My First Road Bike

the_viper2kie

Hi all,
I'm thinking of buying my first road bike to get into some cycling and maybe have a try at a few triathlons next year. Problem is I know little or nothing about bikes so i'm a complete newbie.
I've done a search here and on the wiki and it all seems to be very bike specific advice(people mentioning certain models etc.) I'm just looking for more general advice in terms of what I should be looking at and for.
I'm just looking for an entry level bike maybe up to 750 on the bike. I've gone into Cycleways and have been shown the specialized they have there for 750, think it's the allez. Would I be right in thinking that in this price range there is little difference in the specs for every manufacturer.
I'd like to go back to cycleways for a personal reason so was wondering if I am selling myself short going for this or should I def go and look at a Trek or Giant too?
Also it will be a Christmas present so what other things will I need to get up and running?

Cheers all, I hope to get in the saddle and start contributing to the forum here shortly!

AstraMonti

You can read this for starters http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055418427

I just made the thread yesterday since i am buying my first road bike as well You might find some comments useful.

the_viper2kie

Thanks astra,
Some interesting comments there alright. So you bought online instead of in shop. I was under the impression it needed to be fitted or are you just going to tinker with the settings once you get it to find what you find best?

AstraMonti

I went to bike shop first and ride a few of them and found a size.. then with the advices of TinyExplosions i found the correct size. I have also emailed the shop with my height and internal size leg and waiting for a quote as we speak

xz

I only started cycling earlier in the year...............be careful, it's very addictive,and can get expensive.
You need to get the general frame size right,to start with.Stem length is important too. There are lots of variables to consider. But I feel you have come to the right place for advice.
I bought an entry level Giant SCR4 early in the year, thinking its just a bike, the amount of money I have spent since.........on new bars, stem, saddlle,wheels, hollowtech chainset, then to cap it all I bought a new commuting bike last week, and just yesterday took delivery of a new carbon fibre Planet X Road build.

The bikes you have mentioned are perfect to start with, but I guarantee you, once you get hooked, you'll be wanting to add new bits until your bike looks nothing like it did coming out of the shop, then you'll sell it towards a new or used "better" bike and the whole cycle (no pun intended) will begin again

the_viper2kie

xz wrote: »

I only started cycling earlier in the year...............be careful, it's very addictive,and can get expensive.
You need to get the general frame size right,to start with.Stem length is important too. There are lots of variables to consider. But I feel you have come to the right place for advice.
I bought an entry level Giant SCR4 early in the year, thinking its just a bike, the amount of money I have spent since.........on new bars, stem, saddlle,wheels, hollowtech chainset, then to cap it all I bought a new commuting bike last week, and just yesterday took delivery of a new carbon fibre Planet X Road build.

The bikes you have mentioned are perfect to start with, but I guarantee you, once you get hooked, you'll be wanting to add new bits until your bike looks nothing like it did coming out of the shop, then you'll sell it towards a new or used "better" bike and the whole cycle (no pun intended) will begin again

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of!! What do people think the advantages/disadvantages are of the specialized allez http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=40645&eid=115 over the BeOne Storm http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25458 that AstraMonti is getting?
With the exchange rate as it is at the moment, that BeOne seems good value with a similar spec in terms of gears etc.
Any opinions?

Raam

The BeOne has slightly better groupset, all Tiagra, while the Allez (not elite) is a mix of Sora and Tiagra. Tiagra is better than Sora. I have an older Allez Elite which came with 105 which is better than both Tiagra and Sora.

xz

Raam wrote: »

The BeOne has slightly better groupset, all Tiagra, while the Allez (not elite) is a mix of Sora and Tiagra. Tiagra is better than Sora. I have an older Allez Elite which came with 105 which is better than both Tiagra and Sora.

I have the one below sora, the 2200 on my SCR 4, which has been replaced by the DEFY,and granted, for entry level, it is OK, but I am currently upgrading the shifters to Tiagra, and 105 chainset and mechs.
Try and find something with Tiagra in your price range, or up your price slightly and find something with 105 on it. Or you will end up like me, and spending the extra on the extras, within months of buying your bike

MCOS

the_viper2kie wrote: »

Thanks astra,
Some interesting comments there alright. So you bought online instead of in shop. I was under the impression it needed to be fitted or are you just going to tinker with the settings once you get it to find what you find best?

Hi

I went down to a local shop and got measured as If I was going to buy a bike there. I took a road bike for a quick spin for the feel of that setting. I then went onto and bought a Giant SCR1 closest to my setting for about €300+ less than the shops in the Republic. It will cost you a more for the bits n pieces you need, pedals, shoes, tri bars, bag, pump, spare tubes, levers, bottle cage and computer, 10% off everything so not too bad. But I love the bike and felt like I got a bargain

the_viper2kie

Hi guys,
I'm just back from Dublin for the weekend and decided to pay a trip to a couple of shops to see what was out there. The BeOne definitely seems like a great deal compared to what I saw. Much better components for a lot less money.
So I think I'm going to go for the BeOne for chain reaction. One thing that's got me though is the size. I tried different bikes at the weekend and I was a different size in each of them. Maybe someone could help me out.
I'm about 5'10 ish with a leg of 33". On a giant I tried out the guy suggested I was a M(equates to about a 55cm). On a LaPierre he was measuring me as a 49cm. I also tried a trek in another shop and the guy set me up on a 58cm and said it was just right!
This has me utterly confused..What would I be on a BeOne? I'm hoping I would be a 57cm so I could get that flood damaged one and go for the storm 1.0 instead!!

Raam

the_viper2kie wrote: »

Hi guys,
I'm just back from Dublin for the weekend and decided to pay a trip to a couple of shops to see what was out there. The BeOne definitely seems like a great deal compared to what I saw. Much better components for a lot less money.
So I think I'm going to go for the BeOne for chain reaction. One thing that's got me though is the size. I tried different bikes at the weekend and I was a different size in each of them. Maybe someone could help me out.
I'm about 5'10 ish with a leg of 33". On a giant I tried out the guy suggested I was a M(equates to about a 55cm). On a LaPierre he was measuring me as a 49cm. I also tried a trek in another shop and the guy set me up on a 58cm and said it was just right!
This has me utterly confused..What would I be on a BeOne? I'm hoping I would be a 57" so I could get that flood damaged one and go for the storm 1.0 instead!!

58cm sounds a bit much for you. I'm 6'3" and I'm on a 58 on 3 different bikes.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

58cm sounds a bit much for you. I'm 6'3" and I'm on a 58 on 3 different bikes.

I dunno... I'm 6' with a 32" inseam, and ride a 56 cos I like frames small... niceontom has a 58, and has same inside leg as me, and I've ridden his without problem... 57 should be ok for you

the_viper2kie

And why are different manufacturers much different, is BeOne going to be much different again? When I was measured for the specialized he said I was between a 54cm and 56cm!
I'm just afraid that if I get the BeOne that it won't be correct

TinyExplosions

the_viper2kie wrote: »

And why are different manufacturers much different, is BeOne going to be much different again? When I was measured for the specialized he said I was between a 54cm and 56cm!
I'm just afraid that if I get the BeOne that it won't be correct

It's down to a couple of things. The first is the top tube. Back in the day they use to be straight (ie, parallel with the ground), and the sizes where the actual measurement from say the bottom bracket (BB) to the top tube (TT). A number of years ago, sloping top tubes and so called 'compact geometry' became popular, but this changed the physical measurements, leading manufacturers to come up with 'equivalent' heights, so quite often the sizes were no longer a measurement, but a 'projected' measurement based on an older standard. (this may be wrong, but it's as I understand it)

Personally, I find Specialised sizing a little on the small side... I have a 56cm Specialized Langster and a 56cm Focus Variado Expert, and while both fit me fine, the Focus is a touch bigger.

Chain reaction are good at answering emails, so fire off your sizes and ask them -they'll not let you down!

the_viper2kie

Thanks guys,

I've just fired off an email to them there and I'll see if they come back. I looked on BeOne website to see if they had a sizing chart to relate rider height to suggested frame size but they didn't.

I'll report back and let you know when I get a reply.

Raam

the_viper2kie wrote: »

Thanks guys,

I've just fired off an email to them there and I'll see if they come back. I looked on BeOne website to see if they had a sizing chart to relate rider height to suggested frame size but they didn't.

I'll report back and let you know when I get a reply.

The BeOne website does have the geometry of frames, so you might be able to compare them to the other bikes you have been looking at.
http://www.beone-bikes.com/NL/producten/rosso_geometry.html
That link may be for specific bike model, so be careful and check for the one you want.

AstraMonti

Thats what Chainreaction has replied to me:

bikesize.jpg

the_viper2kie

Interesting....
So I could be anything from a 53 to 59 according to that! Maybe I'm being too concerned then about the size and there is sufficient give in other adjustments which can be made to make it fit properly! My brother in law just told me to make sure it's the correct size so I'm possibly being over cautious!

TinyExplosions

the_viper2kie wrote: »

Interesting....
So I could be anything from a 53 to 59 according to that! Maybe I'm being too concerned then about the size and there is sufficient give in other adjustments which can be made to make it fit properly! My brother in law just told me to make sure it's the correct size so I'm possibly being over cautious!

I'd go for the 57 then -just because it's flood discounted... it'll certainly not be too small for you!

AstraMonti

Yeah.. go for the flooded one... if something happens we will be two crying together :P

TinyExplosions

AstraMonti wrote: »

Yeah.. go for the flooded one... if something happens we will be two crying together :P

Floods of tears?

AstraMonti

hahaha yeah.. In a more serious note.. it really seems like a great bargain! I mean not even 600 and you buy 4 times better bike than what you can find in dublin stores.

the_viper2kie

AstraMonti wrote: »

hahaha yeah.. In a more serious note.. it really seems like a great bargain! I mean not even 600 and you buy 4 times better bike than what you can find in dublin stores.

A bargain is right! Just bought it there so hope it works out ok. Bought the bike for now(Storm 1.0 flood) and will pick up all the other stuff in the next couple of days. Bike is for Christmas so won't be using it for another few weeks anyway.
Pretty excited...I do love a bargain!

adamshred

check out the CUBE bike range they have well spec'd bikes for cheap and they are usually lighter than the competing BeOne model.