Wanted: My First Road bike

I would say go modern too. People who whine about a harsh ride on oversized alu haven't ridden track bikes around the streets.

Could you elaborate on this? I was just about to post in agreement but had a thought that actually no, if you use your gears correctly in London it should be pretty much the same approach as when you are on the road.

You don't really need to use gears in London, there are no 20+% gradients to use your lowest gears on, there are no 40mph descents where you can properly work out the big ring, most of the time as soon as you get going you need to slow down again. Using gears around town is just fiddly really, hence fixed/ss being so much better.

I still find climbing harder in a way on gears, but I've got a lot better. You need technique you don't need around town to climb at a decent pace.

Fox and I have almost polar opposite tastes in bikes....chalk and cheese I think.

But we agree on one thing - definitely don't buy a brand new bike! Too much depreciation.

Unusual for a thread on LFGSS to get sidetracked.

Especialy with me around.

Riding gears in London correctly means barely using any of your gears in practice.

In other words, if you're crusing on the flat in the sticks you don't use many gears there either. If you're going to stop you might shift one or two, once you've started you might shift one or two. Simples.

To be fair, it was a question asked by the OP...

^^ Yup, 'xactly.

Learning to ride hills using gears is something I'm still learning and improving on.

i see this on a daily basis. poor chains moving from one end of the cassette to the other and back again in the space of a 200m straight section of road between lights. go fg/ss!

however the combined wear on a cassette if you're spreading that wear over say a 7,8 or 9 sprocket spread (when cycling in cities which are mainly flat) then it is economically cheaper. I mean you can buy a new 9 speed cassette for £15 from a retailer that'll last you circa 5-10k depending on how you ride/maintain stuff. Compare the cost of a single speed sprocket & the amount of wear you'll get & it isn't any cheaper.
regarding wear & tear on drop STIs for instance, I've had 10K plus on Dura Ace, the diff in price between a decent used set of those to say 105 is actually not that great (Circa 30-40% NOT multiple amounts) Derailleurs just last for years & years with the odd cable here and there.
Obviously SS is nice & simplistic and if you dont have too many stops/gradients I think it's the best way to get around but being able to get the most efficient cadence means exerting less energy & having the right ratio for the right situation.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12814930

Seat Tube c-c - 52cm
Top Tube c-c - 53cm
Head Tube c-c - 12.9cm
Seat Tube Angle - 74.6 deg
Chainstay Length - Centre of BB-Centre of Droput - 40.3cm
Fork Rake 60mm
Head Tube Angle 72.3deg

Crank Length - 170mm
Bar Width - 42cm
Stem - 90mm

The Frame is Dedacciai 7003 HT Aluminium with Carbon Forks & Carbon Fork Steerer. The bike does not come with any wheels, due to having sold these already. The groupset is Campagnolo 9spd Daytona, ErogPower Shifters and a 39/53 Chainring combination. The Finishing Kit is from ITM, SeatPost & Stem. Bars are Deda.

It is in SUPERB!! Condition. No dents or any Paint Bubbling, Decals are Intact. Cherished throughout my ownership & although does show minor scuffs (as to be expected) they are not prevailent & will be Sad to see this go, but I am not getting the use from it any longer to warrant it sitting idle. I do have a set of Training wheels I can put in, if you wished to ride it if wanting to view or collect.

you'd just need some wheels. I remember seeing some Aksiums on here for £70 which would be perfect.

That looks like a good deal. Tempted to throw in the towel on my current frame/groupset and go for that myself...

Turns out BikeRadar has loads of this shit in their classifieds.

I've got a pair of Shimano road wheels that Poots could have for a pint...shame its campag. Great deal though!

I was thining about joining BR as they tend to have more road parts. Cringe!

I joined it to buy a Pinarello track bike which someone bought about a minute before me. It was someone on here I can't remember the name of, he then sold it after I bought a different bike (the Pro Winner).

+1 on bikeradar, that's where my Giant came from.

@ fox - need to change to fork was to switch from a quil to ahead. Ideally a slim looking carbon one.

I'd keep an eye out on dum dum dum.. the other bike forums. Bikeradar, retrobike often have modern roadbikes for sale and at pretty good prices. A lot of people on here are members on there, and it may be worth looking through that.

Modern, alu/carbon, 1 1/8, sti shifters etc..

Also try out the different brands of groupset - Shimano, SRAM and Campag and see what you get on with best.

Yo, y u ignore me? :(

who said that?

what, chainbreaker flounced again?

The real question is "why does Stonehedge have such a dodgy short term memory?" Joe!

really? I thought the real question would be why Stonehedge is speaking in the 3rd person.

Not 3rd person if Joe is saying it...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12814930

Seat Tube c-c - 52cm
Top Tube c-c - 53cm
Head Tube c-c - 12.9cm
Seat Tube Angle - 74.6 deg
Chainstay Length - Centre of BB-Centre of Droput - 40.3cm
Fork Rake 60mm
Head Tube Angle 72.3deg

Crank Length - 170mm
Bar Width - 42cm
Stem - 90mm

The Frame is Dedacciai 7003 HT Aluminium with Carbon Forks & Carbon Fork Steerer. The bike does not come with any wheels, due to having sold these already. The groupset is Campagnolo 9spd Daytona, ErogPower Shifters and a 39/53 Chainring combination. The Finishing Kit is from ITM, SeatPost & Stem. Bars are Deda.

It is in SUPERB!! Condition. No dents or any Paint Bubbling, Decals are Intact. Cherished throughout my ownership & although does show minor scuffs (as to be expected) they are not prevailent & will be Sad to see this go, but I am not getting the use from it any longer to warrant it sitting idle. I do have a set of Training wheels I can put in, if you wished to ride it if wanting to view or collect.

you'd just need some wheels. I remember seeing some Aksiums on here for £70 which would be perfect.

My brother has one of these. It is a loveley ride.

monoc goodness.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Monoc-TC2-road-bike-carbon-forks-105-groupset-52cm-frame-/270860218742?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3f1086f176

^ good find.

Lovely bike. Essentially what we have here is proof that £500 can go a long way.

Also proof that while my new Specialized Allez was a great bike, I could have done a lot better with my money back in the day.