Want to buy my first racer...help?

rainbows7

Hi there,

I'm hoping to buy a racer so I can commit to triathalons etc but I haven't a clue with what I should look for and avoid and what price to pay.

I know wheels must be thin, but that's about it.

I'd like to pay less than 500. Happy to purchase second hand also.

Unable to get cycle to work scheme.

Grateful for any advice please.

Thank you

happytramp

A lot of people rate this as the best value new road bike for that kind of money.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

However, you might be better off going second hand. Things to look out for.
1. Be the right size for you (roughly determined by your height)
2. A reputable brand (not viking or the other cheapo new bikes sold on gumtree)
3. 9 speed (cogs at the rear wheel)
4. Shimano sora or tiagra parts.
5. Use the adverts section here, gumtree.ie, adverts.ie and donedeal. (search the term. 'road bike')

Put bikes you're interested up here and people will advise you on them.

Bigus

I recommend going with the triban 3 over second hand, my son has one and it compares well to bikes 4 times the price,

get yourself to Belfast decathlon to size it , in the outlet beside George best airport .... Job done

it'll work out around 380 euro and they have great value sports clothes there aswell.make sure you , at least get padded cyling shorts or leggings.

Secondhand will be a nightmare when you're not up to speed, and take up a lot of time, on wild goose chases.

happytramp

Bigus wrote: »

I recommend going with the triban 3 over second hand, my son has one and it compares well to bikes 4 times the price,

I agree it's a decent bike. But lets not get carried away. It's not quite the same thing as high end racing bike.

You can certainly get better second hand with a bit of work.

Bigus

happytramp wrote: »

I agree it's a decent bike. But lets not get carried away. It's not quite the same thing as high end racing bike.

You can certainly get better second hand with a bit of work.

If you know what you're doin, if you don't buying secondhand is a minefield

On the triban3

4 times the price is 1500 euro , that's not high end, however it compares well to a branded alu frame /carbon fork bikes that retail for 1200 euro.


http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/bikes/129441/2/bike-test-do-you-get-what-you-pay-for.html

leeomurchu

You just missed this one.

Nice looking bike.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056840771

Check out the cycling adverts forum

happytramp

Or this one...

http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-sports-leisure-in-dublin/felt-z80-road-bike-for-sale-444010784

rainbows7

Thanks a million for taking the time to reply. I have learned a lot here.

billyhead

happytramp wrote: »

A lot of people rate this as the best value new road bike for that kind of money.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

However, you might be better off going second hand. Things to look out for.
1. Be the right size for you (roughly determined by your height)
2. A reputable brand (not viking or the other cheapo new bikes sold on gumtree)
3. 9 speed (cogs at the rear wheel)
4. Shimano sora or tiagra parts.
5. Use the adverts section here, gumtree.ie, adverts.ie and donedeal. (search the term. 'road bike')

Put bikes you're interested up here and people will advise you on them.

Can these bikes not be delivered to the republic? They look decent as a winter trainer. Is the only option to travel to Belfast?

happytramp

billyhead wrote: »

Can these bikes not be delivered to the republic? They look decent as a winter trainer. Is the only option to travel to Belfast?

They used too but they don't deliver anymore. As far as I know your only option is to go up and get it. Also, if you do go, be sure they have your size and will hold it for you before going up. They are frequently out of stock in popular sizes.

rainbows7

3. 9 speed (cogs at the rear wheel)
4. Shimano sora or tiagra parts.

Excuse my ignorance.. What are cogs?

What is No. 4?

happytramp wrote: »

A lot of people rate this as the best value new road bike for that kind of money.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

However, you might be better off going second hand. Things to look out for.
1. Be the right size for you (roughly determined by your height)
2. A reputable brand (not viking or the other cheapo new bikes sold on gumtree)
3. 9 speed (cogs at the rear wheel)
4. Shimano sora or tiagra parts.
5. Use the adverts section here, gumtree.ie, adverts.ie and donedeal. (search the term. 'road bike')

Put bikes you're interested up here and people will advise you on them.

happytramp

maryjoe wrote: »

3. 9 speed (cogs at the rear wheel)
4. Shimano sora or tiagra parts.

Excuse my ignorance.. What are cogs?

What is No. 4?

A lot of bikes you'll encounter will have parts made by a company called Shimano. They have several product lines varying from the basic to the super fancy. All are reasonably reliable though. Shimano 'Sora' is one of the more affordable sets of parts (brakes, gear changers, pedal arms etc).

The cogs are the sets of toothed rings attached to the back wheel that the gear changer shifts the chain onto to make it easier or harder to cycle.



Ideally you would want something that had 8 or 9 cogs at the back (usually referred to as 8 speed or 9 speed) anything less like 5,6,7 is likely to be quite old or not of good quality.