Ready to test the waters of road biking, but not quite ready to commit to that $700 price tag that your local bike shop wants to charge? I totally understand.
When I was a teenager, my brother and I shopped online for hours to find a couple of cheap road bikes. Thankfully, we ended up with a couple of excellent rides and proceeded to pedal hundred of miles every week. We got to the point that we were riding more than we were driving, and it was not uncommon to see us out riding hours away from home.
As the years passed, we both have continued to ride, and upgraded our bikes, but had we not found a couple of road bikes in our budget, we may have never fallen in love with the sport in the first place. Plus, we had the advantage of knowing what it is we wanted when we upgraded.
In this review, I go over some of the cheapest road bikes available. For those of you looking for a commuting option — or a way to get into the local cycling scene – here is my honest take on 5 very affordable road bikes.
#5 The Schwinn Prelude
Everyone knows Schwinn. In fact, I’d say that most of my readers have probably owned a Schwinn bike at some point in their life. For decades, their brand was synonymous with quality and craftsmanship.
Unfortunately, Schwinn has chosen to change course, and have begun offering lower quality bikes that are more affordable, but that don’t offer the same value they once did.
That said, the Prelude is a pretty decent construction — and is especially noteworthy considering that it one of the only road bikes under $300.
With the Prelude, Schwinn did the bare minimum to get you riding. That said, the wheels and shifters are adequate, and should only require minimal adjustments each year.
There are two major downsides with this road bike. First of all it is a little heavy — close to 30 pounds, actually. In the bike world, that extra weight can be really frustrating, especially when you are the last one over every stinking hill that you come to. Secondly, they only make this bike in one size. So unless you are in the 5’6″ – 5’10″ range, this bike is really going to be the wrong size for you to do any serious riding on.
Having pedaled on some heavy bikes, I’ve got to say, that I think your money is well-spent to step up to the next level. But, if you are shopping in that sub-$300 range, this is a good one to go with.
#4 The Vilano
If you are asking me, this is what an affordable entry-level road bike should look like. You want it to be lightweight but strong, and you want it to fit you. Then, not to be too demanding, but it really needs to have some decent shifting capabilities. So you will want it to have some decent components.
With the Vilano, they built the frame from 6061 Aluminum, which is the same stuff they use on pricier bikes. This stuff is strong and light, and is exactly how you want your bike frame to be constructed.
It uses Shimano shifters, and the A050 trigger shifters are a good way to provide good shifting without costing too much. Plus, it offers an extra, “super-low” gear that lets you climb any hill without getting off and walking — perfect for newbies.
And, altogether, this bike only weighs 24 pounds, which makes a huge difference on those hills that you are going to have to conquer.
Whether you are looking to complete your first century, ride to work, complete your first triathlon, or just want to lose weight, the Vilano is a great way to get riding without breaking the bank.
Suggested Sizing Chart:
Frame Sizes:50 cm = 5’2″ – 5’4″
54 cm = 5’5″ – 5’10″
58 cm = 5’11″ – 6’1
#3 The Giordano Libero 1.6
At this point you are getting ready to start playing with the “big dogs”. The Giordano upgrades a few critical components to offer you a road bike that is actually suited for some serious riding.
The first area that is much improved is the wheel. The first two bikes that we have looked at only offer freewheel-style gearing. This one offers the Cassette gearing which offers more durable bearings with better rolling. In my Experience, I’ve worn out two freewheel-styled gears. I’ve never worn out a cassette gearing system . Yet.
The other neat thing about the Giordano, is that is has STI shifters. These are excellent shifters that incorporate both the braking and the shifting into one, easy-to-reach unit. When you are riding, your fingertips are always in contact with both your brakes and your shifters — and that’s the way it should be.
Most of the competition sells their version of this bike for about $700.
If you are wanting to get into riding, and you want a bike that will be respected by your peers, the Giordano Libero is an excellent choice.
Frame Sizes:20 inches = 5’1″ – 5’8″
22 inches = 5’8″ – 6’0″
24 inches = 6’2″+
#2 The Diamondback Podium 2
The Diamondback brand is one of those brands that you simply can trust. They have been around for many, many years and are always well respected no matter where you go. If you buy a Diamondback bike, you are getting a high-quality bike that will not only last you for as long as you want to ride it, it will also hold its resale value when you decide to post it on Craigslist or ebay.
The Podium 2 is an excellent value, and is designed to compete with those pricier $800-$900 bikes that you see at so many bike stores. Basically, you are getting the same package — just for a huge deal less.
The frame setup on this bike is worth mentioning. You are getting a 7005 aluminum frame that is lighter and stiffer than many of the 6061 frames that you see out there. This bike also has carbon forks which are lighter and help to absorb the road vibrations, thanks to the inherently absorptive properties of carbon.
The gears are another nice upgrade. The bike uses Shimano Tiagra components, which is a step above what the Giordano Libero uses. The Tiagra components are actually gaining respect among road bike racers as an affordable, quality racing component, and delivers solid shifts every time.
The really nice thing about this bike is that it has a 10-speed rear cassette (2 front gears, 10 rear). The 10 speed system has been out for over a decade now, and consistently delivers the best shifting of all the road bike components that have been invented. Frankly, I normally see this on bikes priced a minimum of $100 more, and I am impressed that they worked it out so affordable.
This is a serious, road bike. You might even consider it to be middle-ranged, even though it is priced the same as many bike shops’ entry-level bikes.
Frame Sizes:
50cm = 5’3″-5’5″
52cm = 5’5″-5’7″
54cm = 5’7″-5’9″
56cm = 5’9″-5’11″
58cm = 5’11″-6’2″
60cm = 6’1″-6’3″
And, Finally The #1 Pick – The Diamondback Podium 3
If you have done any bike shopping at all, you may immediately realize that the competitor’s version of this bike is retailing for close to $1500. The Podium 3 is an incredible package and is rapidly becoming a game-changer in the cycling industry.
With the Podium 3, you are getting an upper-middle end bike. I’ve seen scores of riders buy bikes just like this and ride them for 2 decades — or until they got out of the sport (whichever came first). And then, they get resold and ridden by another generation. Basically, they have all of the components, and all of the comfort you need to make this a long-term bike.
What is really neat about the Podium 3 — and what sets it apart on this list — is the use of Shimano 105 componentry. Shimano 105 is an excellent setup, and has been raced on for years in many different cycling disciplines. What makes it so excellent is how crisply and reliably it shifts, as well as how awesomely it holds up year after year.
So long as you keep your chain lubed and swap it out every 3,000 miles (when worn), you should hardly ever have major repairs on this steed.
The comfort geometry of this bike frame is also a critical advantage. Too many road bikes put the riders in aggressive, racing stances. While this does have an advantage for a racer, these more aggressive bikes tend to actually just cause lower back pain and upper neck pain for the majority of riders. The diamondback circumvents this by shifting the seatpost several degrees forward, making it easier on the pelvis, back and neck. Ride longer, more comfortably.
Finally, the compact gearing is another huge benefit. Remember those bikes with three chainrings on the cranks? This bike is geared in such a way to deliver the same low, hill-climbing power when you need it, without an extra chainring. This provides better shifting and less maintenance, without sacrificing that grinding low power when you need it.
I realize that for many of us, this bike is out of our price range. But, if you can scrape together the extra dough, it is asteal. All said, it is the best value for the money I have yet to see in this industry.
Frame Sizes:
50cm = 5’3″-5’5″
52cm = 5’5″-5’7″
54cm = 5’7″-5’9″
56cm = 5’9″-5’11″
58cm = 5’11″-6’2″
60cm = 6’1″-6’3″
