Top Road Bikes for Beginners Who Want to Get Started Cheap

By Stan Purdum

Looking for a good, cheap road bike? If you’re new to road cycling you may not be willing to spend thousands of dollars to get a good bicycle — and there’s no reason you have to. Almost all the major bicycle brands offer one or more road bicycle models for less than $1,000.

Bike manufacturers typically describe road bikes in this price echelon using language such as “gateway to comfortable road biking” or “a quality road bike you won’t immediately outgrow,” suggesting that these are starter bikes. The bike makers believe most riders who get hooked on road riding will eventually want a more expensive, lighter-weight bike, and that may be true, but there’s no reason to think that one of these bikes cannot be your forever bike if you want it to be. The bikes we have chosen here all meet our minimum quality requirements to be a road bike worth riding.

In our roundup of bikes to consider, I’ve chosen from the major brands. If you go with a major bicycle brand, you will be able to buy it at a real bike shop and get help choosing the right size, and also have someplace you can get it adjusted or repaired in the future. The top three brands in the US market are Trek, Specialized and Giant, but the other brands listed here are also very well recognized for quality. They should all hold value for potential resale later, if you ever want to trade up to something more expensive.

All of these models have either steel or aluminum alloy frames, which are good and reliable materials for road bicycles. Lighter frames made from titanium and carbon fiber are available on bikes in higher price ranges, but some of these in the under-$1,000 category do offer carbon forks, giving the benefit of shock dampening for which carbon fiber is known.

Every road bike in this roundup includes some drivetrain components from Shimano, one of big three bicycle-component makers. Most of those are from Shimano’s Claris line, which is designed to work with 8-cog gear cassettes. Most are paired with two front chainrings, yielding 16-speed bikes, but a couple are paired with three front rings, giving a wider range of 24 speeds and a lower gear for climbing. A couple models use different Shimano component groups, as noted in the descriptions below.

Be aware, however, that just because a bike has Shimano derailleurs and STI (Shimano Total Integration) combined gear/brake shifters, that doesn’t necessarily mean the whole groupset is Shimano. One of the ways bike makers are able to offers good bikes at lower prices is by swapping out some of the groupset parts — such as the hubs, crank, rear cassette, bottom bracket, headset and/or brakes — with house-brand components or those from other manufacturers like FSA or Tektro. These are not junk, and function fine, but they are less expensive than the equivalent Shimano part. So even though I’ve noted that a bike has, for example, a Shimano Claris groupset, that may refer only to the derailleurs and shifters. If you don’t quite know what any of this means, then you shouldn’t worry about it — all of these bikes will operate just fine.

Some bikes come without pedals, because many riders have their own preferences. Even the ones that include pedals are likely to be of the flat pedal type, which most riders soon replace with clipless pedals. Learn more about clipless pedals here.

The stated tire size is what comes on the bike, but most frames these days have enough clearance that you can switch to wider tires if desired. Over the last five years, cyclists have started to switch to wider tires as they realized that they are just as fast as skinnier tires, and also considerably more comfortable. Wider tires also give you more “rubber on the road” to help give you confidence and grip while cornering.

While the size of the tires on all these bikes is great, it’s likely that in this price range that the tire models will be on the low end. That means that they will be heavier, and not necessarily the best handling or most comfortable riding tires available. But this is actually good news, because when they wear out over time, you can replace them with lighter, faster tires that will give your bike an immediate performance upgrade. Learn more about bike tires, and some of our favorite tire choices.

Another way to upgrade any of these cheap road bikes in the future is to replace or upgrade the wheels. New wheels can save considerable weight, and also make a huge difference with speed and bike handling. This isn’t necessary by any means. But it’s an option, and having options to improve your bike are always good.

Specialized Allez

$840.00
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/allez/p/129052?color=239797-129052

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Carbon
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Tektro Alloy, Rim
Tires: 700 x 25
The Allez bike features “a geometry that’s sure to cover a broad range of positions, while still providing performance-minded handling,” Specialized says. Includes mounts for racks and fenders. Specialized is one of the top US bike brands, and this aluminum model is well thought out when it comes to a balance between comfort and speed.

Trek Domane AL 2

$849.99
https://www.trekbikes.com/

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Carbon
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Alloy Dual-Pivot Rim (brand not identified)
Tires: 700 x 28
Special features: Has mounts for a rack and fenders. As a “gateway,” the Domane AL 2 has a geometry that leans more toward comfort for the rider than the more aggressive geometry of high-performance bikes that leans more toward speed. Trek is known as a top brand, and their pricing is often a little higher than other brands. But you’ll also get good quality, and resale value later.

 

Giant Contend 3

$650
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/contend-3

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Aluminum
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Tektro TK-B177 Rim
Tires: 700 x 28
Special features: Described by Giant as an “all rounder” bike for “aspiring” riders, its geometry puts riders in an “endurance-oriented position.” Giant started out as the manufacturing company that used to make bikes for all the other top brands, but then created their own brand that quickly rose to the top three in the US market. Why? Because of quality and value. This bike packs a lot of bike for the buck, at just $650.

Cannondale CAAD Optimo Sora

$950

https://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Carbon
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Sora groupset, 9-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 18-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Cannondale C4 Rim
Tires: 700 x 25
Special features: Described by Cannondale as a gateway bike. Has flex zones built into the seat tube and the stays to create a “micro-suspension” to absorb shock and vibration. Cannondale started out as an all aluminum bike brand, and they have decades of experience with this material. So you know you’re going to get a well thought out frame that has a good ride quality for the price range.

Bianchi Via Nirone Claris

$800
http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/road/endurance-racing/via-nirone-claris/

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Steel alloy
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Alloy Dual-Pivot Rim (brand not identified)
Tires: 700 x 25
Special features: While Bianchi says the Via Nirone Claris will give you a comfortable day in the saddle, they describe the bike an “endurance racing” model, and say, “Endurance Racing bikes are performance road bikes made comfortable, not comfort-oriented road bikes.” Bianchi is usually known for its high end racing bikes, but they have done a great job with the specs and pricing on this model to reach buyers who don’t want to spend as much money.

Fuji Sportif 2.5

$699.99
http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road/endurance/sportif/sportif-2-5

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Steel Alloy
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano A070 groupset, 7-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 14-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Alloy Dual-Pivot Rim (brand not identified)
Tires: 700 x 30
Special features: Of the Sportif 2.5, Fuji says, “Taking geometry cues from our top-level endurance bike, the Sportif’s longer wheelbase and taller headtube position the rider efficiently to reduce arm fatigue and back strain while on the road.” Fuji is known for quality at a very fair price, and this bike is no exception.

Salsa Journeyman Claris

$949
https://salsacycles.com/bikes/journeyman/journeyman_claris_700

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Aluminum
Handlebars: Drop or Flat
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI on the drop handlebar version
Brakes: Disc (brand not identified)
Tires: 700 x 37 or 650b x 2.1
Special features: Salsa positions this bike as made for all-road riding, gravel riding and light touring — that is, just about everything except racing and mountain biking. The bike is built to accept wheels with 700c tires (better for speed) and wheels with 650b tires (better for rough surfaces), and the disc brakes on the wheels make switching one wheelset to the other possible where rim brakes would not. Disc brakes are often only available on more expensive bikes, so this is a nice feature in this price range. The handlebars cannot be switched out as easily, but the purchaser can select the style suited to the kind of riding he or she usual does. This is one of the most expensive of the cheap road bikes we’ve chosen, and we think it’s worth considering. The wider tires, the disc brakes, and the ability to switch to 650b wheels makes this bike a very versatile and quality choice.

Jamis Quest Sport

$699
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/questsport.html

Frame: Chromoly steel
Fork: Either full carbon (according to the Quest Sport overview page) or chromoly steel (according to the specs page)
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 3 chainrings = 24-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Tektro R317 Rim
Tires: 700 x 25
Special features: Jamis says, “For a greater range of handlebar and rider positions, we’ve fitted the Quest series frames with taller head tubes. Coupled with a slightly longer wheelbase and relaxed head tube angle, the result is more confident steering and handling and a more comfortable position for longer rides whether competitive or recreation.” This bike has a triple crankset, giving you a granny gear for the steep climbs.

Diamondback Century 1

$699.99
https://www.diamondback.com/century-1-41

Frame: Steel alloy
Fork: Steel alloy
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Tektro R315 Rim
Tires: 700 x 28
Special Features: Taller headtube, more upright position than racing bikes. “It’s a seemingly small tweak, but you absolutely feel a big difference towards the end of a ride, when, hey, your neck and back don’t hurt at all,” says Diamondback.

Motobecane Mirage Pro

$499.95 (sale price. Normally $699.95)
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/road_bikes/mirage_pro-xv.htm

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: carbon
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 3 chainrings = 24-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Tektro R312 Rim
Tires: 700 x 25
Special features: “Perfect for the entry to sport level athlete wanting the performance of an aluminum frame, coupled with the comfort of a carbon fork and dealing with a budget.” These bikes are usually sold direct from the factory, eliminating the middleman expense, but also the services of a bicycle shop. Has a triple crank. The downside is you’ll need to know your correct size before you order, and you might also need to pay someone to finish assembling it for you when you get it if you don’t know how to do it yourself.

Raleigh Grand Sport

$799.99
https://www.raleighusa.com/grand-sport

Frame: Chromoly steel
Fork: Steel alloy
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Rim (brand not identified)
Tires: 700 x 28
Special features: Sold as an “endurance bike” also good for commuting. Mounts included for racks and fenders. Racks and fenders are a very good feature, because you could use this bike for short bikepacking trips or as a bad weather bike if you put on fenders.

REI Co-op Cycles ARD 1.1

$849
https://www.rei.com/product/106341/co-op-cycles-ard-11-bike

Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Carbon
Handlebars: Drop
Drive Train: Shimano Claris groupset, 8-speed cassette x 2 chainrings = 16-speed
Shifters: STI
Brakes: Promax mechanical disc brake
Tires: 700 x 28
Special features: This is REI’s house bicycle brand, previously known as Novara. Sold as a bike equally suitable for riding on blacktop or gravel. Disc brakes are a higher end solution than you typically find on most cheap road bikes. But wait, didn’t we say that you should only buy from a bike shop? Yes, but REI has a very good cycling department in their stores, and also a great bike service department with real bike mechanics.