I want to seriously get into cycling but need help?

Question

I am 15 and living in australia. Of late, i have taken a serious interest in cycling (not just because of tour de france:) i want to take it more seriously. Like where i can find a training program and how much i should spend on a bike. When i get a bit better, should i look at getting a coach or joining a club.

How good do you have to be to go on group rides with similar age people...any resources would be great!!

What type of road bike should i get?? (brand, price)..etc. ??

Answer 1

For expert advise ask those questions in the bike forum I linked to below.

Answer 2

As mentioned, going for a entry level bike with a Sora or Tiagra groupo is good for recreational riders that really don't plan on heavy training or becoming more involved in the sport. The problem I see here is that you are 15; meaning you are still growing and will probably have a growth spurt. This lends itself to the problem of frame sizing (depending on how tall you are now).

My suggestion for bikes:

For more serious biking - Trek2.1 or 2.3 (cost from 1,400$ - 1,700$ Canadian) but comes with a 105/tiagra andfull 105 groupo, respectively, with carbon fiber fork and seat stays.

- Giant TCR Alliance A1 (cost 1,600$ CND) with mixed composite aluminum/carbon composite frame/fork and 105 groupo.

-Cannondale CAAD9 R5 (1,600$ CND), mixed 105/ultegra groupo, carbon fork and top notch aluminum frame.

For more recreational riding: - trek 1.0 or 1.2 (1000$), sora/tiagra mix, carbon fork, aluminum frame.

- Giant TCR (1200-1300$ CND) full tiagra groupo.

- Giant OCR series (800 - 1300) ranges from sora to 105 groupo, but with more upright seating position and compact frame.

Just have a drop by your local bike shop, and they can fit you with something reasonable. But, in my opinion, the new 105 10 speed is probably one of the best groupos for that price range and will last you a long time. Some of my fellow club members even race with 105 and do fine. Join your local bike club and participate in events. Don't buy a bike thinking you will upgrade it's components, it will cost your  a lot more in the end.

Regards,

A.

Answer 3

a good place to start is your local bike shop.  there you'll meet people interested in biking.  if you're lucky like i was the people working there were racers and knew the local club and helped get me started.  if not, search for a club in your area.  clubs usually have club races, training rides  and the like.

i wasted a lot of money buying up the ladder.  the problem with starting with a low line bike is that as you get serious, you need to get a better bike.  that basicly wastes the first bike.  in my opinion get the best bike you can afford starting off.  you can save money by going aluminum frame.  as for the components i would say with shimano anything 105 or above is great, with campy, anything they have is good.  you should be able to find something very competitive.