New to road bikes - been offered a 'deal' - what do you think?

littlemissy29

Hi All - Hope someone can help - I ride about twice a week after work, and cover about 10 miles each time - Using a reasonably heavy mountain bike.

I've got the chance to buy this bike for £75 -Visp sports racer d06 -
From what I have read, it won't be as light as something more expensive - but is there a good reason that you can give me to not buy it for that price? It has 12 gears and is about 3 years old-

This is it:
http://picpaste.com/pic1-m2sKv4qj.jpg
http://picpaste.com/del/B6otc5dU/pic2-ZKPZla3h.jpg


Worth a punt at that price - Or would I be better off getting an entry level from decathlon for about £220 -

Thanks - LM29

Nebulous2

£75 is very little money in bike terms and starting at that would give you an opportunity to dip your toe in the water without too much investment.

However that bike is set up for time trialling or triathlon, not for everyday use. That setup takes a lot of getting used to, even for people who are experienced on road bikes. It also wouldn't be allowed entry to a lot of cycling events, such as sportives if you had ambitions to try any of these.

Mankysteve

As nebulous said that more of triathlon bike rather than a road bike, there uncomfortable unless you developed the flexibility to ride one.

Does your work do the cycle to work scheme? great way to get a bike with a bit of a discount.

Also if buying new i would try and extend your budget a bit. Reach up to the £400-£500 mark and your gonna bike that going to last you a bit longer and be a nicer ride more comfortable ride.

Marktheshark

Look out for a carrera "tour de france" very heavily discounted as "its out of fashion" but its based on the £600 Bottom range road bike.
Which is bottom range in road bikes, anything under a grand is.
As a racer, you wont win anything, but as a robust get to work road bike, it will get you to work day in and day out and weigh about half the mountain bike and lands you in the starting range of " road bikes" and is more of a hybrid in that its very tough, wide geared and robust with wheels that can stand a bit of stick.
A bit heavier than what people would call a road racer, but it is built for robustness rather than speed and when you need it to get to work, it compromise time, it has to work and stay working.
Also very cheap second hand, seen them for £80.

littlemissy29

Thanks all for the replies - Greatly appreciated - have decided to opt out and extend my search...!

littlemissy29

Marktheshark wrote: »

Look out for a carrera "tour de france" very heavily discounted as "its out of fashion" but its based on the £600 Bottom range road bike.

Is this the one you mean?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-mens-ltd-road-bike

£270 at the moment -

LM29

Marktheshark

Yes that one, you wont win the tour de france on it, but its a great discount and for the price its entry level in to the hybrid road racer £500+ range , what it also is is very robust and quite light.
Main thing is it will always get you there.

boatman

Hybrid:
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=16262&Item=%27Marin%20Larkspur%20CS2%202014%20Hybrid/Commuter%20Bike%27
If you want an all round simple good quality bike, you can't go far wrong with this one.

Kernel_Sanders

boatman wrote: »

Hybrid:
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=16262&Item=%27Marin%20Larkspur%20CS2%202014%20Hybrid/Commuter%20Bike%27
If you want an all round simple good quality bike, you can't go far wrong with this one.

Would a commuter (maybe to an office or shop) want a bike with no mudguards? Why do they not give the bike's weight; if it's not that important, you wonder why they go to the expense of making it out of aluminium!