What is a good entry level Road Bike?

Question

In the past I have only ever owned cheap bikes of the wal-mart variety. As I find myself riding more and more, I'm looking to upgrade. I need something fairly light that I can ride on the road with automobile traffic. What sort of thing should I be looking for and how much money should I expect to spend? I am a college student, so my wallet is far from bottomless. Price is a major factor in what bike I end up choosing.

Answer 1

i think a flat bar road bike would be a good choice

check these out

http://scottusa.com/product/75/675/sub_3...

^i have this and love it i dont have a car and its fast and gets me where i need to go but is more durable than a road bike,

http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/rus...

^here is a single speed that can be ridden on group rides( i've ridden on 20-22mph rides and people kept up on these, and i have one myself(my fathers pista) and they are pretty quick)

http://www.feltracing.com/08/product.asp...

^here is a cheaper felt more upright postion bicycle

http://www.bianchiusa.com/08_c2c_nirone_...

^here is a traditional style road bicycle

if you are low on cash check out

craigslist

and see if your local bike shop is having any sales on last years model !

Answer 2

Go to your friendly local bike shop and ask. There are bike shops in every college town who cater to students. They will steer you right.

Answer 3

Fit, fit, fit. If you look at nothing else, fit will be key. A poor fitting bike will ruin a ride. A good fit will make you feel like you are practically gliding along. Don't go for a status symbol unless it truly fits well. Your Local Bike Shop (LBS) is the place to start. Find the one that you get along with most. Different shops often cater to different people. If you really want a road bike because you are riding roughly 10 or more miles per day, I highly recommend a touring bike, but they will cost a little more. Good comfort/hybrids entry level bikes will range from $275-400. The Bianchi Volpe touring bike will be roughly twice that, but is the benchmark I always recommend. It is a great bang for bike that most people would be happy with 10 years from now. I almost never recommend a true race bike. They are temperamental, expensive, and uncomfortable for the average rider. As the name implies, they are for racing. Hope this helps.