New to road

[buckstopper]

I would go gravel. You can also get an aluminium bike for R10k to R15k with disc brakes, wider bars and a more 'endurance' type geometry. You can fit 32mm road tyres to it and you will go as fast as a road bike if that's your thing. Also be open to looking at a 56/57, you may enjoy the bars being closer if you're not as flexible as you may have been. Also, DON'T by a bike with a steerer tube that's been cut short. If you do decide on a road bike, the scultura has good tyre clearance and will easily take 28s. 25s are becoming scarce in good quality tyres. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

always remember the maxim only a rich man can afford to buy twice. Cycling is cycling - the amount of effort required to ride in a bunch may differ but when it comes to a hill you will need to be able to produce individual effort. So you need to get comfortable with the skills and proximity you need to ride on a road bike to be efficient and fast. But its really cool when you get it right and if you are already tasting the drugs and interested then you are probably already sold and just a bit hesitant about putting down a whole lot of money for a bike.

My 2 cents worth is borrow a bike and go for a ride with a road bunch from a bike shop or a local bike shop. If they know you are keen they will loan you a bike. You are getting in to a heck of a lot of detail prior to even riding the thing which is what its all about.

Simply put a good quality second hand bike be it rim or disc is probably far better than you think and its also where everyone starts. We all get carried away by ego and wanting the nice stuff but TBH none of us need it. You can make do with a R15k second hand rim brake bike be it ally or carbon with 25 mm road tyres and will be as fast as hell and enjoy it immensely..

 

[Paul Ruinaard]

BTW also wrt age and comfort - if you are 60+ and that height you will need to ensure you ahve a good setup THAT FITS YOU rather than a race snake who has been told noting else. I cant stress show much of a difference this makes. FWIW I got 2 x bikes from a very reputable dealer recently and as a result got a free setup thrown in. I came home after they were convinced it was righta nd fitted 20 mm wider bars (I had 420 need 440) and then a 20 mm shorter stem. I also fitted my pedal extensions. Hey presto i am comfortable.

So i dont lok elegant and flat and all aero and slammed on the bike but then again i am 59 , over 110kgs and riding for fun. I can only stress you will need to ensure that if you do go on a ride and decide to get a road bike, its likely you will be uncomfortable (you arent a small guy even height wise) but that can be fixed with a GOOD setup, and if you need help feel free to DM me as most shops do a vanilla setup in that they dont cater for older less flexible dudes like you may be.

It will make the world of difference to how much you enjoy the ride and how you feel after 2 to 3 hours on a bike. If you get this wrong you will hate it. My VO2 Max and FTP all changed and went up by a large amount after proper setups.

[Bub Marley]

14 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

What would you upgrade the tyres to ?

 

 

Like @RobertWhitehead my test ride on a rode bike was a scary experience ...   30 years ago I was doing 1 000 km per month on a road bike, with old school toe clips as well.  Today I much prefer 800mm flat bars.

So I was mainly referring to a performance upgrade. If you wanna be flying down descents on skinny tyres.

 

Continental GP5000 is what majority of the pros use. I’ve never used them so can’t comment. Vittoria Corsa’s are amazing and super grippy. I had Michelin Power competition and they lasted 15000km. Granted I am under 60kg which helps but they were the best tyres I’ve ever used. Only got 2 punctures for the first 14000 as well and then after that, got a few more then changed tyres.

Pirelli’s are supposed to be super grippy as well.

 

If you’re just looking to cruise and take it easy on the bike, then I’m not sure it’s gonna make a difference. Positioning on the bike is key when going down a descent as well. Coming from a mtb where you upright, on a road bike you wanna be as low as possible to cut through the wind. And if you’re going fast, you wanna be in the drops for maximum control.

[droo]

17 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

What would you upgrade the tyres to ?

 

I've had a pretty good run with Spez Roubaix tyres. Grippy, comfortable and very few punctures in the 5000 odd km I've put on them so far.