First ever road bike. Need opinion

[Xilter]

Got a new job 3.5 miles from home. Currently use a motorcycle to commute and always said I wish I lived closer so could cycle. Now I’m selling my motorbike to pay for a road bike. Never having bought one before I need some experienced opinion.

Was going to get a Canyon Endurace but reviews about the company eliminated that option. A decent spec trek or Specialized blew the budget. So I fell upon Boardman. Reading the general consensus is. Go ahead buy a Boardman. They are a proper bike brand that make a good machine. Just don’t let Halfords open the box take it to a LBS. and unless it’s a warranty issue never let Halfords see it again.

SO TO THE POINT: i went in to buy
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... 5cm-frames

And it needed to be ordered in so the guy tried selling me a demonstrator for £800 link below

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... 4cm-frames

Its £400 less, C8 instead of C7 frame. It’s Mavic wheels instead of Halfords own. It’s SRAM force instead of Shimano 105 ( which I have read the force is a higher tier Groupsets than the 105)

HERE IS THE QUESTION. The bike he tried to sell me is rim brake rather than disc brake. I’m going to be riding year round and there is one particular steep hill that ends abruptly at a roundabout that connects a college to the train station and also main road.

Not being able to test them both in the pouring rain. Which would you suggest? Surely Sram Force won’t be that bad in the wet? Even if the bike is ugly. But I’ll be putting mudguards and a saddle bag on it just to ruin any fashion statement the bike may have had anyway.

Thanks for your time.

[djnotts]

Well......between those two probably the demo model. BUT is either ideal for a year round all weather 7 miles per day commute? Personally I'd say not. Will either even take m'guards? A rack? 11 speed drive chain getting covered in road filth every day? IF you really want to "test" feasibility on a road bike, then ebay is your friend - and you wouldn't need to sell your m'cycle to fund it. (For example I've just bought a 3 x 10 Focus Culebro for 225 quid.)
If you feel the need to spend so much, then there are surely machines much better suited to the task?

[RickH]

For a 3.5 mile ride almost anything would do the job. Also the term "Road bike" can mean different thing to different people.

If you aren't cycling at all at the moment then something inexpensive, possibly used, could be a good starting point. Then you can ride it before you decide what you do really want in a few months time - such as lighter weight, more gears (particularly lower ones), the ability to take bigger tyres to cope with off road tracks, better load carrying, different handlebars, etc.

[TrevA]

I wouldn't have a bike with SRAM road gears, they are the work of the devil. See reviews of the Spa audax bike with SRAM Apex. Thankfully they've now changed to Shimano.

[Cugel]

If a commuter is wanted, the "road bike" as usually understood is a poor option. As others have remarked, they often come as race bikes with no provision for mudguards or rack, as well as a racy position that will test the neck & back of non-racers.

Personally I'd look for a frame that's versatile, since these are now common and really are adaptable to many guises of bike riding style. "Versatile" means complete with various braze-ons (particulary for guards & rack); clearance for big tyres (which usually means cantis or disk brakes); a round standard diameter seat tube (to allow a band-on front changer able to adapt to any chainring size).

Such bikes really can be racy, commuty, off-roady, toury, audaxy and even cyclo-crossy - depending on what stem, wheels/tyres and gears you fit.

For commuting as a primary purpose, I'd also want a tallish head tube and short stem, for a more upright position.

There are dozens of bikes like this. If possible, wait for the sales to start as summer nears its end.

Cugel

[freiston]

I take it that you will have to travel up that steep hill as well as brake at the bottom when you travel down it. I don't know how long or steep the hill is, if you will have any luggage or how fit you are, but you might appreciate a lower gear than the 36T chainwheel/28T cassette will give you.

Personally, even if I were 'into' race bikes, I wouldn't buy one (especially at those prices) for a 7 mile round-journey all-year commute. Like others, I would be looking for mudguards and luggage-carrying ability. Have you got anywhere to safely and securely leave the bike? A decent bike lock (or two) could weigh in at a few kilos and you might or might not want to leave them at your bike-park.

As a first purchase of a bike, I would recommend spending less and giving yourself time to "discover" what you want or don't want before spending the sort of money your listed bikes cost. For your purpose, I would certainly recommend getting something with proper mudguards (not after-thought race guards) and a luggage rack. I would also recommend a decent low gear for any challenging hills. If the distance was further and night-time out-of-town cycling a requirement, I would be recommending a dynamo front hub and lights too.

[Xilter]

Thanks for the advice I do apppreciate it. Currently I have a Specialized Hard-rock with RST front suspension I got from a charity shop for toddling around the common with the kids. The thing weighs more than me I’m sure ( despite being 5’11”, I’m only 9.5 stone ) I have done a couple test runs on it to where I will be working and it’s so clunky I want something lighter smoother. So if you wouldn’t mind putting up a link or two for an alternative to consider that would be very kind

As for the motorbike. I can’t justify keeping it. In fact I am excited to have the fear of it breaking down off my shoulders. It won’t get used if not for going to work and getting rid of it will save me £1000 a year on tax insurance and fuel. I’ve had a motorbike now for 18 years. The novelty has worn off. It’s just a donkey now.

[keyboardmonkey]

Given the primary purpose of your new bike is to be commuting I think that rather than trying to put a racy Boardman bike to a purpose different from the one it was designed for, you should get something else. In your situation I might consider a Giant Contend SL 1 Disc 2018, for instance:

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/contend-sl-1-disc

Aluminium frame, mudguard eyelets, Shimano 105 5800 kit, and disc brakes for winter commuting and stopping on downhills if you feel you need that sort of thing.

It’s racy enough for, say, sportives and the like if you want to get in to such events.

[TrevA]

My commuting bike is a Decathlon Triban 520. Quite a high front end, I have 28mm tyres and mudguards on it, and a Blackburn rack. It also has a triple chainset to cope with hills, though my commute is pretty flat. If you want to spend a bit mote the 540 has the same frame but comes with better wheels and a 105 groupset, though it doesn't have a triple.

[freiston]

Thanks for the advice I do apppreciate it. Currently I have a Specialized Hard-rock with RST front suspension I got from a charity shop for toddling around the common with the kids. The thing weighs more than me I’m sure ( despite being 5’11”, I’m only 9.5 stone ) I have done a couple test runs on it to where I will be working and it’s so clunky I want something lighter smoother. So if you wouldn’t mind putting up a link or two for an alternative to consider that would be very kind

As for the motorbike. I can’t justify keeping it. In fact I am excited to have the fear of it breaking down off my shoulders. It won’t get used if not for going to work and getting rid of it will save me £1000 a year on tax insurance and fuel. I’ve had a motorbike now for 18 years. The novelty has worn off. It’s just a donkey now.

I took a look at some web pages and was surprised how the choice seems to have reduced since I last looked with a similar 'brief'.

A few links to a small selection of bikes of varying styles and prices (some of the prices are sale prices):

Pinnacle Neon 2 2018 - £455 - add mudguards etc. as you please/require.

Kalkhoff Durban Pro 2018 - £599 - comes with mudguards, carrier, dynamo lights

B'TWIN Triban 520 Road Bike - £499 - road bike that I understand can be fitted with proper mudguards and rack without much ado

ROUX Menthe - £680 - comes with mudguards

Ridgeback Tour 2018 - £549 - touring bike with mudguards and carrier.

[djnotts]

I took a look at some web pages and was surprised how the choice seems to have reduced since I last looked with a similar 'brief'.

A few links to a small selection of bikes of varying styles and prices (some of the prices are sale prices):

Pinnacle Neon 2 2018 - £455 - add mudguards etc. as you please/require.

Kalkhoff Durban Pro 2018 - £599 - comes with mudguards, carrier, dynamo lights

B'TWIN Triban 520 Road Bike - £499 - road bike that I understand can be fitted with proper mudguards and rack without much ado

ROUX Menthe - £680 - comes with mudguards

Ridgeback Tour 2018 - £549 - touring bike with mudguards and carrier.

The Kalkhoff is a proper bargain!

[Grarea]

I am quite new back to cycling myself and I am a big fan of second hand stuff to start with while you work out what you like/ dislike.

You should be able to sell it for similar money to what you buy it for.

My trip is just two miles each way, but downhill one way, almost completely uphill coming home.
I have done it 5-7 days a week for just over a year now.
By the time you are wet and carrying gear, the weight of the bike is not THAT huge a difference.

I would suggest a mountain or hybrid bike with triple chainset.
It will give you a nice big range to find out what gears you like to use.
Rigid forks.
I got a set of very adjustable bars to find my position so that I could narrow that down.
I was surprised to find I want drop bars for those real windy days.
I got marathon supreme (26") tyres. They are good rolling resistance, wide enough to be not skittish when going over potholes and drains.
Also, I have ridden over some broken glass a few times in the dark and they are fine.
Reasonable mtb/atb wheels to cope with bumping up and down the kerb and if i want to scoot off on a bridleway.
I like the robustness.

I then decided on a dynamo hub.

My point is, most of my bits were second hand and I am getting an idea of what I want now for what I want to use it for.
I have bought and sold a few bits. Rather than buying what the manufacturer thinks i want.
It has been really good.

[CyberKnight]

For commuting alll year around i would go with something with disks and drop bars as a personal preference as i dont get on with flats , if you are going to halfords ( i cant knock them i am a serial C2W buyer ) i would be looking at a CX style bike .
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... 5cm-frames
or even cheaper
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... 4cm-frames

People might knock halfords but like any chain of stores you get staff that are good and bad dependant on the shop, the actual bikes in the carrera and boardman range are pretty decent and if like me a C2W buyer as our company classes final payment as a benefit for tax purposes then you can get a bargain .My team carbon which was rrp 1K cost me £754 in total.

[freiston]

The Kalkhoff is a proper bargain!

I noticed that Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op describe the front lamp as 30 lumens (which would be ridiculously dim) but it should be 30 lux, which I reckon is a "see with" rather than just a "be seen by" light. Might not be be bright enough for fast riding on dark winding country lanes but should suffice for most night riding (and is very easily upgradable if required).

[fionat]

I have a CX type bike which is perfect for commuting. You need to ensure that the frame is strong enough for panniers, and you have the lugs for mudguards.

It's worth finding out if your new employer offers a cycle to work scheme - get your nice new bike tax free!