Bargain road bike for commuting.

gavmcg92

Hi there,

So as you can probably tell I am looking for a bargain. To let you know a little bit about my situation, I am a student who is fed-up pay €82 every month for a bus ticket to get into college. So... I want to get onto the ladder with those who take the bike to college. I think it will make my life easier and in the long run I will become a lot fitter. (hopefully)

What I am looking for is a road-bike with a light frame, narrow wheels (probably a very noob thing to say on a biking thread :P) and most importantly at a very good price.

My friend bought a bike recently that is exactly what I would be looking at with a price that would be in my budget in a shop called "MacDonalds Cycles" on Aungier Street. I am going to head there tomorrow and see what is on offer but as of now I need some suggestions.

My budget is €300 - €400 but I could stretch another €50 if needs be.

Something like a Trek Triton would be the kind of bike that I am in search of but obviously not at that price :P

Thanks again guys,
Cheers for the help.
Gav



EDIT :
What about this for a start?
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2011-Giro-DItalia-59cm-14-Speed-Light-Road-Race-Bike-/180683514039?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a1193a0b7

kona

gavmcg92 wrote: »

Hi there,

So as you can probably tell I am looking for a bargain. To let you know a little bit about my situation, I am a student who is fed-up pay €82 every month for a bus ticket to get into college. So... I want to get onto the ladder with those who take the bike to college. I think it will make my life easier and in the long run I will become a lot fitter. (hopefully)

What I am looking for is a road-bike with a light frame, narrow wheels (probably a very noob thing to say on a biking thread :P) and most importantly at a very good price.

My friend bought a bike recently that is exactly what I would be looking at with a price that would be in my budget in a shop called "MacDonalds Cycles" on Aungier Street. I am going to head there tomorrow and see what is on offer but as of now I need some suggestions.

My budget is €300 - €400 but I could stretch another €50 if needs be.

Something like a Trek Triton would be the kind of bike that I am in search of but obviously not at that price :P

Thanks again guys,
Cheers for the help.
Gav



EDIT :
What about this for a start?
http://cgi.ebay.ie/2011-Giro-DItalia-59cm-14-Speed-Light-Road-Race-Bike-/180683514039?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a1193a0b7

Budget around e100 for a decent lock too, then another e50 for lights and mudguards, your price range is good and you will get something decent for that.
It all adds up, try and get a discount or something, some places may give you 10% for being a student

gavmcg92

Ohh believe me I will be taking every stop to try and get the best price available. Have you any ideas of a couple of shops that I should try?

blorg

New that budget will get you a decent entry level hybrid. Decent road bikes start at around €550 with occasional exceptions. Your budget would get you a good second hand road bike, perhaps even a regretted bike to work purchase with little use. That is what I would suggest you do.

gavmcg92

blorg wrote: »

New that budget will get you a decent entry level hybrid. Decent road bikes start at around €550 with occasional exceptions. Your budget would get you a good second hand road bike, perhaps even a regretted bike to work purchase with little use. That is what I would suggest you do.

What about the link that I shared in the main post... any opinions on that?

doopa

If its just for commuting have you thought about a single speed? Round Dublin with its flat roads the gears aren't really needed. Advantages include less maintenance and a lighter bike. Also you tend to get a better frame for similar money and if you don't really need the gears why pay for them?

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/brand-new-fixie-fuji-classic-49cm-track-bike-in-black/620180 is 325 euro. Would need a few more bits and pieces though.

Could be got second hand for less - plenty of ads on adverts for fixie's.

blorg

Tis blocked in China, or on my phone, I tried to look but nothing, sorry!

Lumen

gavmcg92 wrote: »

What about the link that I shared in the main post... any opinions on that?

The shifters look like this:



They're not integrated like they would be on even the cheapest (2300/Sora) groupsets.

At this level I would expect problems, but you might be lucky. They are sold by reputable outlets (e.g. Rutland Cycling in the UK).

gavmcg92

doopa wrote: »

If its just for commuting have you thought about a single speed? Round Dublin with its flat roads the gears aren't really needed. Advantages include less maintenance and a lighter bike. Also you tend to get a better frame for similar money and if you don't really need the gears why pay for them?

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/brand-new-fixie-fuji-classic-49cm-track-bike-in-black/620180 is 325 euro. Would need a few more bits and pieces though.

Could be got second hand for less - plenty of ads on adverts for fixie's.

Well I live 15 minutes from the city center, in Terenure, so I think I would use the gears.

I found this one on Adverts.ie that I was thinking of putting an offer in for

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/raleigh-100-road-bicycle-14-speed/722095

Looks like a nice bike and the bloke seems eager to sell.

gavmcg92

Lumen wrote: »

At this level I would expect problems, but you might be lucky. They are sold by reputable outlets (e.g. Rutland Cycling in the UK).

Ohh cheers... So I should try and go for integrated shifters then if possible. Another two that I have my eyes on are these two bikes...

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/raleigh-100-road-bicycle-14-speed/722095

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/

What's your opinion on these... ?

Lumen

gavmcg92 wrote: »

Ohh cheers... So I should try and go for integrated shifters then if possible. Another two that I have my eyes on are these two bikes...

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/raleigh-100-road-bicycle-14-speed/722095

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/

What's your opinion on these... ?

They look fine. Both have 2300-series gears, this is Shimano entry-level for road bikes.

At that price wheels and tyres are likely to be unremarkable, but you get what you pay for. The Raleigh has been upgraded a bit - SPDs and Rubinos are nice to have.

Tonyandthewhale

Be sure to get the right size bike whatever you buy.

gavmcg92

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Be sure to get the right size bike whatever you buy.

I'm 6"2 what sort of size should I be looking at?

blorg

Probably 60cm. I am 6ft and ride 57-58cm.