Road bike advice

modea2011

Hi All,

I was wondering if you guys could help me a bit. I have been cycling, just commuting, for a few years with pretty crap bikes and I'm now finally in a position to upgrade and get a good proper one. I just want a fast, light racer that I would be able to cycle around the city and hopefully get into the sport a bit more.
Bike shops though keep on trying to put me off and pushing hybrids instead and to be honest it's quite confusing trying to choose a bike, especially when its kind of obvious I dont know much about them!

Could anyone recommend what might be suitable in around 600eur?

Thanks a million for any help!

Hungrycol

Entry leve road bike start around €750. Have you had a look at the Specialised Allez. Well regarded newbie bike.

Lumen

The reason bike shops are pushing you at hybrids is that they probably don't have any drop bar bikes for €600. For instance, the integrated shifters are much more expensive than the flat bar equivalents.

Now is a really bad time to pick up bargains - if you want the best value you should be buying in mid-winter.

Keep looking though. Online might be an option - Wiggle or CRC for example, but check the size guides carefully and if in doubt e-mail them about sizing.

Russman

This may or may not interest you....

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=31162

petethedrummer

The specialized Allez is €615 in cycleways.
http://www.cycleways.com/store/category/22/104/Road-Racing-Bikes/

modea2011

thanks for the suggestions.

the giant defy 3 looks good - a little over budget though!- i have heard about the giant rapid 3 which sounds good aswell...same price though.

thanks for the cycleways tip, i might go down tomorrow to have a look. would you recommend this bike?

also, thanks for the website suggestions but im using the cycle to work scheme so i dont think i can buy online.

Lumen

wecouldbeheros wrote: »

im using the cycle to work scheme so i dont think i can buy online.

Your employer may have restrictions but the Revenue doesn't care where the bike is bought.

austinbyrne21

I can give a thumbs-up for the Specialized Allez - my first "proper" bike and I'm still mad about it. In saying that, I've no basis for comparison...

funkyjebus

you wont really get a good road bike as said dor less that about €700. I paid €850 for my starter a year ago. If you do want cheap and chearful then go with the carrera's in halford (although don't expect advise or good service from them. I got the gf on and it does a good job for occasional use. but my recommendation would be to hold off and buy when you can afford 100 to 200 more.

you do know your employer can take the money out of your wages over a 12 month period, therefore you don't have to pay a penny/cent now.

try to push for a tiagra / sora groupset

modea2011

lumen - my employer goes about it in a complicated kinda way and needs forms filled in etc but sure ill email and see if its doable

thanks austin, ive no basis for comparison either so id say ill be pretty happy with it!

modea2011

yea i know you dont have to pay all up front, but i wanted to start off as cheap as possible, 800 just seems so much at the moment to be spending, esp as im only starting and probably wouldnt notice much difference between the bikes yet!

thanks for all the advice though, will hopefully make the choice by the weekend!

Saxobank

Hey, the giant defy 4 is about €550, grand bike i bought one as a starter last summer hasnt given me much trouble at all.

humbert

I too got the Specialized Allez last year and would give it a hearty thumbs up.

Lumen

wecouldbeheros wrote: »

lumen - my employer goes about it in a complicated kinda way and needs forms filled in etc but sure ill email and see if its doable

I wouldn't worry about it unless you find some killer deal that you wouldn't be able to get in a local shop. I looked through Wiggle and CRC and there wasn't anything that shouted out in your price bracket. The online bargains are more (off-)seasonal when they are clearing out stock or disposing of end of line gear from distributors.