Entry level road bikes - finding a good cheap bike
Where to start looking for a good cheap bike?
There is a bewildering choice of bikes in the £400-600 price range, the typical starting point for a bike, and it is difficult to know where to start. Virtually all mainstream bike manufacturers have entry bikes in this price range.
To confuse matters further, your bike supplier will have last years models at reduced prices. These are often available at extremely tempting prices.
Frames at this price will usually be steel / aluminium / alloy. The equipment will usually be at the lower end of the range (e.g. Shimano Sora or Shimano Tiagra gears etc) but still works perfectly well. Just because it is possible to spend £5,000 on a bike doesn't mean a £500 bike is no good!
A couple of the frequently recommended bikes in this range include:
When you are choosing an entry level bike, it is not necessary to spend a fortune to get good quality - bikes in the lower price range are certainly good for several thousand kilometres, and you'll appreciate the benefits of a lighter bike much more when you have more experience on the road.
It is recommended to buy from a bike supplier, however, rather than a general sports supplier or even worse from a local hypermarket. Bikes from these tend to be made for shop appeal rather than road efficiency.
Your best approach is usually to choose one from a mainstream manufacturer, since many of the benefits of the more expensive models filter down to the cheaper models.
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Bikes reviewed are often available at very good prices from: