Wanted: Sub £500 Road Bike

Im looking into buying my first proper road bike (had a really cheap second hand one for a few years).

Im hoping to buy something fairly new, but do not mind the odd scrape. It will be used mainly for commuting (12 miles each way).

Flat or hilly 12 miles?

First, use one of the online calculators to work out what size top tube you need. You can find some listed on here.

Then think about what type you want, I'm guessing a modern alu frame with sti's(?) However, it might help your search if you say that.

If you can stretch, and are happy to go new, Ribble and Planet X are always good places to look. Also if you are looking for commuting, then you might want to think of an audax-type bike, which can fit at least 25c tyres *and mudguards. I'd also consider the PX uncle john. The geo is fairly tight, loads of clearance for big tyres when the snow comes, and if you use 25c tyres I think it will be as fast as any road bike.

*over your 12 mile commute with locks, bag, change of clothes and traffic lights.

Im looking into buying my first proper road bike (had a really cheap second hand one for a few years).

Im hoping to buy something fairly new, but do not mind the odd scrape. It will be used mainly for commuting (12 miles each way).

tell us about your cheap second hand one, whats wrong with it and why you want to change and that might give a good idea as to recommendations

tell us about your cheap second hand one, whats wrong with it and why you want to change and that might give a good idea as to recommendations

I cant stress how poor this bike was, it cost me £40 with downtube shifters, the pedals snapped off after a year and a half, but it was only used for short (~10 minute) rides around uni.

Im looking now for something for a commute into London, so fairly flat. I went to look at an Allez in my lbs but I didnt like the thumb shifters, as I quite enjoy riding on the drops.

Also, when I commute I dont really take much with me except some clothes so I dont need to worry about panniers or carrying heavy loads, and ill be commuting between home and work which has an underground storage so carrying locks around isnt much of an issue.

And you are looking for a 58- which makes you around the 6'2" mark?

And you are looking for a 58- which makes you around the 6'2" mark?

Yes im 6 ft 1, I guess I wont fit a 56" will I?

depends on your body shape. I'm 5' 11.5" and have to ride a 54 because I've got short upper body and arms/ long legs

There is no subsitute for a test ride in terms of fit, all we are really going on here is rule of thumb/anecdotal.

I'd look at 58's, then test ride at Evans or similar and see if you get on with it.

Yes im 6 ft 1, I guess I wont fit a 56" will I?

i'm 6ft2 and ride a 56cm Surly Pacer that fits me well

^28" inside leg, arms like a windmills vanes

quite the opposite I think? I dunno, it fits me, that's all that matters to me. my steamroller is a 59 and fits equally well, with risers though

so is it a road or MTB or Hybrid or fixed you're after?

road I think

with or without clearance for mudguards?

It does have a habit of pissing with rain and a wet arse isn't comfortable............

road I think

Yer im after a roadie.

Im 6 ft but ive got fairly long arms as well, not sure id fit a 56.

got an as new and upgraded with carbon seat post bars and stem one of these, I've hardly used it........

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/speedster-s20-30-sp-2007-road-bike-ec014746?currency=USD&country=UNITED%20STATES

I do have a "dog" large Giant TCR too, no paint on it though as the previous owner decided to take it off for some unknown reason :-( but its easily rectified. All works though, 105 10 speed double on it.

got an as new and upgraded with carbon seat post bars and stem one of these, I've hardly used it........

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/speedster-s20-30-sp-2007-road-bike-ec014746?currency=USD&country=UNITED%20STATES

I do have a "dog" large Giant TCR too, no paint on it though as the previous owner decided to take it off for some unknown reason :-( but its easily rectified. All works though, 105 10 speed double on it.

Theres a lot of gears on that thing, how easy would it be to change that into a double? And how much would it cost to make the change? I am interested in it though.

you'd need to change the chainset to a double of your choice, the STI levers would work the same, although the LH one wouldn't need so many clicks as with the triple.

I could split the bike if needed, as I'd use the parts on another frame

The alternative is swop 105 double kit from the Giant, or have it resprayed @ £80 and it still wouldn't cost £500

ok I do have the Giant kit also 105 which could go on the Scott

To me the more gears the better- never stuck for one in the most awkward of places, the triples I have has kept me going in all sorts of flammin' steep hills, also can use close ratios for keepig cadence level.

you'd need to change the chainset to a double of your choice, the STI levers would work the same, although the LH one wouldn't need so many clicks as with the triple.

I could split the bike if needed, as I'd use the parts on another frame

The alternative is swop 105 double kit from the Giant, or have it resprayed @ £80 and it still wouldn't cost £500

Have you got a link to the Giants actual model?

Would it be worth building it? Surely it would be cheaper that way and I could put on the parts I actually want.

the Giant is a TCR with alu frame and carbon/alu forks, its got 105 10 speed x 2 on it, it looks to have been originally red/white/black.

I'm guessing around 5 years + for age, or there abouts

The forks and some of the bike look like this- http://www.lfgss.com/album.php?albumid=1794

It doesn't look pretty at present but it certainly could do. I rode in part way home when I bought, I had visions of replacing my OCR

currently has stem and 4cm overall bars- I have others, 27.2 seat post in acceptable nick, the 105 brake/sti/gears, I have wheels for it.

I can get the frame sprayed for £80 colour of your choice, not sure on the forks as they need special treatment to respray already painted carbon, I have some Condor carbon/carbon forks I was aiming to use.

Could be sprayed and stickered in Condor stickers to carry out the theme with the forks if you wanted the carbon/carbon forks

Pm if still interested!

Cor you are getting the full Swiss Tony treatment from El Diablo!

I might be interested in the Giant if it doesn't go elsewhere..

Price?

depends what you want on or off it, with or without the carbon/carbon forks or not, pm me an offer !

Could sell the Scott frame alone...........