New bike day soon? Pro bike fitter James Thomas ranks entry level bikes from worst to best so you can choose more easily.
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43 Comments
anything with press fit bottom bracket is puke
This guy is such a knob
Walmart trail explorer. $248
Would love you to review sone boardman bikes. Ive had the Boardman ADV 8.6 and have taken it all around the world on different bikepacking trips.
i just wandering im riding a brand focus entry level endurance road bike which i upgrade the rim set to dtswiss1800 continental 4 season since its my daily driver and diy bike fit it to my spec , maybe you could give a review please 😅, focus brand merci.
From worst to best:
Liv bikes
Scott Speedster 50 RB
Carrera Vanquish
Pinnacle Laterite One
Canyon Endurace 7 RB / DB
Triban RC 520
Trek Domane AL 2
Specialized Allez
Some channels say entry level road bike starts at £3000 😢
Had that exact Domane and it was a great bike. Put well over 2k miles on it. Switched it out for the carbon version last year.
Avoid the most entry level Tribans. Doesn't have a replaceable derailleur hanger.
Salsa Journeyer Claris, comes in 700 or 650b starting at $800. Sizing all the way down to 4'8 for the smallest size.
Pretty happy with my Giant CFR 3 (circa 1996/7). Shimano RSX transmission w/ microshift R7 brifters, and conti 25mm tires. Bought used for $125 and bike shop work was $260-ish. Add a $90 saddle, and it's a sub-$500 bike ($540 w/ new tires thrown in). Very affordable for a very decent bike that cost $1k when it was originally sold (closer to $2k in today's dollars).
Earlier this year I bought a 2024 TCR Advanced +1, but I kept my previous Canyon Endurace AL 7 RB. Thank God I did, while the TCR is off for a check-up, I'm riding the Endurace and I swear it's such a good bike (maybe even better than the TCR). Definitely my 'for life' bike.
How about mid level bikes like Ribble, Orro, Cannondale etc. Can you do a video on those? Cheers
Can't recommend the Allez enough, have an old Allez Sprint from 2003, still a racey feel, still works great and fits lovely. And for 3 years of ownership my total costs for it are £200.
That canyon, is more expensive, but the money is well spend against the others on this list
My first bike in 2016 was a carrera vanquish, and then in 2019 I got a pinnacle dolomite from Evans. Had that until 2024 when I got a Ribble Endurance Sl. Really liked that pinnacle though. Did a few upgrades but it rode great, for £1000
Rims brakes are not going to die of course. Almost all your disc brake suggestion were cable actuated. Of course these kind of disc brakes are way worse than the cable actuated rim brakes. So let's enjoy rim brakes and continue demanding them on the entry level.
I got my friend to consider the Trek Domane al2 for her first drop handlebar bike and she loves it. She has the disc version. Quite a few of them are on the secondhand market (uk) in various versions from rim brake to 105 disc.
I have an Allez for commuting and can confirm that it's an excellent bike that fits very well
In my experience the comfort of relaxed geometry wins every time. Ridden for hours at a time on my Giant Anyroad which is even more relaxed than the Allez and Domane and I don’t get a peep from any part of my body and I am not flexible or young. I bought an old Defy with the old Sora group set with levers on the side of the shifters and I cannot actually believe how well it all works. Really old but well maintained and as good as the 105 on my Anyroad.
List is good, but what about the cube attain series? Great bikes and great specs I just ordered a cube attain race for £865!!
Any thoughts on Polygon bikes? I've got their Strattos S5 with rim brakes and 105 throughout for just under 1.000 euros. It looks and feels amazing – but I haven't ridden many other road bikes, so what do I know?
The Liv comment focusing on bars not being narrow enough seems like a factor that shouldn't be a big concern to a beginner purchaser. The narrow bars are suitable for a racy fit but a beginner may feel more stability from wider bars – I think one of the factors that is helping gravel bikes to be so popular for beginners. Cranks, now that is a more applicable complaint. Liv does have an issue appropriately sizing cranks on their bikes.
I have a Btwin Triban 540 that I brought used a a backup to my CAAD10. £300, hardly used with 105 11 speed. Rim brakes and external cables so easy to maintain. They crop up regularly in this condition on eBay.
This guy always looks hungover and is annoyingly twitchy when he speaks.
Why use agriculture as a derogatory term? Seems ignorant and unnecessary.
Tourney brifters are just fine. I've got them on my 30 years old steel bike, it's a 2×7, hence. I usually ride with hands on the hoods or top of the bar, I love just flicking my thumbs or other available fingers to change down, not having to reach down for the brake lever.
I have a new merida scultura 400 rim brake full 105 £869.00 from primera sports brilliant bike.
"Entry level bikes have never been such good value"? WTF man???
5 year ago I could easly buy a 105 hydro bike for 1000€, try that today…
wheres the cannondale topstone 4 with promax render r brakes that are horrendous and hardly stop the bike, i had to buy some trp spyre to replace the render r brakes as i feared for my safety everytime i went out on it
Missed these kind of content on the channel, next ride vlog and bike packing
So, he puts the giant at 1 because of the handle bar width. Yet bet most of the bikes on this list will have similar size handle bar… i dont see many manufacturers offering less than 40cm🤷🏻♂️
It's kinda strange that 2 bikes here are rated based on no geo charts…
I picked up a Domane AL2 disc a couple of months ago, discounted to £685, and it's a fantastic bike.
James opinion is only valid if he’s not snorted coke before making this vid.
what about a cannondale Optimo 2
So one minute we're told to steer clear of rim brakes, before recommending the Trek with rim brakes?
Sounds like he hasn't ridden most of these bikes
Always love when James is on screen! Time to take notes!
I saved up and got a Voodoo gravel bike from Halfords. No, set up wasn't perfect-front mech rubbed-but £700 for Sora transmission and a 48-32 /11-34 combo is great for what I need it for. It's got an alloy fork but quite frankly I dont really notice, even on local bridle paths which are often sketchy AF. Keep up the good work.
That Pinnacle handlebar its a nightmare, James didn't notice it?
Could you guys do the same for the 3k price point, cheers!
Used Trek Domane 4.3. Full carbon frame, Mix of 105 and Ultegra, rim brakes, Look pedals. Used is the way to go!