Becoming a roadie on a budget tips much?

[Cyclewizz]

I am going to disagree on that part. Alu perfectly fine for entry level bike, I have "raced" mine at the sharp-"ish" end of the field without ever feeling I am at a disadvantage, upgrading something like your wheelset will make a massive difference. Upgrading to carbon will be a marginal improvement.

 

By all means you can disagree .... it's Friday after all   

 

As Lance said, "it's not about the bike"

I was just generalising, most roadies start on aluminium bikes and make their way onto carbon bikes but if the OP wants an aluminium bike by all means buy it. It's his money afterall.

[Jewbacca]

You will also need to factor in a power meter in the budget too surely? I didn't know it was possible to be a roadie without one........... 

 

I am with Skubarra on the carbon vs Alu thing. For a guy still losing large amounts of weight and riding at the rear of the group, an alu frame fits the budget WAY better and any performance benefits are lost in the still under construction engine.

 

Even a 9 speed groupo will be fine. Seriously. Until you have tuned the turbo and trimmed down the chassis, all you need is strong reliable wheels, determination and a big heart.

 

Good luck!

[Duane_Bosch]

I'm gonna go against the grain here.

 

You can get a brand new Giant Contend for R8900. You might get it for R8500 is you speak sweetly to the guy in the shop. My Fiance has the SCR which is the 2016 version of that bike and it's a great ride. Certainly better than my better specced Merida was.

 

I'd much rather have that over an 11 year old Scott.

[Gitfo]

So my road on the equation of ( N + 1 ) has started.

 

Short Version: Got Scott CR1  will fit my goals perfectly first small goal is sub 3h 94.7
and 800km a month or 30h T.I.T.S.

Long version:
So thanks to all your input i did go for the Scott CR1, the guy gave me a great price and after conversing for a few minutes i keep to my Original thoughts on bikes age well especially a very well looked after bike, The wheels are great, the frame is a bonus and i cannot complain. Group set was also important as i feel it will last me

After 3 years on my hardtail and wide flat bars it is a bit daunting riding a road bike for the first time but after an hour on the bike i figured out the basics and was smiling. I will however have to work on my flexibility lol,  and get used to riding harder gears up climbs.

What i can definitely say is that with a mountain bike and all those low gears make it very easy to get lazy up climbs, and well ill definitely fix that now that i know what im working with.

Also got a great price on a good fluid indoor trainer from him which is a major + as i got a coach and starting Monday ill be keeping the neighbors up.

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

So my road on the equation of ( N + 1 ) has started.

 

Short Version: Got Scott CR1  will fit my goals perfectly first small goal is sub 3h 94.7

and 800km a month or 30h T.I.T.S.

Long version:

So thanks to all your input i did go for the Scott CR1, the guy gave me a great price and after conversing for a few minutes i keep to my Original thoughts on bikes age well especially a very well looked after bike, The wheels are great, the frame is a bonus and i cannot complain. Group set was also important as i feel it will last me

 

After 3 years on my hardtail and wide flat bars it is a bit daunting riding a road bike for the first time but after an hour on the bike i figured out the basics and was smiling. I will however have to work on my flexibility lol,  and get used to riding harder gears up climbs.

 

What i can definitely say is that with a mountain bike and all those low gears make it very easy to get lazy up climbs, and well ill definitely fix that now that i know what im working with.

 

Also got a great price on a good fluid indoor trainer from him which is a major + as i got a coach and starting Monday ill be keeping the neighbors up.

Good Choice,now go ride the wheels off. I rode an alu scott speedster 9sp tiagra for 10 years and i got faster the more i rode. That bike weighed 11,5 kg and i still have it an nothing broke. Then I bought a 7kg carbon bike and what a difference. So ride your bike and save lekker for your next bike and then go big, it is rewarding

[J∆kk∆ls]

Nice one. Go and ride up grades till you can afford upgrades.