Aren’t bikes brilliant? They get us from A to B with the side effect of improving our mental well-being, and fitness levels and being kinder and more friendly to the environment. Many of us take up riding a bike for many different reasons, but whatever that reason is, we’re here to help you make the right choice when it comes to picking an entry-level road bike.
If you are interested in taking your commuting game to the next level or just riding your bike more readily on the road, you may be looking for a road bike that will enable you to do so for under £1,000. Happily, as we get used to seeing more and more technology crammed into top-end road bikes, this trickles down to the lower price points. This means that bikes below the £1,000 price point often have a smattering of carbon fibre, disc brakes, and even internal cabling is becoming more common around this price.
Here are some things to look out for.
Disc brakes Vs Rim Brakes
Many people swear by rim brakes as the best; they will argue that a correctly set up rim brake is the best way to slow and stop your bike and that disc brakes are just a way for manufacturers to make money.
While yes, rim brakes are excellent, their stopping power isn’t as great as disc brakes; this tends to make bikes with discs more expensive, but as we see them becoming more commonplace in cycling, their price is reducing as manufacturers look to offer the consumer the best possible bike.
Most disc brakes below £1,000 will likely be cable operated, but some may be hydraulic. This means a fluid inside the cabling operates the brake, just like the brake lines on your car. These are said to give a better feel and a more modulated response, with less wear than a cable, but still require servicing and can be challenging to do yourself.
Disc brakes are better than rim brakes, but this is your choice for feeling through the brake lever and response.
Carbon fibre is the best, right?
Well, it all depends on what you’re going for. There are many different grades of carbon fibre, and just because you see a road bike made from carbon fibre for under £1,000 doesn't mean it’ll be better than an aluminium frame with carbon forks, which are much more common around this price. Some bikes are even made price specific, so they'll be designed on an aluminium frame to be under £1,000 to compete with lower-end carbon fibre bikes.
Carbon fibre bikes around the £1,000 mark may bring you the lightness you desire, but they won’t have the same flex as more expensive carbon fibre frames, meaning fractures or breaks are much more likely on the brittle frames.
Other things to consider
Yes, they may all look the same, but you may want to note the subtle differences in road bikes. Road bikes come in different categories; those to be raced on will have short wheelbases and more aggressive geometry that may not be so comfortable for everyday riding. On the contrary touring road bikes will have longer wheelbases and be more comfortable for long days in the saddle. It’s all about thinking about what you’re going to do, and we would always err on the side of comfort when first starting road cycling or picking it back up again after a long time. As you get more into it, you can always purchase upgrades or even a bike to suit your new riding style once you’ve figured out what that is.
Buying a bike online
This can be a very cheap and easy way to buy a bike, but it does come with some difficulties – you don’t get to see what the bike feels like before you buy it, being one.
We advise getting a much better deal online as some manufacturers ship straight to the customer, and large retailers such as Wiggle offer great information on sizing. Sigma Sports has the exact sizing information level, and bikes can be returned for a small return fee.
The best entry-level road bikes for women
Some manufacturers make bikes, especially for women, such as. Some make women’s versions of their road bikes, and some lump men’s and women’s bikes into one. Is there a difference? Well, yes. Geometry for a woman’s bike and a man’s bike can be different, and the differences can make you more or less comfortable on the bike.
Consider your body type and arm and leg lengths, and if you’re buying your bike online – talk to the retailer or check all the measurements.
Best budget women's road bike
www.wiggle.co.uk
The Razor W features a sporty aluminium frame and carbon fork with comfortable geometry, and it is equipped with superb components and a stylish finishing kit. Vitus fitted it with a Shimano Claris 2x8-Speed groupset and powerful disc brakes. It rolls upon alloy Vitus wheels wrapped in high-grip Kenda Kwick Roller Sport tyres. Ideal for road racing, long-distance endurance events and general fitness cycling, the Razor W is dependable and fun.
Whether stepping over your first road bike or pulling away from lights on a regular commute, the Vitus Razor W delivers that same sensation of speed and freedom. And it never gets old.
Pros
- 6061-T6 Double Butted Aluminium
- Disc brakes at a low price point
- Nice spec for the price
Cons
- Mechanical disc brakes are not as powerful as hydraulic disc brakes
Best budget rim brake women's bike
www.tredz.co.uk
Boardman has really stepped up the game in terms of offering quality bikes at low prices. Made from 6061 aluminium, the welds are hidden, which is something of a novelty around this price. It gives the bike a lovely clean look and makes it seem much more expensive than it is. Little things make the difference.
Rim brakes help keep the price low, too.
Pros
- Shimano Claris gearing
- Great paint and welding finish
Cons
- Rim brakes don't offer the most stopping power
Best budget disc brake Women's bike
www.wiggle.co.uk
The aluminium Superlite frame and carbon forks make an aggressive bicycle perfect for racing, training and leisure cycling. The Axial WS is tailor-made for women, and the geometry complements that.
Mechanical disc brakes offer superior stopping power over rim brakes with internal cabling keeping the bikes clean lines.
Pros
- A mix of internal and external cabling keeps clean lines
- Mechanical disc brakes
Cons
- Higher maintenance due to cables and brakes
Best recognised frame and brand
www.sigmasports.com
Okay - it's not women's specific, but that doesn't mean women cannot ride it. If you're a little taller, this bike could be perfect. The geometry on this bike is quite balanced, allowing for comfortable riding positions while also being capable of getting up climbs and sprinting to the cafe stop while also having reliable handling.
Pros
- Composed geometry
- Accommodates a broad range of riding styles and positions
- integrated mudguard and pannier rack mounts
Cons
- Rim brakes aren't as powerful as disc brakes
Best all-rounder
www.tredz.co.uk
Female-specific brand Liv offers up this, which is currently on sale, so grab yourself a bargain. With an ALUXX-Grade Aluminium frame and Advance-Grade Composite forks with D-fuse seatpost this has been designed for comfort over all terrains. wide 32c tyres will offer up more grip, cushion and stability if you fancy yourself some light gravel riding. Designed to be super smooth over tarmac and help cut the bumps on gravel down, this is a smart all-around bike.
Pros
- All-rounder
- Well specced
Cons
- Mechanical discs need more maintenance
Best sale option
www.sigmasports.com
Yes, okay, you've got us again. Not a specific women's bike, but it's at great value, and this unisex bike will be fantastic for a taller female. Full internal cabling keeps the cockpit looking sharp and clean. Mechanical disc brakes offer up smart stopping power, while a triple-butted aluminium frame keeps weight down and performance up. Shimano Claris gears give you reliable gear changes time after time.
Pros
- Looks clean
- Mechanical disc brakes
- Internal cabling
Cons
- It might be a bit big for most females
The Best Entry-Level Road Bikes For Men
Best budget option
www.wiggle.co.uk
If you want a cheap road bike that will get you about, you'd do a lot worse than buying this Fuji Sportif. At just under £400, it'll give you all you could ask for, and you'd still be able to do some pretty serious riding on it, too. Sure, it has mechanical rim brakes, but it still utilises the Shimano Claris drivetrain, and you'll be getting reliable gearing for miles and miles of riding.
Pros
- Shimano Claris gearing
- Low price
Cons
- Basic spec
Big name on a budget
www.tredz.co.uk
At this price point, you will struggle to find a bike with a better paint and weld finish than this. Boardman has increased the quality of their product here, and you'll be riding around on a bike that looks more expensive.
A 6061 aluminium frame with carbon forks equipped with Shimano Claris gears will give you a taste of road cycling, and this bike will allow you to kick on to sportives.
Pros
- Great looking paint and welding
- Carbon forks soak up road buzz
Cons
- Rim brakes aren't the most powerful
Budget disc brake option
www.wiggle.co.uk
You might be scratching your head thinking, 'why is this bike more expensive than the recognised brand Boardman? Vitus are a Wiggle brand, right?' Well, yes, they are but note that this has Sora after its name, meaning that it's running the Shimano Sora groupset, an upgrade on the Claris. It also has disc brakes and some internal cabling, which add a few more pound signs to your bill.
Pros
- Shimano Sora groupset
- Mechanical disc brakes for stopping power
Cons
- Internal cables are harder to self maintain
respected groupset below £1,000
www.sigmasports.com
So, if you were scratching your head before and understood why things were more expensive on the Vitus, then look at this Cannondale with its alloy frame and rim brakes. You may be even more confused as to why this one is more. Cannondale is a very well-respected brand with bikes in the professional peloton, but this one uses a Shimano Tiagra groupset. Meaning that it's a further step up on the Sora used on the Vitus above.
Pros
- Shimano Tiagra groupset
- Respected brand
Cons
- Would like to see disc brakes at this price
Best all rounder
www.sigmasports.com
The AL in the title lets you know that this is an aluminium bike, but there's more to it than that. The IsoSpeed Carbon fork will help to remove buzz from the road, fatiguing your hands and arms less. Shimano Sora gears will give you durable, reliable gear shifts time after time. Mudguard mounts and space for 38mm tyres provide practicality as well as comfort.
Pros
- Practical
- Internal cabling
- Mechanical disc brakes
Cons
- Extra maintenance
Best frame under £1,000
www.sigmasports.com
The Specialized Allez brings affordability and high levels of performance to an E5 aluminium frameset with full carbon forks. As with most bikes around this price point, the geometry is neutral and very accommodating. Integrated mudguard and luggage rack mounts make this a versatile commuter.
Pros
- Well-recognised frame and brand
- Integrated mounts
- The E5 alloy frame is lightweight, laterally stiff and robust
Cons
- High price for a rim brake bike, but it's a well-recognised frame
Best sale option
www.tredz.co.uk
The Contend AR from Giant could be the perfect bike for weekday commuting and weekend riding. It's a balanced geometry that offers a fairly neutral riding position, meaning you can factor it either way. The D-Fuse seatpost offers comfort over canal paths, and mechanical disc brakes give you powerful modulated stopping power in all conditions.
Pros
- Balanced geometry
- Comfortable riding position
- Great all-rounder
Cons
- Not too many at this price point