Hi everyone Just joined this site and I am pleased its for the girls. I have been really disappointed about how male orientated some sites, clubs and magazines are. I have recently got back in the saddle after starting running and finding that it just hurt too much. I am riding a halfords £169 mountain bike which I have put appropriate road tyres on as I travel on the road to work most days.Over the weekend I just poddle around the lanes of Cheshire. But I am so excited as on the weekend i am going to by my first road bike. I have a budget of £600 and one shop has recommended a TREK 1.2. Can anyone give any other suggestions on other brands. Thanks
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 Specialised dolce is a good starter road bike, thats what i used until i got my cannondale.
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I agree with Pootle. I love my dolce and I am a Newbie to the Road so I couldn't really justify/risk huge amounts of cash in case I decide it wasn't for me but it's great. I find it fairly fast and light, good fit (I'm quite small). You will definitely notice the difference from the Halford's one for getting to work-that's what I use mine for. Give em all a try before you buy!
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If you live in Cheshire, your nearest specialised dealer is in Chester part of the bike factory, very knowledgeable staff who talk to you and not the bf (if there is one and you take him along).
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Yep i agree, bike factory staff are very nice
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If you know the Bike factory are you local then. Would also be nice to have some weekend routes recommended too
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If you can call Horwich local, but I get into cheshire often, there are just sooooo many lanes and combinations to make routes, where do you want to go?
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as a beginner, perhaps something long but not too taxing, although the odd hill might be good. I am over northwich but can go anywhere really
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When we get into Cheshire rides centre on places such as: Knutsford (Booths cafe for tea), Spinney Caravans cafe, the Ice Cream farm nr Tattenhall, the Candle Factory, The Station cafe at Delamere. Then just make up the lanes in between to join up, there is so much choice; Chelford, Goostrey, the Peovers, Swettenham, south of Middlewich, Holmes Chapel. But beware if you use Batemill Lane nr Jodrell Bank, met a boy racer as he came around one of the bends rather too fast earlier today and have probably had my car written off, thankfully we were not cycling or we could have been written and no one was hurt. Idiot was local enough to know the lane is populated with cyclists, tractors, horses etc., but still went around a blind bend too fast to stop if anything was beyond it
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Glad to hear you and yours are ok. I have experience that scenario many times while on horseback or in a car. Lets hope he's learnt the hard way unfortuately at the detriment of you and your car. Thanks for the info on the rides, hopefully the weather will improve over the weekend. I have seen a nice 18k ride round chelford which would be a good start. Thanks Joxx
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Good luck and have fun, I do enjoy Cheshire, maybe cos it is similar to my native Warwickshire.
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the improtant thing with road bikes is how well the geometry of the frame fits you. DON'T just buy a dolce becuase everyone else says they're good. If poss get fitted for a bikefit, costs about £30 which is knocked off the cost of a bike should you buy from the same shop, they'll also spend a good hour or 2 going through what frames and sizes will suit you and components and gearing etc. If you can't do that, try as many bikes in a range of sizes in your price range as possible and buy the one that feels comfiest. When your spending a couple of hours plus on your bike you will be thankful that you got one that is comfortable for you and around the £600 mark, components aren't going to make that much difference, most bikes at this price point are much of a muchness spec wise.
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