some spare tubes and it all adds up.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Haven't ridden any, but the reviews of the triban and the fact even second hand they are selling for £299 or more speaks volumes. The other bikes I'm looking at are the carerra virtuoso, and the tdf, although im open to any suggestions of more.

I'd prefer a new bike if I can, and the triban is the right spec and the right price.. I've spoken to decathlon, Reading have the red in a 54 frame, however the price will be £329.99 not £299 as that's a web price only, so I've got a decision to make.

If you can stretch to it the Triban 5A is good value, 2013 9sp sora triple with carbon forks. extra £130

 

[Radchenister]

Yep, all the upgrades the TOC crew have already undertaken, except for wheels are on the T5a - although if you can push a steep hill on a compact, without resorting to silly small granny ring on a triple (should be able to modify a bit lower as well if necessary) and can stretch to the £600 for the T7, you're getting a lot of bike for the cash that will take you to a level further up from the 3, 3a or 5a ... assuming your aspirations are to progress that is.

If you just want to pootle and see the bike as nothing more than a leisure steed / occasional use fitness tool / commuter etc., then the T3a or Red T3 are no brainers ... even if Halfords are (were?) knocking out something for £250 (as the original poster probably meant to highlight for the company in a tongue in cheek way ) .

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Yep, all the upgrades the TOC crew have already undertaken, except for wheels are on the T5a - although if you can push a steep hill on a compact, without resorting to silly small granny ring on a triple (should be able to modify a bit lower as well if necessary) and can stretch to the £600 for the T7, you're getting a lot of bike for the cash that will take you to a level further up from the 3, 3a or 5a ... assuming your aspirations are to progress that is.

If you just want to pootle and see the bike as nothing more than a a leisure steed / occasional use fitness tool / commuter etc., then the T3a or Red T3 are no brainers ... even if Halfords are (were?) knocking out something for £250 (as the original poster probably meant to highlight for the company in a tongue in cheek way ) .

Your missing the concept of a triple, my 30x26 is 30.35" a 34x28 is 31.94" but I have one more gear between 34x28 and 34x24 @ 37.26" a 30x23 @ 34.3" then my 30x21 @ 37.57" therefore better control.
With the gearing much the same at the low end, I dont view as a granny ring just gears to be used at the appropriate time. In fact my triple (with a granny ring) has the same range (or there abouts) of most compact doubles, but with less drop on the front as the other two rings are a 40 and 52 (which I use most of the time, much the same as a proper double), and with closer ratios on the rear overall better cadence control.
Also remember there is only 4th difference between a compact double and a road triple of 30th which is not very much on the front.

 

[Radchenister]

I'm not missing the concept at all, I've had two triples in the last 4 months and they've served me well for what they're good at, in fact they still do on some of the 25% stuff in Wales and the Cotswolds, also when I'm worn out and over cooked myself.

You can't deny though that the overlaps are crude as hell and the changing is compromised by the geometries involved and very heath robinson - if I was able to ride then (on purchase), like I can ride now, I'd be on two front rings ... hell, maybe even proper grown up non compact ones !

You're just defending your own choice, which is also my choice, so perhaps you assume too much?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm not missing the concept at all, I've had two triples in the last 4 months and they've served me well for what they're good at, in fact they still do on some of the 25% stuff in Wales and the Cotswolds, when I'm worn out and over cooked myself.

You can't deny though that the overlaps are crude as hell and the changing is compromised by the geometries involved and very heath robinson - if I was able to ride then (on purchase), like I can ride now, I'd be on two front rings ... hell, maybe even proper grown up non compact ones !

You're just defending your own choice, which is also my choice, so perhaps you assume too much?

I ride mainly on the 52/40 rings. I dont find any problems with the shifting on the front, with only a little rub on extreme rear cogs (which you don't do) the point I was getting at is that the range of gears is pretty much the same not lower on a triple, and the use of the term granny ring is inappropriate when a 30x26 is pretty much the same as a 34x28, if I ever have a double it will be 52/40 52/39 with a rear 12 or 13 upto a 32 which would give you a 39x32 giving 32" but closer grouping, than a compact, as you say personal choice.