First road bike- help deciding

projectgtr

Hi guys
Looking for a bit of advice, im looking for a new bike but im a bit confused at what to go for.

I use my bike just to keep fit and i am currently using my Mountain bike but im finding the gears very restrictive for what i need, i got a Racer to try but i found the super skinny wheels to much for the roads in my area so i was thinking a Hybrid would be the route to go and i was looking at the Boardman Hybrid.

But after visiting a cycle store in town i was shown a Specialized racer/roadbike with hybrid style wheel/tyres and was told these would be better for me as the gear set would suit fitness and longer distances better, now im a little confused.

I would normally do 20k a few times a week and hoping to do a bigger 70k once a month, so im looking for some advice for people in the know, sorry if my terms are a little off im pretty new to cycling

Thanks in advance for any help

Lumen

Get a proper road bike.

You'll get used to the skinny tyres.

GTDolanator

have you looked into cyclo cross thingys?

Captain Havoc

+1 on what Lumen said or you can get wider tyres. Stay skinny though and you'll be cycling with no hands in a couple of months.

projectgtr

Lumen wrote: »

Get a proper road bike.

You'll get used to the skinny tyres.

thanks for the replies

i tried them for a bit, i just dont find them ok for the roads in the area. As i said one of the specialized bikes had wider tyres alot like the hybrid but was still a proper road bike so if its a road bike ill go for one like that

So was i told right would a road bike suit me more than a Hybrid? Are the hybrid Gears based more on mountain bike gears than a proper road bike?

projectgtr

GTDolanator wrote: »

have you looked into cyclo cross thingys?

like an exercise bike?? if so id rather be out on the roads to be honest, give me more of a sense of achievement

Raam

He means a cyclo cross bike which is used for cyclo cross races on mud and what not. A road bike is the best way to go.

DirkVoodoo

Road bikes are quite durable. If it's a comfort issue, you might want to consider getting a pair of padded shorts and some gloves. Honestly, best way to go, especially for the mileage you are considering.

projectgtr

right so road bike it is but ill go with the wider tyres, can anyone recommend me an entry level bike? the specialized i was looking at is around the 600 mark but if i can get the bike to work scheme i can up the price.

Thanks again for the input

DirkVoodoo

Specialized Allez sport or something? Good starter bike, I think it's a decent place to start. You can only use CTW once every 5 years, so it might be worth hanging onto until you know exactly what you like. If you buy an Allez, get a year of decent use and some sportives out of it and sell it on, you will be in a nice position to upgrade with cycle to work.

projectgtr

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Specialized Allez sport or something? Good starter bike, I think it's a decent place to start. You can only use CTW once every 5 years, so it might be worth hanging onto until you know exactly what you like. If you buy an Allez, get a year of decent use and some sportives out of it and sell it on, you will be in a nice position to upgrade with cycle to work.

Thats the one, glad i took a brochure good thinking on the CTW are there any other bikes in comparison that people would recommend only other brands ive dealt with before are Saracan and Claud Butler

projectgtr

How would people rate the Carerra Virtuoso as an entry level road bike?
Coming in at just over 350 its nearly half the price of the specialized, would this be more suited to myself?

Lumen

Budget?

projectgtr

I think the Allez was in around the 600 mark, id consider this my upper limit give or take.

TheBlaaMan

projectgtr wrote: »

How would people rate the Carerra Virtuoso as an entry level road bike?
Coming in at just over 350 its nearly half the price of the specialized, would this be more suited to myself?

The words

Dont
Touch and
Bargepole

come to mind..........seriously, there is no comparison between the Specialized Allez and the Carrera.

Also, the maximum benefit with CTW is about €500 +/-€50 - regardless of when you use it. So, yeah, if you use it now, best to spend up to the 'optimum' price of €1000 (€500 from you, €500 in scheme) if you have the funds. Otherwise, keep it for an upgrade but note that there is no 'long-term' Gvt committment to retaining the scheme (its probably here for the next 12 months in any case), and your employer may have other time-based or retailer-restrictions that you will need to consider..........

Lumen

The Carreras are around entry level. IIRC the components are "off groupset", but they generally get recent enough reviews on the UK sites.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/virtuoso-09-34691

I wouldn't necessarily avoid them.

projectgtr

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

The words

Dont
Touch and
Bargepole

come to mind..........seriously, there is no comparison between the Specialized Allez and the Carrera.

Also, the maximum benefit with CTW is about €500 +/-€50 - regardless of when you use it. So, yeah, if you use it now, best to spend up to the 'optimum' price of €1000 (€500 from you, €500 in scheme) if you have the funds. Otherwise, keep it for an upgrade but note that there is no 'long-term' Gvt committment to retaining the scheme (its probably here for the next 12 months in any case), and your employer may have other time-based or retailer-restrictions that you will need to consider..........

Good point about the CTW, i am just waiting to find out the details if i can go for it ill adjust my price

On the Carrera, whats wrong with it? Like i said im new to all this, would it not suit an entry level rider?

Any other bikes you would consider instead of the allez??

BostonB

Well the specialised has a better frame perhaps. But how does the spec compare otherwise? Chainset etc.

On some of the UK forums, they seem to think the Carerra Virtuoso is ok. At least for commuting and winter training etc.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055974812

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/virtuoso-09-34691

http://www.cyclechat.net/topic/64573-beginner-looking-for-a-road-bike/page__p__1324396__hl__+carerra+virtuoso__fromsearch__1#entry1324396

http://www.cyclechat.net/topic/35496-absolute-cheapest-roadbike-thats-not-crap/page__hl__+carerra+virtuoso

While I think the Carerra Virtuoso might be better value for money. I just don't like the colour scheme. Like the Specialized colours better. Which is a bit daft but there you go.

I think the Boardman Road Comp is a better deal, but its more expensive.