A cheap road bike if well chosen can give you many years of pleasure. When you first look at road bikes you may well be shocked by the difference in price. A new road bike can cost many thousands of dollars, you do not however need to spend this much.
If you are new to ridding road bikes, or it has been a long time since you rode one, it will seem difficult or unusual at first. It may feel uncomfortable, the saddle may be too high and you may not be able to change gear properly. Don’t give up, take your time to get your bike properly set up for you, persevere, in the long run it will pay off.
Good road bikes have a light weight rigid frame. An expensive bike may well have a carbon-fibre frame with light weight fittings, you do not however need this. A cheap road bike made by one of the major manufacturers, Giant, Specialized, Trek or Giant etc will be just as good for a beginner.
Choose a road bike made by a reputable manufacturer; they are more likely to have robust fixtures and fittings. This is not to say that a bike from a little known manufacturer will be inferior, but you know where you are with a ‘big name’ it is easier to get spares and if anything does go wrong you know where to find them!
Now I know most people say that looks aren’t important but I disagree. If you think your bike looks good then it makes you feel good, you are more likely to get out and use it, get fitter and so look better yourself. Choose a bike that looks good and makes you feel good, it’s simple psychology but it works.
So far we have covered price, manufacturers and looks, but the most important factor in choosing a road bike is size. You must make sure you have the right sized frame or you will never be able to ride your bike comfortably. A cheap road bike that doesn’t fit you is always an expensive mistake; remember it is only a bargain if you can use it. Take the time to measure up and find your correct size, if they don’t have the bike you want in your size go elsewhere, there are thousands of bike shops on and off line, you will be able to find the right size at one of them.
Another choice which often confuses people is the number of gears you need. Many expensive bikes have just two gear rings at the front. There is a great deal of snobbery about this, some look down on those who have three rings, childish I know but true! If you are new to road bikes and are going to cycle over hilly terrain, then you may well find it easier to start with three rings, so they call it the ‘granny-gear’ who cares if it gets you up that hill and allows you to enjoy your ride!
I recommend that you go and try a number of cheap road bikes before making your mind up. Decide which one you want and then check on and off line to find the best deal.
Happy cycling!