The best entry-level road bikes

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.

The Best Entry-Level Road Bikes For Men

Myles is an Autos & Fitness Product Writer for What's The Best, Parkers and CAR. His areas of expertise include cycling, fitness tech and hot hatches.

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