MY FIRST BIKE

[daniel melia]

Hello all, i am looking to buy my first road bike, i dont really want to spend over 500 quid.. ive seen a bike for 350 quid that looks pretty decent, its the GIANT SCR 4. is this bike a decent first bike or is there better out there in the same price range. is there any people on here from Liverpool?cheers lads. 

[Tom Staniford]

Giant always do good bikes.What you need to think about, though, is exactly what you're going to be using the bike for. If you are going to commute in winter, you might want a more comfortable racer with spaces for fitting mudguards. If racing, you simply want the stifffest/lightest bike around. You must also think about any other things you might want to buy, like proper cyling shorts, gloves, helmet, glasses, shoes, clipless pedals, etc. It soon adds up!If you decide exactly what you will use the bike for, we can give you loads of specific bike names and information which should help you out a lot.Hope this helps.

[Simon Knowlton]

My LBS has one of them in the window for £250....

[Lamby]

Am new to the sport myself and live across the river from you in New Brighton. I have had excellent advice from every1 here.....one thing is a must, LBS and get measured!  Deeside Cycles in Shotton, ask for Keith, he spent alot of time helping me out and i got a good deal on a bike and great advice. Hope this helps.

[daniel melia]

thanks a lot for the replys guys, appreciate it... Ok what i want the bike for.. to go on long rides maybe 50 miles at a time, to ride to work when the weather is nice.. none of my friends are into riding.. so i am seriouselly considering joining a local cycling club.. if i am to be honest it is to use on my two days of per week to get out there on long rides and have great fun.. i want it to be light and fast!! .One thing im really struggling on deciding is to go for straight bars or drop bars, i like the idea of a more upright riding posistion but i also like the more aggressive posistion of the drop bars. Bikes i have in mind are. GIANT SCR 4. SPECIALIZED ALLEZ. SPECIALIZED SIRRUS. TREK 7.3 FX. GIANT FCR 3. as you can see there are some straight bar and drop bar bikes in there lol, just cant decide what to go for? As for buying helmet, clothing and other accessories i wil just be buying them as i can afford them lol! cheers lads, Daniel

[Ángel García-Forcada]

Go for drop bars, you will soon get used to them, allow more position for the hands and are definitely more aero. You can go reasonably upright with a judicious use of spacers and a setm with a high angle.

[daniel melia]

thanks for the advice mate.. any tips on what bike to go for.. im thinking of looking for a bargain on ebay too. or do you think buying secound hand is a no no?

[Tom Staniford]

I'd be very worried about buying stuff off ebay. Whilst you can get some cracking good deals second hand, unless you know exactly what is good and what is not you can get ripped off. It's too risky, and its just not the same as getting a new bike which you know everything about.Now we know what sort of stuff you want, I'd recommend the Trek 1.2. (have a look HERE)Firstly, its got drop bars and good spec.Secondly, it's black and red- the two sexiest bike colours, in my opinion. You're a liverpudlian, so a bit of black and red can never go wrong, mate! ;-pThirdly, my first ever road bike was a Trek and it was absolutely brilliant. This year's models are even better. You will be impressed, I can tell you.You should be able to get it for about 450 pound from your Local Bike Shop. Explain that you're going to be coming back regularly. Even better, buy all your kit at the same time frm the same shop and they might be more willing to give you a big discount!

[Jaraslov Oblodibich]

If your buying second hand only do it with someone you know well or who can be traced, I wouldnt buy anything from E-bay, especially bikes. I bought a Quest from a customer of the shop and its wicked but I consider myself a good judge of character  and I also brought my friend along to make sure I didnt get carried away. Good luck

[Ángel García-Forcada]

You can always get bargains in ebay and the like, but I do not think it is a good idea regarding a whole bike, another question is if you can find something second hand good in your LBS, backed by the owner. I have sold quite a fez bikes in perfect state and their owners have enjoyed them for years, through LBSs.Tom has given you excellent and thorough advice. Said in general, Giant makes reliable bikes (taking into account that they build millions of them every year, is not that remarkable). Usually, as they are mass produced, they are very cheap and I would say good bikes to start with.

[daniel melia]

the TREK 1.2 is a lovely looking bike... time to start saving up

[daniel melia]

kind of narrowed it down to allez, trek 1.2, or the giant scr 4 (only 350 quid) is the giant no were near as good as the other 2 mentioned?

[daniel melia]

im thinking about being naughty and getting one on finance, just cant tell my girlfriend lol

[daniel melia]

I know i am probably annoying everyone by now ... sorry, i just want to be sure i get the right bike.... I have narrowed it down to 2 bikes now... the trek 1.2, and the specialized allez 18. i have always liked specialized bikes, and i think it is a little bit better looking than the trek.. is the trek a better bike tho?? lol sorry guys

[Tom Staniford]

lol. I don't know why Giant are cheaper, to be honest.I know a few people who have giants and like them. I know people with Specialized Allezs and Trek 1.2s (or the older 1000 model), however, and LOVE them. They have a similar spec and both have good frames for the price.I suppose, if you can't have a test ride at a local shop on both, go for the one that looks nicer. Trek bike bias aside, you can't make a bad decision between the Trek and the Spesh.If affording the Trek is tricky, ask your bike shop whether they have any old Trek 1000s left. (which will be heavily discounted, maybe even to 350.)

[NickF]

Hold on - all you guys saying don't buy a second hand bike off eBay...Where would you sell a second hand bike?   eBay gets by far the biggest audience - I have sold two bikes on eBay, got a fair price and the buyer has received a very reliable and well looked after bike.But - if buying, ensure that you can go and see the biek first, and if unsure take along someone who knows what to look for.Not everyone on eBay is a crook looking to offload a stolen or poorly maintained bike.Re. the Trek or Specialized - I'm sure you'll enjoy riding either.  Go with your instinct...

[phil parker]

Totally agree with your answer, Nick, but in fairness to some of the others, I wouldn't particularly advise buying one's 'first bike' from eBay, - unless, as you say, you take someone else along who knows what to look for!!  It's OK for us seasoned vets!! we already know the pitfalls, through experience!!

[Tom Staniford]

I did say earlier:"Whilst you can get some cracking good deals second hand, unless you know exactly what is good and what is not you can get ripped off. "