Bike reviews

I use an old Mountain Bike, keep the gearing low so no straining chain/sprockets and it pumps the legs - over 4 years including initial purchase I have spent £400 and that was with a few cables and services - unless you do mega distances, why spend.  Only thing I wanted was an alloy frame to save some weight, but then again I'm a big bloke.

check out Bike Radar website and make use of the forum

I bought a Specialized Allez Sport earlier this year using Cyclescheme and haven't looked back since

Kwilter39 wrote (see)

What's wrong with Halford's?

Didn't try to flog me an expensive one either, unlike the guy at my local bike shop who tried to get me to pay £200 for one.

£200?!?!
Sorry if it sounds (even in the slightest  elitist), but that won't even get you a reasonable pair of wheels - & that's not including tyres, or a cassette

Conor Byrne wrote (see)

Hi all, I am looking to buy a road bike to co some extra training. I don't know anything about bikes except how to ride one. If you know any good sites with reviews and information I would appreciate it very much if you could pass them on, many thanks.

First question is how much are you wanting to pay?

'Planet X' (Rotherham, South Yorkshire) & 'Ribble' (Preston, Lancashire) are possibly two of the best purveyors of decent bikes.
Both will allow you to build to your own price/specification (even down to handlebar width/stem length/crank length, etc...) 
I'm on the cusp of ordering one of their 'winter bikes' to replace my 18 year old Dyna-Tech (work-bike)

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/bike-builder/bikebuilder/1

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/bikes

i would suggest you go to www.bikeradar.co.uk - it has amazing forum. How much do you want to spend? 

For £300 you can get the Triban 3 from Decathlon which gets amazing reviews for it's price. If you are going to go up from there the Giant Defy 1 gets tonnes of recommendations at the £1000 bracket.

Mostly it will come down to how you 'fit' on the bike though.

God the bike snobs are out in force.

The TdF Carrera from Halfords is going cheap at the moment, about £300, its a good starter bike and has the equivalent spec as bike twice the price.

Dont get caught up in all the hype with expensive gear, it is the engine that peddles it that makes all the difference.

With winter coming up do you really want to be spending loads of money on a bike that will sit in the shed and depreciate in value?

errrm - the original thread is over 5 years old so I would think that the OP will have sorted something out by now..... 

as for bike snobbery - there is in every sport - deal with it.  £300 will get you a bike yes, but whether it's "good" is down to a person's individual view on this

There is bike snobbey in every sport, what even darts

I ride several bikes, in sportives, triathlon/duathlons and see lots of guys with all the gear but on idea.

I also see many people throw money away on expensive light weight bikes, when they themselves are carrying several spare tyres around their middle.

But you are right its the individuals point of view and up to them on what they spend their money on.

I was merely providing another side to the arguement.

I don't disagree Rod - all the kit and still shit etc....

but if people want to spend their money on expensive kit let them.  for many who do it's usually because they can justify it, will get improvements, or just snobbery.  but equally you will get many who think an expensive bike will bring perormance when in reality, they don't have the engine for it.

we have 8 bikes - we each have 2 road (race and everyday), a singlespeed, and a good MTB.  I also have a Ti MTB frame waiting to be built up.  we like bikes, we like spending money on good bikes but we don't go OTT and spend on bikes that are we are unlikely to justify the spend or gain anything from.

I've held off buying an out and out TT bike for tri as I don't think that with my weight and windblocking shape that I will gain any more than losing weight will gain.  and tbh - I'd rather spend that money on beer and food!!    call it balance......