I’m struggling with runners itb so I’m limited to biking. This time of year I can’t get out in the week on my mtb so is like a road bike. I live in Cardiff and there’s loads of good road routes starting from where I live.
I think I’d like second hand with a budget of £450 top. Recomendations would be good. Carbon forks and lighting wheels would be a preference.
I’d second the Defy. The cheaper ones are not the lightest. An alternative would be a 54 cm cannondale CAAD8. Probably the best alloy frame in your budget. There is nothing wrong with a Boardman, that World Championship geometry is actually identical to a Giant TCR.
We have or have had all of the above.
I’d choose CAAD8. It has a beginner-friendly higher front end, but can do anything. At your budget, the wheels will be heavy, whatever you choose. The Defy has the best wheels.
I picked up a Cannondale CAAD8 of ebay for £200 last winter.
It’s a brilliant bike even with the cheap saddle and everything.
Broke a spoke in rear wheel 2 weeks ago, ordering new wheel set this weekend from wiggle or CRC £70.
I will upgrade group set as soon as I can scrape a couple of hundred quid together.
But yeah, it’s a great frame.
I’ve just bought a merida scultura 900 for £400, carbon forks on it. 1st road bike and very happy with it, never realised how much quicker it would be than my mtb
Just be careful. I have just bought my first road bike in a very long time and it’s astonishingly quick. In two rides, I have come off once on ice, fortunately on to a soft verge, and almost outbraked myself on a damp and mucky but very busy road. So far my main conclusion is that I have a good deal to (re)learn.
You have loads of good options though, I’d be flexible and focus on things like (as you say) getting a carbon fork, maybe a 10sp 105 groupset and something with clearance for 25mm tyres.
Something comfy with disc brakes, and sold as a winter trainer/audax/cyclocross rather than a race bike (unless you are planning to race)
I know that limits the second hand options but it is the thing i most regret about the road bike I bought – I’m constantly nervous about braking on descents and in commuting traffic.
The saracen hack or whyte dorset/sussex look good for close to your budget – I think edinburgh cycle had a dorset with cable/hydro new for £500 last week
I’m not sure that group set matter so much on a second hand road bike – if you get into it, you’ll want to upgrade anyway and a full 105 can be had for under £300. same for wheels most bike that retail for less than £2000 have cheap wheels (Shimano R501’s on a £2400 Pinarello!!)
Got a Cube peloton for sale size 56 (54 in most other road frames btw) it has full shimano 105, compact gearing ultegra rear mech and shimano r500 wheels.
robidoo1athotmail.co.uk
For any pics or info
I just got my first proper road bike. After riding a 2013 giant defy for 4 days in the alps and up mont ventoux, i thought the defy was a great and comfy all rounder. It climbed great as far as i am concerned, and those were some proper hills i tested it on. So, i just splashed out on a 2015 defy advanced 1. Its great so far, although the saddle may get swapped. Id heartily recommend one.
Very nice. I am happy to report that my 7 kilo Defy Advanced SL also goes up hills very well indeed! It now wears the Dura Ace the frame has deserved. I’m also happy to say that the Defy 5 Teen2 rides is an excellent bike that does not climb quite as fast – I suspect the engine.
I bought a bottom of the range Defy 4 as my first road bike a few years back. Looks and feels way more expensive than it was (about 500 quid if I recall correctly).
Still riding it today, 3 times a week.replaced the chain a couple of times, been through a fair few brake blocks in the winter, a couple of gear cables and some minor fettling to tighten the odd bolt.
It seems to take the rough and pot holled roads round here in its stride.
To be honest I have not ridden anything else in that price bracket but its hard to see you going wrong with a Defy.