WTD: Solid starter road bike £200-£300

Looking for a friend who I'm trying to get into riding. Just needs to have gears, be solid and more or less running. Happy to do a little work to get it dialled in.

Thanks,

J

For money you can do a lot worse than a decathlon option:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-recreational-cycling-road-bike-rc100/_/R-p-305831?mc=8600531

Personally, I'd want something nice and second hand from here, but the quality of the decathlon are ludicrously good for the price and your friend would get that 'new bike' vibe which is nice...

Yeah that's a great shout actually! I had been looking at CRC's cheap option but all sizes are sold out- hadn't considered decathlon though.

The only issue I see is that the £279 option isn't very future proof...

2-3oo £ for a new bike isn't going to go very far at all - i'd frankly advise against it.
best bang for buck in that price range would be a good quality but unfashionable alloy frame - something like a kinesis T2 / TK3 etc - you can pick them up pretty cheap - under £100 - then best wheelset you can find for under £100 on here. leaves you £100 for everything else - will be tight but doable.

what size is you friend?

@jahknob might have something?

Best thing too do is buy something like a 2nd hand specialized allez like these . Sora groupset. Bike can be upgraded to 105 and lighter wheels in time.

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He's ~172cm, so 53/54cm?

2nd hand cannondale caad3 / 4 from ebay

something along the lines of

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cannondale-CAAD-4-R400-54cm-Road-Bike-Excellent-Condition/114567687711?hash=item1aacc42e1f:g:nb8AAOSwcJhfx5gu

Yeah, I'll see what I can find in this vein. I have a feeling my budget might be a little low though..

Fantastic!

Something like a Ribble might be good value 2nd-hand in that price range.

Another option here