My friend is after his first road bike and wants pointing in the right direction. His budget is under £600 and doesn't want anything second hand. Are there any bargains around or what would you recommend at that price range? He is probaly just scrapes into a medium sized bike.
I've suggested the Bitwin Triban so far and he's been looking at this: https://www.nrgcycles.co.uk/67071/products/2018-focus-izalco-race-al-sora-9sp-red.aspx
Cheers
Callum
At that price, I'd be looking at "own brand" stuff - so the triban range is a good idea. Have a look what merlin cycles have got in that price bracket as well. Ribble had some enormous reductions in their recent sale, but I think they have all gone out of your budget now. Wherever you end up, I think you can hope for alu frame, carbon fork, and tiagra groupset.
https://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-romagna-tiagra-road-bike-2018-106187.html at £525 with full Tiagra that's amazing.
There also a 105 equipped bike for £499 ... but only in 52cm which may be too small.
Also this https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/127/products/giant-contend-1-road-bike-2017-blackgreen.aspx
Mango Point R? A few options to customise.
doesn’t want anything second hand.
Slap him round the head, as soon as he rides his 'new' bike away from the shop, it's used.
There's some cracking used bikes at that price around, I got a lovely da rosa for less than that a few years ago.
A few years back id have agreed on the mango bike, but after them going bust and leaving people out of pocket to just start up again I don't feel right suggesting it to him.
When it's your first bike not everyone is confident enough to buy second hand.
Past recommending what I have (giant defy) or what I considered when I bought it I'm not enough of a roadie to know what's going on in the road bike world.
Cheers so far
Slap him round the head,
Yep. Second hand road bikes are quite often just like new as they get an easier life than an MTB and a lot of people who buy them don't end up using them much.
SH or sales offer best value, but if sizing may be an issue (it can often be, for a first bike) there is benefit in using a shop - but don't showroom!
I've got a Limited Edition 56cm 2018 Specialized Allez Elite Red Hook edition for sale, 5800 105 gearing, Praxis Alba cranks, DT Swiss tubeless wheels, fits your mates budget easily.
Merlin, Ribble, PX and have a sniff around the sale dregs.
That Sensa up there looks good.
At what you get now for an off-the-peg road bike for £600, it makes searching around for groupset or parts plus frame/wheel bargains very attractive, good bike deals now start at ~£800.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/orbea-avant-h70-road-bike-p375895
not many in stock but if you live close to a store that has some, these are a bit of steal.
Looked at the new Triban the other day, £550ish seemed a bargain to me and easy to try for size etc. Like others have said there are some bargains to be had, but you'd have to know what you're looking at and at least there are plenty of Decathlon stores around.
cube sl road bikes. cranking value.
Nothing wrong with a second hand road bike..not like an mtb that's obsolete within 12 months.
If he must have new then I'd recommend the bottom of the range allez, then look to upgrade the wheels asap. Sure it only comes with claris, but it's perfectly functional. The wheels and tyres are like boat anchors however.
I bought one, slapped on a 105 groupset I had lying about and some new wheels and can conform the frame is a cracker. Very little difference between riding it and my carbon canyon ultimate.
Can't go wrong with a Triban bike at that price point, assuming you buy new. There's a reason they always end up in or about the top spot in road.cc reviews.
What should I be looking for second hand then? I’ll see if I convince him.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-sora-id_8377757.html would be on my shortlist for that budget.