Wanted: Road Bike for London City Riding (with gears) - First time buyer & help/advice needed!

I am looking for a good road bike to buy - to be used getting to and from work on a daily basis. I would also like to be able to use it to cycle longer distances on weekend cycles with friends.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Many thanks!

Charlotte :) :) :)

how tall are you and what is your budget?lol
RaspUtinLeeds

165cm and £400 ish. thanks! :)

Btwin, available at decathlon http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html

Or very slightly over budget also at decathlon http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-id_8306944.html

I have the flat bar version of this bike and thoroughly recommend it. Light aluminium frame coupled to a carbon fibre fork.

Agree with ^ if you can stretch it, the improved components will be worth it in the long run

in your£400 budget do you need to buy clothing and cycling shoes?
if so it may be prudent to buy a good second hand bike!?
do you want straight bars or drops?
what sort of bike have you had before?
Rasp

plus you will also need some lights to be road legal..what

And a good lock (see locks that work and secondary locks threads)...

did you get sorted out?

If it hasn't already gone:
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/254323/?offset=25

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/nework-500-city-bike-id_8303893.html
+
x2 http://www.decathlon.co.uk/u-mini-bike-d-lock-yellow-id_8203082.html

Can't see any reason to get the other one unless you like drop bars loads or are planning to go somewhere really hilly often.

I like the "lifetime warranty on the frame, fork, stem, and seat post".
Tells you a little about their confidence in the rest of the components.

Get what other one?

@Philbythesea all the parts the warranty are btwin(decathlon own brand) all the other parts are sram?

@The_Kindness_of_Trees the triban people are putting links too.

Philbythesea linked to a lovely Carlton that's infinitely more attractive than those BTwins. Does that matter to you?

There was the mention of going for longer rides at the weekend, so the Tribans would make sense from that point of view I guess?

The hub is SRAM, the disc brakes (but not the levers) are maybe Hayes, but the rest is cheap no-name parts that will last about a year of moderate riding before they start squeaking, creaking and grinding. It weighs 13kg. It's the kind of bike that puts people off bikes.

Some of these are sold, but look what you could have for less than £400:
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/258996/#comment11990214
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/258841/#comment11965528
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/256400/#comment11875642
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/257677/#comment11942557
http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/257585/#comment11920356

Or new for £400:
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/76344/Cannondale_Quick_6_2015_Womens_Bike
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/66608/Giant_Defy_4_2014_Bike
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m18b0s18p15287/RIDGEBACK_Velocity_SE_2015
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-grater-1-mixte-2015/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bobbin-blackbird-cornfield-yellow/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bobbin-noodle-rifle-green/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kona-dew-2015/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwinn-fastback-3-2015-womens/