Entries Tagged 'bikes' ↓

Traithlon bikes are generally optimised for aerodynamics, like time trial bikes. In most triathlon’s drafting is illegal so riders need to maintain most aero position possible to maximise speed. In some triathlon’s like World Cup and World Championship, drafting is legal and riders aren’t allowed to use a full time trial bike. In these events, triathlete’s often use clip on tribars to gain some speed, but maintain manoeuvrability of bike.

Position

Triathlon bikes tend to have an ‘aggressive’ low profile. The first triathlon bikes used a 650c front wheel and 700c back wheel. This helped front end to be lower. Nowadays 650c wheels have fallen out of fashion, but a low front end is achieved by a steep seat tube and short stem.

In the late 1980s, triathlon bikes helped to push the boundaries of cycling. A key development was the Scott tribar developed in 1989. This was incorporated by Quintana Roo to build one of first triathlon specific time trial bikes.

Tips on Triathlon Bikes

• See tips on improving aerodynamics - many of these are cheap
• Disc wheels for time trials – A disc wheel is one best ways to make faster.
• Skin suits
• Wind tunnel testing
• Training for time trials

Quintana Roo Superform

A little bit of triathlon history – a Quintana Roo Superform, with 80 degree seat tube and Scott tri bars.

Quintana Roo Kilo Carbon

The modern development of the Quintana Roo. The Kilo is a  full carbon fibre bike at a very reasonable price of £1,200. With SRAM Rival groupset, this makes a very good entry level triathlon bike, which will be competitive in the amateur scene.

• Wheels: Shimano R500Tyres:
• Tyres: Continental Ultra Sport
• Groupset: SRAM rival
• Frame: Carbon
• Brakes: Tektro R312
• Handlebars:Premetec
• TT bar Straight gauge OSAero Bars:Profile ZBS

Overall, this is an excellent entry level triathlon bike. The wheels and tyres are an obvious target for upgrading. But, with strong carbon frame and fork and SRAM groupset, this is a good value way to get a decent bike. The aero seat post is also a nice touch. Looks pretty smart in the black and white combination.

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For £500, you can get a pretty decent commuting bike. Personally, I wouldn’t be keen to spend much more than £500 for a commuting bike. If you lock the bike up in town, there is an increased chance of theft, so with just a £500 you get more peace of mind than you would if you had spent over a £1,000

There is a great choice of commuting bikes for under £500. I would separate the choices into:

1. Classic / Retro Style Bikes – Look cool, great joy to have. Slow. heavier. Bit more expensive. Not great quality at less than £500.
2. Hybrid Bikes – best value. Most practical, most widely bought.
3. Mountain Bikes – Good for rough terrain like canal paths. Wider tyres are slower.
4. Road Bikes – Faster, but less stable than hybrid bikes. Useful for longer commutes.
5. Single Speed Bikes – Easy to maintain. Look cool. More expensive (not many under £500). Not good if you have lots of hills!

1. Classic Commuting Bikes

Dawes Diploma

If you are looking for a classic, stylish bike, consider a Dawes Diploma It looks like an old fashioned classic bike. It may not be fastest bike from A to B, but, it does the business and looks pretty cool too. One limitation is the 3 speed Sturmey archer, but, unless you live on a hilly route 3 speed should be sufficient.

For real style, why not have a look at the classic Dutch Gazelle. It has a real continental flavour and stands out with distinctive design and colour. But, difficult to source in the UK, more likely to find on ebay second hand.

• Pros of Classic Bikes – look good, fits in with ‘cycle chic’ appearance. Steady to ride
• Cons of classic bikes – are slower to ride, heavier. not great for long distances or up steep hills. More attractive to thieves than your common MTB.

Hybrid Bike

If you are more practically minded, you might like to buy a hybrid bike. This is a cross between a road bike and mountain bike. It also includes the ‘classic / Dutch style.’. It comes with road size wheels, but a thicker tread than ordinary racing bike wheels. In a sense hybrid bikes are simpler, cheaper versions of mountain bikes. They are fine for commuting, offering good stability and practicality. They can be easily adapted for panniers and mudguards. There is a great choice of hybrid bikes under £500. If you are willing to spend £300 you can bikes such as the Dawes Discovery. Hybrid bikes from under £150 will be made of cheap steel and will typically be quite heavy with more unreliable components.

Giant Escape

The Giant Escape is a popular commuting bike, coming in both men’s and ladies and different models. There are quite a few choices for less than £500. For £499, you can get the very good Giant Escape 1

Giant Escape 1

• Frame: ALUXX Aluminium
• Fork: Carbon composite, aluminium steerer
• Stem and seatpost: Giant Sport aluminium ahead
• Saddle: Giant Pure Sport
• groupset – Shimano acera and Alivio
• Brakes: Tektro linear pull
• Brake Levers: Tektro
• Giant Escape at wiggle cycles

• It’s amazing to get this quality aluminium frame, carbon fork and good quality Shimano equipment. A really good value hybrid bike

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A look at the best value road bike around £500.

At this price, there isn’t a huge range of choice with many entry level bikes starting at just over £500. I’ve included some of these because you can often see them on discount from their RRP bringing them under £500. Of these road bikes mentioned here, the Raleigh Airlite 100, Pinnacle One and Trek 1.1 are really good value road bikes and can be bought for less than £500.

I have had two trek 1000 (the first one was stolen) and overall I am quite happy with it.

Trek 1.1

At a RRP of £549, it is just above the target of £500. But, I will include it because it is pretty close; and if you search you might be able to pick up a new model with 10% discount. Some people have complained about the wheels going out of true quite easily, but, I have not experienced this since owning one for a couple of year years. The trek 1.1 comes with an 100 Series Alpha Aluminium fully butted frame and with Seven different H2 sizes and carbon fork. A carbon fork is a very nice upgrade helping to reduce the weight and increase comfort when riding. The Trek 1.1, makes an excellent choice for a good commuting bike (I have fitted both panniers and mudguards) or an entry level racing bike. For just over £500 it offers good value if unexceptional performance.

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Turbo trainers and rollers allow you to train whatever the weather. They are also great for warming up for a race. A few quick advantages of turbo trainers

• Safe – protected from cars
• Allow you to do interval sessions uninterrupted by traffic lights e.t.c.
• Make it easier to measure performance (you can isolate more factors like wind)

What to Look for in a Turbo Trainer

• Matches your existing road bike set up and feel
• Relatively quiet
• Easy to assemble, carry to race and put bike in.
• Reliable
• Variable resistance settings so you can train for high cadence / low cadence.

Some of the Best Turbo Trainers

Lemond Revolution Turbo Trainer

• This is most innovative turbo trainer since it was invented. Rather than putting wheel on a roller, you simply remove your back wheel and put your chain onto a cassette which is hooked up to a turbo resistance and lock in rear dropouts. This enables you to replicate the feel of riding a road bike exactly. Continue reading →

Cyclo Sportives are increasingly popular offering cyclists a great one day challenge from anything from a 50 mile to 200 mile ride. Mostly cyclo sportives are held on roads, so you will want to choose a bike designed for speed on the road. Some models are built specifically for the sportive markets. These will typically have a race frame geometry, with slightly  longer head tube for a more comfortable ride.

For £1,000 there is a quite a range of good quality bikes to choose from. Though, if you only have £500, you will still be able to get a good aluminium frame based road bike.

Carbon Fibre v Aluminium

A good quality carbon fibre frame is definitely something to aim for. It can give a more comfortable ride and offer greater power transfer. However, carbon fibre isn’t everything. For many years, I rode aluminium frame bikes and they will also give very good performance in sportives.

What to Look for in a Sportive Bike

• Make sure it is comfortable and good fit. This is most important.
• Get the best frame you can, you can always upgrade later. Though some whole bikes offer such good value, it is good to get as much as you can when you first buy.
• Leave enough for necessary accessories, like, clipless pedals, best tyres for road bikes, and computers.

Entry Level Sportif Bikes.

For £400 to £500 you can get a good solid road bike which will be fine for even the longest of cyclo sportive challenges. Typically for £500 you will get a lightweight aluminium frame with basic groupset such as Shimano Tiagra.

• Advice on buying first road bike

Sportif Bikes under £1,000

For £1,000, you will be able to save 1 or 2 Kg off the weight of the bike and get a carbon fibre fork and more efficient groupset. There is a reasonable improvement in performance which will be noted by a keen cyclist. For a £1,000 there is a really good selection of road bikes that will be ideal for cyclo-sportives.

See: best road bikes under £1,000

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• My Current saddle is a Bontrager saddle weighing 185 grams. For the hill climb season, I’m seeking to aim for the lightest possible road bike. A saddle is an easy way to save 100grams. Because hill climbs are quite short, comfort isn’t an issue. There is enough pain in the legs to worry about a rock hard saddle. These are some of the lightweight saddles I researched. I will be buying the AX lightness saddle.

• Selle Italia CX Zero I bought this a while back because it was advertised at 81grams. However, when I put on my electronic scales it came in at 111 grams (advertised weight 81 grams) – £325. I sent it back because I wanted to get something lighter.

• Tune Speed Needle Alcantara (87grams claimed) Tune Speed Euro 199

Selle Italia SLR C64

AX Lightness Saddle

• AX Lightness – Sprint 69 grams (link)

The Phoenix saddle at 47 grams is lightest I can find

• Road use only
• Weight: From 47 grams depending on rider weight etc.
• Length: 260 mm
• Width: 125 mm
• Height: 61 mm
• Seat: 100% Carbon and Kevlar Pre-preg Rowings
• Rails: 100% Carbon composite
• Adjustment range: 75mm
• Special features: 1 piece composite monocoque.

Price: £300.00

Lightest Comfortable Saddle

Entry level road bikes are targetted at those who want a good all round road bike without breaking the bank. Generally, an entry level road bike will be less than £1,000. These are a few general tips for buying an entry level road bike. Afterwards there are some suggested models.

• For me an entry level road bike would start at about £350. I would be suspicious of a road bike below £300.
• For under £500, you will be able to get a reasonable quality  basic Aluminium Frame and decent groupset (lower end Shimano). However, this will be sufficient for a reasonable road bike for training, sportives and even some 3/4th category road racing. My first road bike was an old Reynolds 501 Steel frame and 10 speed Shimano gears. It cost £220. I cycle miles and miles on it! It was very heavy! When I got a new Trek 1.2 a few years later (around £500), I was pleased at how much road bikes and improved, the saving in weight made a big difference in climbs.
• If you can spend up to £1,000 on an entry level road bike, you have a big choice of really good road bikes. For £1,000 you will be able to save more weight and benefit from a carbon fork, which will make ride more comfortable, with increased rigidity. The difference between a £1,000 road bike and a £5,000 road bike is not huge. With a £1,000 road bike you can  be reasonably competitive in amateur racing and sportives.
• When buying your first road bike, the most important thing is to get a bike that fits. Don’t worry too much about getting ultra lightweight components and carbon fibre gear. These are nice, but not essential. If possible, buy the best frame, you can, then you can always upgrade at a later stage. However, I found I never upgraded bikes, I just bought a new one, and kept the old bike as a winter training bike!
• You could try to buy a bike second hand, but, it is not without its difficulties; buying from a local shop is recommended for buying an entry level road bike. They are likely to have a good range of choice in this area.
• Where to buy entry level road bike. Mail order tends to be cheaper. However, it is nice to buy from local shop you trust, so you can take it back with any problems. Also, they will be able to advise on best size and other aspects. Some big retailers like Evans combine mail order and local shop, e.g. Trek models are not available to buy directly online. You can order them, but you have to pick up at shop.

Cheapest Entry Level Road Bikes

 Raleigh Airlite 100

Raleigh are making renewed efforts to revitalise their road bike range. They offer some of the cheapest entry level road bikes from an established bike company. The airlite road is a good value road bike for under £500. With an aluminiym semi-compact frame, it gives a solid comfortable ride. The Shimano 2300 groupset  is unexceptional, but it does the job. This would be good for someone interested in trying out a few sportives and general riding. With mudguard clearance, and low price it would also make a good winter training bike. If you are serious about racing, try spend more and choose a more race oriented frame.

• Frame: Airlite AL6061 semi-compact frame with Mudguard clearance
• Fork: EVO Alloy blades and steerer. 45MM rake, Mdgd clearance & eyelet
• Bars: RSP semi compact alloy
• Weight 10.7Kg for 55cm model.
• Gears: Shimano 2300
• Tyres” Michelin Dynamic

Trek 1.1 / 1.2

With a large scale production, Trek have been able to invest in road bike technology and keep prices low. The Trek 1.1. and Trek 1.2 set the standard quite high for entry level road bikes, which don’t break the bank.. The Trek 1.1 also comes with 100 Series Alpha Aluminium  frame and aluminium fork. Also comes in many sizes from 47cm to 62cm. Shimano 2300 shifters give it a reasonable high level spec for an entry level bike. And the RRP is £599.

I have ridden a Trek road bike for several years, though it has ended up as my commuting bike. It is has been reliable. Since I bought my Trek, the new models have raised the bar, and it is really good to ride.

Trek offer quite a few different models which slight variations in price and spec. For example

Trek 2.1 has a higher level aluminium frame, 200 Series and carbon fork.

Instead of basic Shimano 2300, there is mostly Shimano 105 throughout. For the extra £450, this is quite a signficant improvement in quality. You will definitely notice the benefits of the Shimano 105 and carbon fork.

Trek Road Bikes at Evans Cycles (store collect only)

CBoardman Race £649

The entry level road bike is ready for racing and hilly sportives with a carbon fibre fork and compact chainset. It is very good value and Boardman bikes have been built to a high standard. I’m really impressed by the finish to the Boardman bikes. They all have smooth lines and smooth joining. It really looks the part. The paint work and design is quite tasteful.

• Frame: double-butted aluminium frame for faster climbing and improved power transfer
• Fork: carbon fibre fork with carbon steerer for accurate steering and absorption of road vibrations
• Wheels: Mavic CXP 22s rims with sealed bearing hubs for a longer bearing life
• Brakes: Powerful dual pivot Tektro brakes
• Groupset: Shimano Sora 18 speed gearing for reliable shifting performance
• FSA Vero compact chainset provides lower gear ratios for tackling hills with a higher cadence
• C.Boardman Road Bikes at Halfords

C Boardman Team Carbon

At the next level to the Boardman Race, I tested a Boardman Team Carbon (which is excellent value at just over £1,200 for a full carbon fibre bike and Shimano 105). The Boardman Team Carbon is one of best entry level full carbon fibre frame bikes.

GT Series 4 is £699

• New Hydroformed Alloy, Smooth Welded TT & DT, Full Eyelets
• Groupset:  Mixture: Microshift R92 9 Speed shifters, MicroShift R729 Front mech, Shimano R3400 Rear mech, FSA Tempo Compact chainset with 50/34 tooth chainrings, SRAM PG950 9 Speed
• Schwalbe Lugano 700c X 23

GT bikes are good value. They are not so well advertised in the pro-peleton but this helps to make them better value. They have several different models depending on your budget from GT Series 5 at £599 to the GT Elite Carbon at £1,599

GT Bikes at Evans Cycles

Related

• Road Bikes around £1,000 at Wiggle
• Advice on buying first road bike
• Road Bikes under £500
• Best Bikes under £1,000
• Focus Road Bikes - some of the best value entry level road bikes
• Dawes Road Bikes
• Giant SCR 4

A review of some of the best road bikes for under £1,000. For £1,000 you can get some very good quality bikes. Typically, you might be able to get a good quality aluminium frame, carbon fork and groupset, such as Shimano 105. If you look really hard, you might be able to get a full carbon fibre bike, which is very nice – but carbon fibre isn’t everything. Some of the aluminium frames are still worth considering, if your budget is under £1,000.

Also, these bike come in at the government’s budget for the cycle to work scheme.

Touring bikes need to be versatile, comfortable and at the same time offering a good performance on the road. Most touring bikes are suitable for the odd off-road / badly made road. However, if you want to do a lot of off-road riding, you may be better off looking to a converted mountain bike with panniers.

At first glance a touring bike looks similar to a road bike. The frame is similar, dropped handlebars offering a range of positions. A touring bike will have extras to a road bike. A good touring bike will also be very versatile useful for commuting.

• Third chain ring – for greater gear choice (often referred to as having a granny ring – useful for lugging luggage up steep hills)
• Wider tyres (perhaps 28′ on 700c wheels) These tyres offer greater stability and comfort than thinner road tyres.
• Mudguards
• Panniers front / back

Frames for Touring Bikes

Many touring bikes are based on Steel frames.Note these are often referred to as Cro-Moly Frames. This means a mix of predominantly steel with other metals to make a stronger and lighter frame.

For example, the Reynolds 853, 531 frames (see: Reynolds frames) or Columbus SLX. These are high quality steel frames. Despite a reputation for being heavy. These top end steel alloys can actually be surprisingly light. The main advantages of steel are:

• Inherent springiness and ability to absorb. This makes a more comfortable ride which is important for when you are spending long hours on a tour. With steel frames, you don’t need any shock absorbers.
• Steel is also quite versatile, if you have a crash it can be more easily welded back. If a Carbon frame springs a crack, that is probably it – end of frame.
• ‘Steel is real’ – a popular saying amongst cyclists. I enjoy riding steel frames as it gives a good responsive feel.
• Most custom frame builders work with steel.- For example, with Robert Penn developed his dream bike, he got a custom 953 Reynolds frame built by a local frame builder (Brian Rourke).
• A good steel frame can last for a lifetime.

Disadvantages of Steel

• Can be heavier than many Aluminium alloys.
• Can easily rust if exposed to the rain.

See more: best bike frame material

Touring Bike Models

Unfortunately, touring bikes don’t tend to be cheap. It’s a little bit like single speed bikes, because they are not mass-marketed they tend to be a little more expensive for what you get.

Dawes Galaxy

The Dawes Galaxy is one of the best selling touring bikes on the market. The basic Dawes Galaxy retails at £1,199. It is is based on a steel Reynolds 631 frame and Reynolds 520 fork

Frame:  Reynolds 631 butted
Fork: Triple butted chromoly blades
Groupset: mixture of Shimano Deore and Tiagra triple chainset.
Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon 700x32c

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£2,000 gives a generous budget for a bike which will be close to the top pro standard level. Typically, you will be able to get a top of the range frameset with a groupset one or two below the best. The difference between a £2,000 bike and a £5,000 is not that big and you save alot of money for the marginal difference.

One option is a Focus Cayo Expert SRAM. Built around the UD carbon-fibre fram. it is the same frame used by pro cycling team – Team Milram and Nicole Cooke’s female pro teamThe SRAM expert is a light and fast gearset and offers a competitive bike at a reasonable price.

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