Spec me a road bike :)

AHarvey · 23 May 2013 at 19:17

Hey,

Shares payout this month and want to get myself a decent road bike.

One of the lads at work will be doing a lands end to john o'groats run next spring and it sounds great fun, with the extra cash I have I thought it's time to treat myself.

Looking at £300 to start, plus helmet, lights etc on top. I can upgrade as I get a better understanding and get in to it more.

I know halfords are having a half price sale this weekend so £600 bikes for £300 but I don't know what I should be looking for.

Any advice or suggestions?

Vonhelmet · 23 May 2013 at 19:32

It looks like the Halfords sale is mainly to shift the Carerra Zelos, which is not a very good bike.

For £300 I doubt you'll find anything better than the Triban 3 from Decathlon.

AHarvey · 23 May 2013 at 19:38

to be fair, the Triban 3 seems to be the suggestion for any budget up to around £500 from what I've just been looking at

I was just hoping to make the most of my day off tomorrow, pick one up and get a ride home. Going to have to have a look at see if I can find somewhere that stocks the Triban and that I can get shoes etc from as well.

The local bike shop only seems to start selling bikes at £800 up to £11k

Vonhelmet · 23 May 2013 at 19:46

A good bike costs a lot of money, I'm afraid! The Triban range are freakishly good for the prices you pay.

#Chri5# · 23 May 2013 at 19:52

AHarvey said:
to be fair, the Triban 3 seems to be the suggestion for any budget up to around £500 from what I've just been looking at

I was just hoping to make the most of my day off tomorrow, pick one up and get a ride home. Going to have to have a look at see if I can find somewhere that stocks the Triban and that I can get shoes etc from as well.

The local bike shop only seems to start selling bikes at £800 up to £11k

Decathlon will sell you everything. Their own brand stuff offers decent VFM which is what you need with a small budget. Nearest stores to Stoke are Warrington or Stockport.

AHarvey · 23 May 2013 at 22:22

thanks for the advice, might talk the wife to giving me a lift over to Wednesbury tomorrow morning and have a look, its the closest to me as I live 20 miles outside of stoke.

38 miles, if I buy one I'll need to ride it back....could be an interesting first journey

As a total noob, what would you say the essentials are that i'll need to ride away with?

[DOD]Asprilla · 23 May 2013 at 22:31

AHarvey said:
As a total noob, what would you say the essentials are that i'll need to ride away with?

Allow me to point you at page 1of the Road Cycling Essentials thread

It should answer all your questions.

Oh, and hope you enjoy it!