How To Choose Your First Road Bike: Beginner Series Ep. 1

Do you want to start cycling? Then welcome to our new beginner series! In these 5 videos we will help you: find your first bike, set it up, maintain it, know what to wear, build confidence on the road, and find people to ride with. In this episode, we start right at the beginning; how to choose your first road bike! Manon goes through everything you need to think about when looking for a bike: size, material, pedals and more!

0:00 - Intro
1:00 - What type of bike do you need?
3:06 - Budget
4:24 - Frame material
5:55 - The fit of your bike
7:24 - Components
8:30 - Second hand

Useful Links:

If you have any questions Manon OR you have some tips for new cyclists, put them in the comment section below! 💬

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🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Yurei - Sugoi
Act Like You Know - Matt Large
Antics Galore - Harry Edvino
Ebb n Flow (Instrumental Version) - Pandaraps
Elephant Group 19 - SFX Producer
No Plans Today - Sarah, the Illstrumentalist
Press Send - Erik Fernholm
Ready or Not - J.F. Gloss
Sauvez-vous! - Coma Svensson
Turbid Turns - Dusty Decks

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[geraintjones]

I bought my first road bike recently - a 12+ year old Raleigh Airlite 100 for under £50. It needed tubes & tyres and a bit of work/tlc which I was able to do myself and actually added to the whole experience. It's been on the road for just over a month and so far we've covered around 220 miles. I absolutely love it.

[xtrailz]

Beginners won't be racing and don't need carbon frames. Get a cheap Triban road bike from Decathlon and ride it for a year. Use that experience to decide what your next bike should be.

[bobm]

As an avid mountain biker, just got into road biking. Comfort was my first priority. Been 2 months with my Cannondale Synapse carbon 3 and couldn’t be happier. It is addicting…

[tbz]

1:33 It is so important that people continue to support their LBS, especially when considering a bike purchase. Many shops will have bikes they need to clear out and are less expensive than their online counterparts. Plus when purchasing at a shop they will have a vested interest in making sure you’re a satisfied customer going forward, unlike many online retailers. One of the most valuable things a bike owner can have is a good LBS that they trust and support.

[andras.]

Beginner here - I bought my first ever bike road bike exactly a year ago in March of 2022, its a good price/value Decathlon - Triban RC520, and I LOVE it since. I am also trying to keep it clean and tidy, I do basic mechanic adjusments on it, just put it together after its 1st Birthday - big cleaning session, I took it apart and washed/cleaned every part of it separately, learned a _lot_ of "how to" from GCN channel :) I hope for more thousand and thousand kms to come on its saddle :)

[shepshape]

The last tip is the best tip. Buy used for your first bike, and for that matter, buying used for your second, third, or all your bikes is a good idea as well. Bikes don't hold their value well at all, so that bike that cost $3, 000 new is only worth half that or less a few years later. You can easily find a good aluminum framed bike that's in great condition with a decent group set for $500, maybe a bit more. I would highly suggest bringing someone along with you to look at the bike that knows about bikes. If you don't know anyone like that, do your research, and always take it for a test ride. Best of luck!

[Blaze]

I just bought a second hand TREK Madone 3.5 with an Ultegra group set on EBay. Pristine condition, well looked after, rode only in Spain, never in the rain. Same price as the cheapest road bike at Halfords. First road bike after riding a MTB for donkeys years and I'm loving it.

[ksoman]

@1:33 : That. My own experience twice and for my daughters, if you are doing anything more than the casual kind of riding, do not get drawn by sexy online marketing or buy online. Go to a well recommended local shop where they will work with you to find out what is best for your needs. Bikes come in many variations on material, geometry, fit, style, material, etc., even across the same brand and purpose, the only way is to go to a bike shop and sit on stuff. Second hand is a great start if you can find one locally only, not online. This is assuming you don't get accidentally lucky with a second hand eBay purchase - and we know that's definitely happening to you ;)

[ericspmc]

The advice I give when asked:
1. Determine your budget ( and spend to the top of whatever that is)
2. Go to a local bike shop where you’ll be treated with respect as beginner
3. Go in brand neutral
Then talk to the staff about type of riding you want to do and let them guide you.

Too easy to get focused on a bike brand or components and end up on a bike that has the name, but isn’t the best fit or comfort for you.

[xelseartheonlyone]

Nice series! I chose Giant Contend AR. And i don't think i will ever change. I love it.

[elizabethpoley]

Manon, when I started I didn't have much money at all, yet I still wanted to get away. My first bike was a purple Magna hardtail MB that I bought on sale at Target for $60 in December 2004. I rode that thing all over Hollywood, Topanga, Malibu, etc. And, yeah, I got extra exercise on the steep hills of the Santa Monica Mountains by getting off to push. That bike weighed about 55 lbs, so I got muscles from lifting it on and off the bus out to Pacific Coast Highway. It lasted til 2011! I now have more money saved and am doing a bike build on a Specialized Roubaix carbon frame. It's o.k. to start w/a lower quality bike and work towards something better. You work w/what you've got at the time.

[ryanst.g]

Love this series....was in this position last year and found a slightly used Specialized Allez. Aluminum frame, carbon fork, rim brakes. Definitely see myself upgrading in the future, but its been a nice starting point for me.

[lwittrock]

My very first road bike was from a garage sale. It was more than adequate to se how much I loved it. A few months later i got a proper racing bike and I started racing/competing as a cyclist very soon after. 40yrs later I'm still racing as an age age grouper and loving it.

[fotmheki]

Both my first and second road bike where second handed, bought through people I know. Now I'm building my very own gravel bike, choosing each component based on my experience, needs and future projects, it's also an enjoyable process to do!

[lwittrock]

You can, in many places, rent or hire a bike. Usually you can choose from different kinds of bikes to rent/hire as you better decide what kind of bike and riding you will enjoy more before making that 1st purchase.

[themanabroad]

I’ve just bought my first road bike, Trek Madone with shimano 105 group set for £450 through gumtree, absolutely love it and am always realy excited to get out on the bike. Did a 25k ride yesterday and constantly looking at how I can go that little bit further.

[geoffreyhoney]

Great video Manon! I second the idea of not spending a lot before you really know what type of riding you want to do. I bought a 40 year old steel road bike to dip my toe in the water with the local cycling club. I still use it but ultimately bought a new touring bike which I could also use for commuting, shopping, touring/ Bikepacking and club rides. Keep this content coming. Problem with a beginner buying second hand carbon = deadly hidden cracks. Safer with steel/aluminium!

[bryguy]

I bought my first "real" bike recently, I went from a 99 Univega that was decked out with aftermarkets and an 84 Raleigh Olympian to a Giant Revolt 2. Loved this video Manon, great work! I also loved Bertands take on pricing. Always go cheap when you're first getting into something and if you fall in love, spend the extra money later.

[jasonmaule]

Great shop 73 degrees, highly recommended, great staff, range of bikes, and of coarse great coffee 👌👌

[Rocky]

Casual rider here, bought a specialized allez back in 2021 for commuting and exercise and just to see the sights. It’s a durable bike, and the bit of extra speed and climbing prowess over my hybrid is a nice bonus