Introduction
If you’re not looking to spend a great deal of money on a Road Bike there’s no need to worry about having to skimp on certain features as there are plenty of good quality bikes available for under £500.
Here’s our picks for road bikes under £500:
B’Twin Triban 500 SE – On offer for £299 (usually £330)
With its Decathlon branding your first impressions of this bike may be along the lines of a ‘supermarket savings’ bike, but nevertheless Decathlon has its pedigree with their bikes winning national titles and having been ridden in the Tour De France.
The B’Twin Triban 500 SE is an entry-level road bike, with only minor reservations; it delivers a beautifully balanced ride with component parts that are far better than the average at this price. It comes equipped with a carbon fork, a decent set of wheels and weighs 22.8lb/10.08kg; which is surprisingly light for a bike at this price. The finishing details all suggest this bike is more of a race bike rather than one purely aimed at beginners, and comes closer than most at being a cheap bike that is also seriously competitive.
The Triban 500 SE con seriously compete with bikes several times as much money, it handles, rolls, climbs, and descends just like a bike closer to the £1000 range. The gear range is more suitable for average sportive riders, commuters, and weekend warriors, but this bike seems to have been thoughtfully designed, well ‘specced’ and could easily be mistaken for something that costs triple the money.
The only doubt that may be had with this bike is the durability of certain components. The drivetrain and the wheel parts are likely to wear faster than on a higher spec bike, but for so little money it’s only a miner reservation.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Mango Bikes Black Series 18-Speed – £379.99
When Mango first entered the market they only offered single-speed bikes, since then they’ve built a reputation for quality, simplicity, style and great value which brings with it their most recent offering, the Black Series 18-speed road bike. Built with a steel frame and fork with a MicroShift R9 groupset and aluminium deep section rims, the frame is aimed at providing all day comfort, stability at low and high speeds, and fantastic handling. Probably one of the most appealing features of this bike is that the appearance can be fully customised to your liking.
The Black Series 18-speed road bike is, again, a great entry level bike, or a great step up from a single speed. Being relaxed and stable, the geometry of this bike is suitable a beginner or someone ready to get more seriously into road cycling, nevertheless it’s equally as suitable for someone who is looking for a nice ride for the daily commute.
The ability to customize the bike, using the websites bike builder app, really sets this bike apart; with practically all parts of the bike available in a range of colours you have the chance to build a truly unique bike that will ensure you stand out on the roads.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Carrera Virtuoso Road Bike 2015 – £329.99 (was £579.99- save £250)
Like Decathlons, Halfords sometimes get some stick for their bikes from cyclists (namely for their Apollo brand) however the Carrera range is different. Riding on a Carrera bike you can expect a good-quality bike on par with any named brand rival at much better value.
The Carrera Virtuoso gained its name for the way it can handle the roads, a name that will inspire confidence in beginners looking for their first road bike. The value offering for this bike is through its price tag (even more so now it’s on sale), for a cheap price it offers an impressive specification.
Advertised as a high performance bike for beginners, the Virtuoso includes a 16-speed Shimano Sora gearing, Tektro dual pivot calliper brakes and a FSA compact chain set. The gears, brakes, wheels, and lightweight 11.5kg frame on this bike, make it very fast but also very responsive with great handling and the Virtuoso has received a lot of praise for the almost faultless performance it gives for the daily commute.
The Carrera is less like a ‘wannabe’ race bike and more like a sportive bike. It’s perfect for commuters and those who may also be looking into cycling more seriously.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Summary
All three bikes shown here are great for anyone wanting good quality without paying a fortune. £500 or less is still decent money but for a bike that performs well and will last for years it is definitely a good investment,
*All prices are correct at the time of writing. They may however change if the retailer modifies their prices.