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road bike for commuting max £300

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 franksnb 01 Feb 2013
any bargains out there? my last bike was a mountain bike so i dont know what to look for really. my commute will be 24 round trip/day. cheers
 doz generale 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: it would have to be 2nd hand at that price. best entry level road bike new would be something like a specialised allez costing about 600. If you did find a new road bike for under 300 i doubt weather it would be up to a 24 mile a day commute.
 Chay 01 Feb 2013
In reply to doz generale:
If you did find a new road bike for under 300 i doubt weather it would be up to a 24 mile a day commute.

Rubbish! triban 3 is around that mark and i've ridden/know many people that have ridden multi-sportifs on them.

T3 punches way above it's way, best new bike at that price imho.

GB

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html TRIBAN 3
 Run_Ross_Run 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:

Let me know if you are thinking of a road bike as i'm getting rid of my 2009 Spec Allez Elite soon for an upgrade.

I can forward some pics once you've decided.
OP franksnb 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: hey thanks guys. what are your opinions of the bikes on sports direct?

http://www.sportsdirect.com/viking-echelon-race-road-bike-mens-933086

darren im based in dundee, it may be a bit inconvenient to pick your bike up from wales. im 6"1 what frame size is it? is it suitable for me?
 Chay 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: I'd definitely avoid that at all costs...54/42T at the front; no chance! You'd find that hard going starting out unless everywhere you ride is flat.

Like I say for £300 you wont find better than the Triban 3; other than that it's second hand imo.
OP franksnb 01 Feb 2013
In reply to GingerBread22: sorry what does that mean? 54/42T is bad because...
 Chay 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: Basically the higher the number of the coggs at the front the harder it is to turn the pedals, your lowest front cog is 42T; you'd struggle to pedal that up a hill...

Triban has a triple 50,38,30..so it gives you a lot of easier gears due to the 30 and 38 at the front this'll get you up hills/through windy conditions.

54/42T is more like pro gearing, that said even pros have a 38 on the front sometimes.

GB
 Chay 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: 50/39/30 sorry..
In reply to franksnb:
> (In reply to franksnb) hey thanks guys. what are your opinions of the bikes on sports direct?
>
> http://www.sportsdirect.com/viking-echelon-race-road-bike-mens-933086
>
>

That bike is considerably higher specced than the one I did my first club run on ( 100 miles in 8 hours round the lumpy bits of Northumberland). It had a heavy steel frame ( not 531 tubing). It was cobbled together from a variety of mostly secondhand components. I was 15 at the time. You don't need a good bike to do 24 miles a day - but it helps.

You just need to MTFU

PS -- I own a Carbon Ribble Gran Fondo nowadays -- I need all the help I can get!


 Chay 01 Feb 2013
In reply to Lord of Starkness: In reality though, buying that bike with that gearing however better specced than your original bike will be far less pleasant than a better bike with more accommodating gearing. That commute is possible on a 54/42T but you'll enjoy it far less than on something more suitable..

Man points aren't important in my book.
oxoman1965 01 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: Triban 3 without a doubt is a very good entry level bike that punches above its price tag. Carrera Virtuoso is also good and you can get a good one off ebay well under your budget. Don't bother with Sports Direct bikes IMHO most of them are not worth the heavily discounted prices. I just picked a nearly new virtuoso up for my son in immaculate condition for £150. Just be careful if buying second hand plenty of rough dogs out there as well.
 JCurrie 02 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:
Do some searching for reviews of the triban 3. It's a steal at the price.
I tried twice to order one but stock levels were zero, which says plenty surely.
Ended up getting a second hand bike off gumtree.
Very happy with it too, got lights, rack, pannier, mudguards thrown in.
So now I can keep my R3 for summer only
Jase
In reply to GingerBread22:

It was 50 years ago - and I was still schoolboy relying on pocket money and a Saturday job to get me in to cycling. Within 12 months I was riding on tubs and competing in junior road races with guys who went on to be pros!
With regard to gearing, back then about all you could get were 5 speed freewheels. I was one of the first in the club to go to a 6 speed.

A 12 mile each way commute should be no great issue on most bikes, unless you have serious hills to negotiate. When I came back in to cycling after about a 32 year layoff (age 58) I was riding a bike with 42/52 chainset, and a 14 - 26 6 speed freewheel and could get up most hills that were less than 10% without too much difficulty.

A lot of people spend a lot of money on a first bike - then find it's too much like hard work. You can get in to cycling relatively inexpensively, however if you find you get hooked on this cycling mularkey, you'll soon be lusting after carbon fibre and 20 gears. Your first cheap bike can then be relegated to duties as a winter hack.
 Chay 02 Feb 2013
In reply to Lord of Starkness: Well, If I got a 42/52 as my first bike I'd never be cycling now, I'd have sacked it in after a few rides of undulating roads. I was a fit, young climber/mountaineer and wouldn't have the power to get up hills in a 42, I'd have been sore and hated every minute of it. So you have a very different experience to me, very fit and strong 58yr old...
 jubolo 02 Feb 2013
In reply to doz generale:
> (In reply to franksnb) If you did find a new road bike for under 300 i doubt weather it would be up to a 24 mile a day commute.

I got a Triban 3 as my commuter/winter hack, so far this week it's clocked up 110 miles.
I find the groupset on it infuriating at times but it is a £300 bike and I have to keep reminding myself that. The whole purpose of having it is that I can treat roughly and, although I'd be unhappy if some scrote pinched it, I wouldn't be as devistated as if my sunday best went.
Rigid Raider 03 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:

Triban 3 is excellent in the frame and forks and major components but the wheels are carp and you need to grease the hubs or budget for a £100 set of Shimano wheels within a few months. Also with anything but the standard Btwin tyres fitted, Triban 3 won't take mudguards.
In reply to GingerBread22:
> (In reply to Lord of Starkness) So you have a very different experience to me, very fit and strong 58yr old...

Not that fit and strong -- 65 now -- and still struggle to hang on to some of the other OAP's in our club who go out on the longer Sunday runs.

OP franksnb 04 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: thank for the advice everyone. tried the trban 3 on sunday, it seems fine/good to me. impressions were that it was very light the brake were not great and the tyres would get replaced with something more forgiving.. ill keep cruising ebay and gumtree for a bargain until i need the bike (1st march)
OP franksnb 04 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: @ lord of starkness:this thread was a request for advice, i'm not offended by your comments but slightly confused as to why you bothered writing them. I could do the commute on a unicycle for maximum man points, however i dont want to be completely knackered when i arrive at work.
 Chay 04 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb: The triban breaks aren't terrible in my experience, but yes upgrading might be an idea though it's not essential to. The tires aren't too bad, I rode a while on mine before upgrading but it's another area you could invest a few quid in to improve the ride if you're after comfort rather than absolute performance- perhaps 25c? slightly wider/more comfortable.

Anyway, the T3 will get you there in much better shape than something with silly gearing that's for sure. Awesome value for money.

GB
 Timmd 06 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:
> (In reply to franksnb) hey thanks guys. what are your opinions of the bikes on sports direct?
>
> http://www.sportsdirect.com/viking-echelon-race-road-bike-mens-933086
>
> darren im based in dundee, it may be a bit inconvenient to pick your bike up from wales. im 6"1 what frame size is it? is it suitable for me?

16 gears isn't great, it meaks you've only 8 cogs at the back which 'could' limit upgrade potential int he future, 8 speed shifters are generally budget ones.
 Timmd 06 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:
> (In reply to franksnb) hey thanks guys. what are your opinions of the bikes on sports direct?
>
> http://www.sportsdirect.com/viking-echelon-race-road-bike-mens-933086
>
> darren im based in dundee, it may be a bit inconvenient to pick your bike up from wales. im 6"1 what frame size is it? is it suitable for me?

16 gears isn't great, it meaks you've only 8 cogs at the back which 'could' limit upgrade potential int he future, 8 speed shifters are generally budget ones.
 Hephaestus 06 Feb 2013
In reply to franksnb:

If you can stretch to £350, there's a Genesis Flyer available on ebay for your delight and delectation. Looks in good condition.

Jim
OP franksnb 07 Feb 2013
In reply to Hephaestus: there are no gears and its miles away but thanks for looking. im in dundee so i limit the ebay search by 100 miles around there.
In reply to franksnb:

Check when the local police are selling off unclaimed lost and stolen bikes they've recovered. Occasionally real bargains appear.

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