newbie road bike advice sought

I'm in the market for a new (to me) road bike. I'm after advice, but first some essential info.

I'm 6'1", 75kg, male, aged 33, Nottingham based. I've had a 25" (suspect too large) horizontal top
tubed raleigh c. £200 for years, but now want something a fair bit better. Usage will be mainly
commuting upto 10 miles, and I DO want a racing bike. I've been told a 58cm looks right when I'm on
it - this was a sloping top tubed frame. From what I know and have seen (both very little) I think
I'm after something like a lower end Specialized or possibly a Cannondale R400. I'm prepared to pay
up to about £300-£400 depending on spec/condition and naturally I'm after the latest gear shifting
operation. So 2 years old? I don't really want to have to change components straight away, though I
am aware that the lower end specs tend to economise on wheel sets.

Where are the best places (on or off net) to look for second hand/nearly new bikes. I suspect there
are a lot of bikes that come up for sale from sponsored folk who don't need 5 bikes taking up space
- where do they advertise them?

What do you think I should look for specifically ie make/model or specific features.

Any examples of prices for specific (say 2 yr old) models in excellent condition, that I should be
looking to pay?

If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and which shops have a good
selection?

TIA

--
Mike W

 

"VisionSet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm in the market for a new (to me) road bike. I'm after advice, but
first
> some essential info.
>
> I'm 6'1", 75kg, male, aged 33, Nottingham based. I've had a 25" (suspect too large) horizontal top
> tubed raleigh c. £200
for
> years, but now want something a fair bit better. Usage will be mainly commuting upto 10 miles,
> and I DO want a racing bike. I've been told a 58cm looks right when I'm on it - this was a
> sloping top tubed frame. From what I know and have seen (both very little) I think I'm after
> something like a lower end Specialized or possibly a Cannondale R400. I'm prepared to pay up to
> about £300-£400 depending on spec/condition and naturally I'm after the latest gear shifting
> operation. So 2 years old?
I
> don't really want to have to change components straight away, though I am aware that the lower end
> specs tend to economise on wheel sets.
>
> Where are the best places (on or off net) to look for second hand/nearly
new
> bikes. I suspect there are a lot of bikes that come up for sale from sponsored folk who don't need
> 5 bikes taking up space - where do they advertise them?
>
> What do you think I should look for specifically ie make/model or specific features.
>
> Any examples of prices for specific (say 2 yr old) models in excellent condition, that I should be
> looking to pay?
>
> If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and which shops have a good
> selection?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Mike W
>
>
>
>
>

You could be in the market for a good quality flat barred road bike like the Speialized Genesis Day
range. I know for a fact that Hargroves Cycles (01962 860005) have some of last year's models on
offer, including a Genesis Day 02 (in a size to suit you) for about £600. They have a Genesis Day 03
too but I'm not sure of the size.

Just a thought.

PS - I have no commercial interest in Hargroves Cycles but they did do a good job of fitting my
Ultegra chainset yesterday.

 

"VisionSet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm in the market for a new (to me) road bike. I'm after advice, but
first
> some essential info. If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and
> which shops have a good selection?

Usually late summer when next years models begin to appear. By now there is probably little left but
try: http://www.leisure-lakes.co.uk/bargainbikes.asp http://www.evanscycles.co.uk/frameset.html
http://www.bikinguk.net/dealers/UK.cfm

 

On Sun, 9 Feb 2003 00:25:50 -0000, "VisionSet" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm 6'1", 75kg, male, aged 33, Nottingham based. I've had a 25" (suspect too large) horizontal top
>tubed raleigh c. £200 for years, but now want something a fair bit better.

That's slightly larger than my tourer and we're about the same height. Try the bike fit system at
www.wrenchscience.com - but please see if your LBS has a measuring setup if you are considering
spending Real Money(TM)

Is yours the last Raleigh in Nottingham? :-/

>Usage will be mainly commuting upto 10 miles, and I DO want a racing bike.

Sure? An audax bike might be more the mark. Or is that 10 miles round trip? How are you going to
carry "stuff?" An audax bike is a racing bike, but not a TT bike. Or maybe you oculd tweak the
Raleigh as a commuter and get a full-on racer for those summer days?

>Where are the best places (on or off net) to look for second hand/nearly new bikes.

The back pages of the comic might be worth a try, and the small ads in Cycle Touring; also
check your local edition of Loot / FreeAds. But make absolutely sure you've got the
measurements right first.

>I suspect there are a lot of bikes that come up for sale from sponsored folk who don't need 5 bikes
>taking up space - where do they advertise them?

LOL! They all go to the mechanics at the bike shop. Ricky has a garage full of them. And I mean
*full* - two layers, one on the floor and one hanging from the ceiling.

>If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and which shops have a good
>selection?

My LBS has a sale on right now. But please don't be tempted to buy the wrong size, you'll regret it
from day 1. And don't expect to find much in your size, they mostly stock "medium size" (i.e. short
arse) frames.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com (BT ADSL and
dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

 

I've just bought a trek 1200 racing bike on e-bay for £380 + p+p(£400 all
in), it is in almost new good condition and I think a bargain for a £700 new bike. Gave it a good
oil and grease and went out on it for about 25 miles today, good training bike. So have a look at
http://listings.ebay.co.uk/aw/plistings/list/all/category7298/index.html It did take me a while
to get one you have to be in on the bidding at the end. You will have to pretty sure of the
sizing of course.

Cheers, John "VisionSet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm in the market for a new (to me) road bike. I'm after advice, but
first
> some essential info.
>
> I'm 6'1", 75kg, male, aged 33, Nottingham based. I've had a 25" (suspect too large) horizontal top
> tubed raleigh c. £200
for
> years, but now want something a fair bit better. Usage will be mainly commuting upto 10 miles,
> and I DO want a racing bike. I've been told a 58cm looks right when I'm on it - this was a
> sloping top tubed frame. From what I know and have seen (both very little) I think I'm after
> something like a lower end Specialized or possibly a Cannondale R400. I'm prepared to pay up to
> about £300-£400 depending on spec/condition and naturally I'm after the latest gear shifting
> operation. So 2 years old?
I
> don't really want to have to change components straight away, though I am aware that the lower end
> specs tend to economise on wheel sets.
>
> Where are the best places (on or off net) to look for second hand/nearly
new
> bikes. I suspect there are a lot of bikes that come up for sale from sponsored folk who don't need
> 5 bikes taking up space - where do they advertise them?
>
> What do you think I should look for specifically ie make/model or specific features.
>
> Any examples of prices for specific (say 2 yr old) models in excellent condition, that I should be
> looking to pay?
>
> If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and which shops have a good
> selection?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Mike W
>
>
>

 

I've just bought a trek 1200 racing bike on e-bay for £380 + p+p(£400 all
in), it is in almost new good condition and I think a bargain for a £700 new bike. Gave it a good
oil and grease and went out on it for about 25 miles today, good training bike. So have a look at
http://listings.ebay.co.uk/aw/plistings/list/all/category7298/index.html It did take me a while
to get one you have to be in on the bidding at the end. You will have to pretty sure of the
sizing of course.

Cheers, John "VisionSet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm in the market for a new (to me) road bike. I'm after advice, but
first
> some essential info.
>
> I'm 6'1", 75kg, male, aged 33, Nottingham based. I've had a 25" (suspect too large) horizontal top
> tubed raleigh c. £200
for
> years, but now want something a fair bit better. Usage will be mainly commuting upto 10 miles,
> and I DO want a racing bike. I've been told a 58cm looks right when I'm on it - this was a
> sloping top tubed frame. From what I know and have seen (both very little) I think I'm after
> something like a lower end Specialized or possibly a Cannondale R400. I'm prepared to pay up to
> about £300-£400 depending on spec/condition and naturally I'm after the latest gear shifting
> operation. So 2 years old?
I
> don't really want to have to change components straight away, though I am aware that the lower end
> specs tend to economise on wheel sets.
>
> Where are the best places (on or off net) to look for second hand/nearly
new
> bikes. I suspect there are a lot of bikes that come up for sale from sponsored folk who don't need
> 5 bikes taking up space - where do they advertise them?
>
> What do you think I should look for specifically ie make/model or specific features.
>
> Any examples of prices for specific (say 2 yr old) models in excellent condition, that I should be
> looking to pay?
>
> If I did go new, what time of year do shops have sales of road bikes, and which shops have a good
> selection?
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Mike W
>
>
>