Need advice on getting a road bike.?

Question

I'm 16 and I mountain bike and i enjoy it a lot but I have been wanting to get a road bike for sometime now. I have told my parents and they are thinking about it. They know I'm serious i told them its something I will do all the time and join clubs and stuff, but i still don't have them convinced. I'm good at biking, on my 20 something lb mountain bike i can go 30mph and hold for long time.

Answer 1

read what john 0 said.

a 20lbs mt bike!! that's a very nice bike. sell the mt bike for like $3,000 and get yourself a nice road bike with the cash.

If you can ride your mt bike at 30mph+ for a long time, then you don't need a new bike. You're pretty much already pro. Enter a local club TT and you should kill everyone.

anyway mate. keep up the riding and invest in a pair of scales and speedo. Keep trianing hard and your parents may see your effort and help you buy a bike. This will depend on your parents alot, not just how hard you try unfortunately. life can be cruel. My 15yr old brother has to pay for all this road bike stuff, i end up loaning him my 2nd hand tyres, wheels etc 'cos our parents are tight

Answer 2

I would get on your 20 lb mountain bike and have them follow you at 30 mph for a long time to show them how serious you are about it.

Answer 3

1.  If you had a 20# mounain bike, you wouldn't be asking for a new bike.

2.  If you could ride said bike @ 30mph for even 10 seconds, you'd best be getting into track cycling so you can sweep nationals.

3.  I'm in my 30's, have raced as a Cat 1 roadie and NORBA Expert dirtie, ridden on several sponsored teams, and have had the privelege to receive several handbuilt frames.  My parents still don't understand why I don't just drive to work.  

At 16, some kids have kick-*** parents who make the investment to get a serious bike under their kid's butt while others have to wrench away at a bike shop all winter to buy a crappy middle-of-the road Schwinn that they use to spank the Colnago and Look-equipped riders.  I still love that bike.

If your parents refuse to buy you a bike, ask if they'll match you dollar-for-dollar.  Then get a job at a bike shop.  Pro deals are usually better than the price the dealer pays and you'll have good connections for gear and maintenance.  Otherwise, just suck it up and race on what you can get.

Coaches of Juniors teams know how to spot talent.  If you can place in a few races on a crappy bike, they'll notice.  Before you know it, an older rider may loan you his/her bike and you'll go even faster.  An armful of ribbons later, the sponsor might pony-up for a decent stock bike.  Win State and you might find yourself being fitted for a handbuilt frame.  Win Nationals and you won't pay for gear for at least a year or two.

Even if you're on a c**p bike, join a club.  Members always know people who are looking to get rid of an old steed and you can gain valuable knowledge.  Racing isn't just about going fast.  You need to learn how to ride a pack, take tight turns, communicate with your team, shut-down a breakaway, lead a sprinter out, tuck, climb, descend, and more.  These aren't skills you can't get by riding alone on lonely streches of highway, singing Italian opera.  Even if you never rise above Cat 4, clubs offer training, advice, and support that you can't get alone.  And who knows, maybe a teammate or coach could prove more persuasive than you when it comes to asking the Ps for a new bike or gear?

Answer 4

  It sounds like your parents aren't into cycling at all. If that's the case, you're going to have to find some way of financing the road bike purchase yourself. Don't feel left out on this issue, because you have LOTS and LOTS of company. Many decent road bikes start at approximately $670 or so. If your careful, it may not take that long to come up with the cash.