My first road bike
If you are considering getting your first road bike, ideally you would be able to spend a minimum of £350 – £400. This would be enough to get you a decent entry level bike and give you a few options. For example, at that price range you could buy a Raleigh Airlite or GT GTR4. However, if you can save £1,000 – you can get a really good bike, which will be competitive in entry level road races.
Although, you can spend several thousands of pounds on a road bike, the difference between a £1,000 bike and £4,000 bike is not huge. If you are a newcomer to the sport of cycle races, your results will not be significantly better for spending an extra £4,000, at least in the beginning.
However, if you want to spend more this is good. It will enable you to save a little weight and choose components with greater precision. Never feel guilty for spending a lot of money on a new bike. A £1,000 bike will give much better value than a £10,000 car (imho 
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Best Frame
It is sound advice to buy the best frame you can. With a good frame, you can always upgrade components later. For example, a good value deal for your first road bike, would be to look at a Focus Cayo (around £1,000) or a Trek Madone 3.1 (£1,500) Both come with a really good quality carbon fibre frame. It is the kind of frame you can build on and later get a top of the range bike. But, don’t feel a carbon fibre frame is essential. Aluminium frames can offer excellent value for money and be as light as carbon fibre. Also, there is a big difference between different types of carbon fibre frames. There is more on best frame material here and also aluminimum vs Carbon Fibre.
A Future Winter Training Bike
In my case my first road bike cost about £700. It was from Ribble Bike builder, based on a Ribble Aluminium frame with Shimano 105 group set. It was excellent value. I really got into road cycling. After 5 years, when I got serious about cycling I spent £5,000 on a Trek Madone 6.9. I still use my Ribble as a winter training bike so don’t worry about getting a £500 bike, it can easily become a winter training bike. When you have a top of the range bike, you don’t want to be taking it out on salty roads in the depth of winter.
Buying Online or In a Shop?
If it was me, I would buy my first road bike at a local shop. You may pay an extra 10-15% but it is worth it to benefit from expert knowledge and also the chance to speak to a knowledgeable bike shop. The main benefit is that if anything goes wrong it is much easier to take it back. The second bike I bought was from an online shop. This was because the saving was higher and also I had a little more experience and knew exactly what I wanted. Not all local bike shops are equal, try to find one with a passion and interest in road bikes. Don’t bother with the Cycle King variety of cycle shops. For example, in Oxford Beeline bicycles now has a specialist road bike shop which is a great place to go.
Oversold
If you go into some bike shops, the first thing they will try and do is get you to spend more than you initially planned. This maybe be based on best intentions – if you do spend more you will get a better bike. But, sometimes it can be the shop looking for a more expensive sale. Have the confidence to stick at your price bracket, but be aware of what extras you can get for spending more.
Best Entry Level Bikes
- Giant SCR 3 £380. The Giant SCR 3 comes with a bottom of the range STI Shimano Sora shifters.
The frame is a good basic Aluminium frame.
One of the best features is the T700 carbon composite aluminium steerer, which helps to give a more cushioned ride. - Claud Butler Criterium – only £329. Solid 6061 T4-T6 Aluminium frame. Shimano groupset, great value for introduction to road bikes. One of cheapest road bikes on the market.
- Trek 1.7 Aluminium Frame with Carbon Fork. Shimano 105 groupset and Bontrager components. Excellent entry level bike under £1,000
- GT GTR Series 4 /5/ GT GTR Series are good entry level bikes. The GTR Series 5 is £599. 16 speed Shimano 2300
Best Upgrades for Road Bike
It is worth knowing about these best upgrades to your road bike. You can get these later and add to your first road bike. Best upgrades for road bike
Road Bikes Online
- Road Bikes at Evans Cycles
- Road Bikes At Wiggle
Some great advice here. It’s important to get a quality bike for your money.
Keith – I’m in the same boat as you mate. Just signed up and have a bad back…
Any sub £1000 road bikes that have a ‘comfortable’ ride? I’m aiming to di mini triathalons next summer, so I do need something that goes well, but if my back starts playing up I’m really in the s**t…
Any ideas?
if you intend to cycle most days, I would favour getting a cyclo-cross bike, a road bike essentially with more durable construction. I have a Specialised Tricross (£1000) which is light, fast and strong. I use it everyday and clean the chainset and other moving parts once a week. I upgraded to a carbon fibre seat post and that has damped the jiggling effect of high pressure tyres a little so worth an extra 80 quid.
I have signed up for the “Bike to work” scheme through my employer and can spent up to £1000. (you save approx 1/3rd) by the time you pay back over 18 moinths.
I want a road bike for training,however comfort is essential as I suffer from lower back stiffness and thought flat bars would be best(can anyone give me any advise if I,am right or are drop bars almost the same for comfort)also what bike on the market is “the best” for that budget?
Please help anyone!!
Many thanks
Keith