January 2nd, 2012 — bikes-
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
January 1st, 2012 — wheels-
An evaluation of the lightest wheels available for a road bike. As a hill climb specialist saving weight is crucial, for several years I’ve been using my Zipp 404′s which are excellent all round wheels, they are also quite light, yet aerodynamic. However, they are not best choice for some of steepest hills. See: Zipp 404 review
Zipp 404 weight pair Tubular front 568g – rear 696g - 1266 grams
Why Do People Say Weight of Your Wheels Counts Double?
It is to do with acceleration and the fact the top of your wheel travels twice as fast as your bicycle. Thus to accelerate, the energy taken to push the wheel is greater than for the bike. Once you have maintained a constant speed, then the weight of your bike and wheels count for the same. But, if you slow down and then accelerate, the energy to move the mass of your wheels is greater than for the bike.
Therefore, a secret of climbing is to try and maintain constant speed and effort. Keep the action smooth (an advantage to maintaining a high cadence and smooth pedalling power). If you have a twisting climb of varying gradients then the effort to move your wheels will be proportionately greater.
Zipp 202
Was actually used in Paris Roubaix for 4th place finisher. Used also by Carlos Sastre in high mountains during his Tour win.
I bought a Zipp 202 rear for £750 in January. when on special offer at Wiggle. If you can be patient, keep an eye on price and wait for a sale to get wheels at discount. It is worth the wait!
Lightweight Clinchers
Clincher wheels tend to be slightly heavier with tyres and inner tubes and bigger rims. However, recent developments, have helped reduce weight of clincher wheels. Quite a few now come with carbon rims to help reduce weight.
The Mavic Kysriums are relatively good value.
See: Review: Mavic Kysriums SL and SLR
Lightweight Wheels
Lightweight Ventoux – 999grams (link) $3,000 – $5,000 a pair
Campag Bora
Campagnolo
Shimano Dura Ace
Lightweight Clinchers
Related
January 1st, 2012 — bikes-
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.
January 1st, 2012 — bikes-
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
Continue reading →
December 4th, 2011 — road-
£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.
Continue reading →
November 4th, 2011 — bikes, tyres-
These are some of the best quality tubulars for road racing and time trialling. I recommend getting best possible tubulars you can afford. There’s no point in getting cheap tubulars more likely to puncture. For most time trials on UK roads, I want a reliably puncture resistant tyre. I usually go for Continental competition and Corsa EVO CS. These offer good combination of light weight, low rolling resistance and good puncture resistance.
For the hill climbs, I researched some super-light track tubs. You are much more likely to puncture with track tubs, but for hill climbs, the short distance and altitude gain make it worthwhile. For hill climbs, I like a Vittoria Chrono Time trial (165 grams) I also like the look of the Veloflex Record.
Continental Competition 22 – 280 grams – £61 wiggle – 5 layers of puncture protection, grippy tyre. Handmade in Germany. Won three Paris Roubaix. Very tough tyre. Long lasting excellent grip. I’ve used these for two seasons. Offer very good performance. Very good puncture resistance and hard wearing. Seem to be quite resistant to cuts and nicks. Slightly on heavy side compared to some rivals, but 280 grams is still lightweight and good for tough terrains.
Continental Competition 19 – 239 grams
Bontrager XXX lite only 255 grams for 700*23 | £69.99 Evans Cycles
Continue reading →
October 29th, 2011 — clothes-
It is estimated a close fitting skinsuit can save 3.2% of your total energy. [1] This equates to 29 seconds in a 40Km time Trial. Therefore a close fitting skinsuit represent a cost effective way to improve aerodynamics and save valuable seconds.
A time trial skinsuit will definitely be more aerodynamic. However, there can be a significant difference between a cheap time trial skinsuit that ends up being loose fitting and a custom built skinsuit which is absolutley skin tight.
A key element in getting a time trial skinsuit, is not just the make, but also one that fits.
A good time trial suit will be uncomfortable when you’re standing up. It should feel like your shoulders are being pulled down. A time trial skin suit only works when in the time trial position (though that is why you’re buying it, right?)
For races over 2 hours, it is helpful to have a skinsuit with a small zipped pocket. However, an alternative is simply to place food under the time trial suit.
Skinsuits
Impsport Skin Suits
I have had two skinsuits from Impsport (for custom cycling team). The first was a standard Skin Suit, and I was a bit disappointed. The main thing is that it wasn’t particular skin tight or stretchy. Some of the material was flapping in wind which defeats main purpose of a skin suit.
Impsport also do an advanced version of the skin suit. They call this the bodyfit skin suit. It is almost double the price at £120. However, as the name suggests it is better quality and more aerodynamic. Also it feels more like a skin suit and seems to have more of that lycra look and feel. If you are serious about getting best skin suit and your club orders from Impsport I would definitely recommend paying £120 rather than going for cheaper option of £55. However, it still didn’t fit perfectly. My body shape is long and thin and the skin suit is very tight in length meaning that it is actually less aerodynamic (and comfortable) than it could be.
Assos One Piece Skin Suit
At £209, the Assos is not cheap, but, it is excellent fit and really top of the range skinsuit. I have tried one on and it is a good fit. It fits much better when you are actually in your time trial position, so a lot of thought has gone into the anatomical cut. There are little if any dimples of material which helps to improve aerodynamics. Fits bigger riders well too. Padding is good and again designed for time trials where you are often riding on the front of the saddle, which can get difficult over time.
It has two small pockets in back, this is useful for long distance time trialling, but does slightly diminish aero performance. Overall, I would say this is more helpful than unhelpful for amateur cyclist.
The good thing about the Assos is that the styling is plain and simple. You can use it in Cycling Time trials (UK) because it doesn’t have sponsors on.
Assos Skin Suit at Wiggle
Castelli Body Paint 2.0 Speed Suit
A really tight, snug skinsuit. It’s hard to find anything tighter.
- Near seamless construction for unmatched aerodynamics
- New dimpled leg endings to control boundary layer airflow
- New race number flap
- Progetto x2 air seat pad for famous x2 comfort and improved
- Weight: 291 grams (large)
- Castelli Body Paint speed suit at Wiggle
British Cycling Skin Suit
A local tester was so impressed with his British Cycling Skin suit that he got a felt tip pen and crossed out the commercial name (Sky) so that he could ride it in time trials (you aren’t allowed a commercial sponsor unless it is your team). He reckoned the fit was so good it saved a couple of watts. However, this was compared to a mass ordered team kit (from Impsport I think) and not compared to the Assos.
The revolutionary skinsuits are at the cutting edge of cycling technology and have been credited with helping road riders to crucial wins (e.g. Nicole Cooke in 2008 Olympics (CW) British Cycling Skin suits are a little hard to track down, you might find one on ebay or offered on forums, I couldn’t find a supplier.
Others recommended
Pro bike Kit do a good Nalini Skinsuit, though I haven’t tried it myself.
Related
[1] Sheldon Brown’s Aerodynamic savings
October 22nd, 2011 — bikes-
For my new Trek Madone 6.9 I wanted a pretty good lock. Obviously I’m not leaving it in the centre of town. Only inside the house. But, even inside the house, insurance requires it to be locked and prevent opportunist theft.
The Kryptonite New York Lock, offers exceptional strength without being too expensive (£74.99 is a lot but there are locks which can cost twice as much). I also like the new version of the key and key hole, it feels more solid and less fragile than older versions. It is made of double re-inforced steel and a double deadbolt locking mechanism. There is no weak spot in the lock. The best thing about the lock is that it will withstand the ordinary cutting tools a thief may be carried around.
It is called the New York lock for good reason. Locals in New York say you really need a lock with this kind of strength if you are going to be locking your bike in Manhatten. Magazine reviews by road cc said the lock withstood an attempt to break with big bolt clippers, hammer and chisel. That’s good enough for me.
Disadvantages of Kryptonite New York Lock
The main disadvantage of the Kryptonite New York lock is its weight. To carry around on the bike is to add an extra 2KG, not something you want to fit in your rucksack. Also the attachment to fit lock to frame is a little fiddly for those with a road bike
Would I buy It?
Yes, I have bought it to lock a bike I keep at home. I don’t use it on my commuting bike, as I prefer to ride a cheap bike into town. But, if I ever get a top of the range single speed, I would consider buying this for that, though I might prefer to get a slightly lighter one.
Value for Money?
For £80 it is hard to beat in terms of thief resistance. Bike shops often recommend spending 10% of the value of a bike in the lock so this is good for bikes upto £1,000. But, to be honest for bike costing more than £1,000 it’s hard to improve on this lock too much.
I won’t be carrying the Kryptonite lock around, but I am using it for inside garage.
Related
September 10th, 2011 — clothes-
A good base layer is essential for cycling. A thermal base layer should wick away sweat so that you can have a dry layer next to the skin. Note: if you wear a heavy goretex jacket it might be difficult to wick away the sweat as some waterproof’s keep the moisture in.
A good thermal base layer should also be close fitting, but not excessively tight.
One of the warmest thermal base layers is the Helly Hensen Freeze at £40.99. It combines modern fittings with a warm Merino wool combination. This is one of the best materials for offering warmth and wicking qualities. I really enjoy wearing this as it helps keep dry and is really quite warm. Merino wool is a lovely product to have next to skin. (has an added advantage of somehow not smelling too much)
Helly Hansen offer a good range of other base layers including this
Made out of Lifa, it is lightweight at 140grams and has some of the following features:
* Eyelet construction
* Longer back
* Close to the body fit
* Excellent moisture transportation
* Lightweight
* high-elasticity fabric allows unrestricted freedom of movement
* Odour resistant
* Rapid drying time
Craft Pro Zero Xtreme
I’ve tested this product and really like them. They are soft, comfortable and snug fit. Very light product. They are very well ergonomically designed and fit very ‘lightly’ on the body. They have excellent wicking properties which is essential for keeping skin dry and warm. You can use these from any time when the temperature drops. Even on a cold summer day, they help regulate body temperature quite well. Little bit more pricey than cheapest base layers, but here you get good quality and won’t regret the investment. Craft Pro Zero review | Craft base layers at Wiggle
Ladies Thermal Base Layers
Endura, based in Scotland claim to be specialists in providing warm thermal underdress.
This endura ladies support offers good value at £22.49. It is made out of Polytex Lycra with Mesh Lycra inner. Craft ladies Prowarm crewneck also recommended.
Related
September 3rd, 2011 — bikes-
A good starter all rounder bike can be bought for under £800. This will be a good bike for the odd short cycle sportive / charity ride, commuting into town or riding along the tow path to the country pub. If you are a non-competitive cyclist and are looking for a good one size fits all, these are a few of the alternatives.
Trek FX 7.5
At around £625, this is one of the cheapest bikes to offer a lightweight aluminium frame with carbon fork. It weighs around 10Kg making it pretty light. Though it does mean you may be wanting to put on extras like mudguards and panniers for any heavy shopping. For those in any hilly areas, the Shimano Doere DX groupset has a full range of 24 gears – more than enough for the average UK terrain. The bike is comfortable to ride with flat handlebars. It’s also one of the more stiff and strong bikes in this niche, making for a good and fast ride. It’s fairly hard to fault this Trek, they are able to combine their mass production and deep investment in bike technology to bring out a good value bike which fills a range of niche. Looks understated. Not flashy or overly cool. Good for those who don’t want to pose on the bike.
Available from Trek Dealers such as Evans Cycles. Not available online.
Specialised Sirrus Comp
RRP at £899, but, you may pick up discounted for under £800. This comes with some excellent componetary. Carbon Fork and carbon seatstays offers light weight, damping of bumps in road and aresponsive front end. Shimano 105 groupset enables a very smooth gearing change. Even the tyres are some of the best on the market. With all condition Armadillo tyres *28 offering very strong puncture protection. In fact it is hard to work out how Specialised are able to put so much stuff on for well under £1000. If you don’t fancy a drop handlebars, but, still want a pretty nifty and fast hybrid bike, this is great value. Hard to knock. Specialized hybrids at Evans
Cube Nature
The Cube Nature is a less well known brand name than the first two. But, here the German based manufacturer offers an allrounder more geared towards the off-road mountain bike feel. It comes with good solid, MTB type tyres – Schwalbe CX Comp, Schwalbe Impac AV17. With hydraulic disc brakes it offers better braking on tough terrain. THe groupset is Shimano Deore, and the frame is a lightweight High-density 6061 aluminium. However, at 12Kg it is a couple of KG heavier than the Specialized and Trek models. The Cube Nature, is a better choice, for the average rider who wants to spend more time on muddy canal paths – or if you prefer the feel of good solid MTB tyres with extra strong braking power.
Cube Nature – City and Hybrid Bikes available from Chain Reaction Cycles
Focus Corrente Courier
The Focus Corrente Courier is a solid commuting bike which has all round versatility. It comes with standard road tyres 700*30 so is fairly good on the flat. It still combines some MTB features with powerful hydraulic brakes. It weighs in at 11Kg. Alloy frame and Alloy Fork. Groupset is a mixture of Shimano Tiagra with 105 rear derailluer.
Focus Hybrids at Wiggle
Giant Seek
It looks a little intimidating in its all charcoal make-up. But, like most Giant bikes offers very good spec components for the price. With disc brakes, Shimano Deore groupset and an Aluminimum Alux frame and fork. It is more towards the MTB range of hybrid bikes. The Maxxis Detonator 700x32mm tyres will get you through most stuff.
Also worth considering the Giant Escape models, which have same frameset, but slightly cheaper components. These can be bought for less than £500. (see: Commuting bikes under £500
Related
at Amazon.co.uk
at Amazon.com