First Road Bike advice

smr · 29 Jul 2016 at 19:49

Hi guys,

Looking to get my first road bike - had mountain bikes etc. when I was a kid and teenager but haven't had a bike for years - however I need a decent way of getting fit and don't want to run (dodgey ACL knee from football years ago) + cyclings more fun)

So I'm looking at getting a first road bike, I don't want to spend too much, around £200-250ish, what would you recommend please?

UTmaniac · 29 Jul 2016 at 19:55

If you have no objections to flat handlebars, Voodoo Marassa, it's basically a rigid fork mountain hybrid. Great spec for £240, consider changing tyres to something lighter for your expected type of use eg. 700x35c Schwalbe Kojak for road.

Lethal` · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:13

Something from Decathlon or maybe Ribble's Prime: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-prime/

smr · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:42

Lethal` said:
Something from Decathlon or maybe Ribble's Prime: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-prime/

Better than the B'Twin Triban 500 SE for the same price?

Vonhelmet · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:47

The Ribble has better shifters and derailleurs.

The Ribble is absurdly good for £300.

smr · 29 Jul 2016 at 21:09

Vonhelmet said:
The Ribble has better shifters and derailleurs.

The Ribble is absurdly good for £300.

Seems good from what I've read but I can't find _that_ many reviews on it.

smr · 3 Aug 2016 at 12:33

I've narrowed it down to the Merlin PR7, Triban 500SE and the Ribble Prime now... so of those which would you buy?

The Triban and Prime are £300 but the Merlin is slightly more at £370 with delivery.

Though I'm aware it's best to go to a shop and get fitted properly for the best bike anyway and by the look of it Ribble are an independent based in Preston, same with Merlin.

randomshenans · 3 Aug 2016 at 13:38

That Ribble is stunning VFM!

randomshenans · 3 Aug 2016 at 13:40

The ribble and Merlin are pretty much the same spec, but the Ribble is cheaper.

smr · 3 Aug 2016 at 13:53

I'm 5"11 and the website is only showing size 54cm though :\

smr · 3 Aug 2016 at 14:05

Yep no Ribble Primes left - all 54cm and "nothing around the £300" as I've just spoken to a Ribble employee... so its looking like the Triban 500SE..

PermaBanned · 3 Aug 2016 at 14:32

If you happen to be on O2, there's this:

https://priority.o2.co.uk/offers/578e136fe4b03dacd56376e0/mango-bikes-£120-off-a-haden-road-bike

Otherwise, the 500 or the 500SE are still solid first road bikes. Evidently lots of people get on just fine with the Microshift groupset, for £50 less I'd consider going for the 500 and getting some wider tyres to help with comfort, unless you have super smooth roads.

Lethal` · 3 Aug 2016 at 14:44

That Mango pricing is a little cheeky as they were selling it at that price a few months ago when they released it and now they've upped the price and made an 'exclusive' offer

smr · 3 Aug 2016 at 15:15

If I go second hand what should I be looking at when I go to view the bike?

Schizo · 3 Aug 2016 at 18:34

smr said:
If I go second hand what should I be looking at when I go to view the bike?

Do you have access to the cycle scheme at work ?

Ducky89 · 3 Aug 2016 at 19:25

I was about to post and ask the same thing... Any good buys on the C2W? Looking at the Giant Defy or Spesh Allez? Any more?

smr · 3 Aug 2016 at 22:25

self-employed.

I think I might pop over to decathlon and check out the triban 500SE. well reviewed.

haz_pro · 4 Aug 2016 at 08:07

I've got a 500se.

Worth noting that on the smaller bikes (I think 51 and the smallest size) have 650c wheels; probably won't be looking at that size any way due to your height.

I really like it, it rides well, has carbon forks which is good for the price.

One thing I don't like is the microshift gear system. The front mech took an age to set up, and I find that the rear gears are quite loud, despite being set up perfectly as far as I can tell (might just need to bed in, I've only done a few hundred miles on it so far).

PermaBanned · 4 Aug 2016 at 14:28

Have you tried adjusting the B screw? Sometimes that can be the cause of some noise even if the gears themselves are indexed well.

haz_pro · 4 Aug 2016 at 20:26

yep, I did indeed.

Tried pretty much every adjustment possible.

To my (trained, believe it or not) eye, it looks perfectly setup, I really can't see any reason for the noise.

One day i'll try and get to the decathalon store in Croydon, maybe they'll be able to help (but it means I have to go into Croydon... shudder).

Here is a couple of videos:
https://goo.gl/photos/5t3f5iwsZ1XWbqkVA