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Ready to start road riding? Read on through and get yourself one of these nice road bikes for beginners.

Welcome! I think road cycling is absolutely the best sport in the world.

Unfortunately, hundreds of Chinese companies are flooding the market with cheaply made “bicycles” that break within in the first year. Then, these import companies close up shop, making it impossible to get warranty or repair assistance.

Need a quick pick? Click To See My Top Pick (Available On Amazon)

My reviews are different from most of the bloggers since I actually ride several times a week. I also worked in a bicycle shop and stay pretty close to the industry, even attending some of the big product events every year (I love seeing the new toys!)

The Top, Entry-Level, Road Bikes

Unlike the other review which only focuses on the absolute cheapest road bikes out there, this review is setting the bar higher.

For this review, I am only going to review those that would be equal to or better than a bike-store-quality bike.

You may not realize this, but the difference between a bike you buy at your local bike shop, and one that you purchase from a big box store (like Walmart) is huge.  Bike-store-quality ones are stronger, lighter, and widesigned to fit the rider better. This means that they will not only last longer, but they are also easier to pedal and are less likely to inflict permanent injury in the form of strained lower back muscles or carpal tunnel.

I know that when you are just looking at price tags and pictures it is difficult to understand why a higher-priced bike is worth the expense.  If that describes you, then stop by your local shop (or ask your friend who has a road bike), and try one.

The quality and comfort difference of a “bike-shop quality bike” is night and day.

After all, if you want to get into road riding, you are probably rather serious about your fitness, and will likely be putting significant number of miles on your steed every year.

Caution: this article starts off with some more expensive rides. But if you go lower, we also have some budget-friendly options.

#1 Best All-Around Road Bike For Beginners: Haanjo 3

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I want to start off this list by reviewing a slightly different bike called a cyclocross.  These are basically road bikes, but they are designed with wider, knobbier tires that are excellent for driving on dirt, mud, and gravel.

You see, most beginning cyclists that I speak with are concerned that they may not take cycling seriously.

They worry about spending all of this money and then ending up with a bike that they never use.

A cyclocross bike helps to alleviate this worry because it is so versatile.

You can mount skinny road tires on it and ride the heck out of it on the road.

Or, you can leave the knobbies on, and appreciate the flexibility to ride on gravel roads, off-road, and in the mud with less worry about getting a flat tire. You can use it for riding with the kids, for fitness, for your daily commute, for cross-country touring, or for completing your first, century ride.

You’ll almost have to fight to NOT ride this bike.

This means in the winter, when the cold weather makes road riding too brutal, you can opt to ride on the more sheltered, tree-lined, converted railway bed trail or back-country gravel road.   You can even enter one of the many cyclocross races that communities have every winter.

And if you give up on cycling entirely, you can still use it’s dual versatility as a selling benefit to get more money when listing on your local craigslist!

The double-butted 6061 aluminum frame is strong enough for some of the heaviest riders, and it’s durable enough to handle the rough terrain of the off-road cyclocross circuit. Plus, the 6061 aluminum is a little more “cushy” than the stiff 7005 aluminum, making for a more comfortable ride.

I also love the fact that they went with top-of-the-line wheels, disc brakes, and a steel fork setup.  You don’t typically see beginner road bikes with these features, and the fact that the Haanjo 3 has them makes it an excellent deal.

Finally, it uses the Shimano Sora shifting system and drivetrain. This isn’t the top-of-the-line but is better than what most of the entry-level bikes use. It is of a high-enough quality that you get trouble-free shifting in a system that should last you through years and years of use.

This drivetrain also uses compact gearing. Compact gearing is a new system of carefully calibrating your gear options so you can get both high-speed gears without sacrificing your hill-climbing leverage.

Bottom line is, the Haanjo is an excellent value and offers a lot of versatility to ensure the bike will be able to always meet your cycling needs. Its added robustness provides peace of mind for the cyclist who plans on stacking on excessive miles.

Suggested Sizing:

S = 5’4″ – 5’7″
M = 5’7″ – 5’10”
L = 5’11” – 6’1″
XL = 6’2″+

This model sells out quickly. The two models reviewed below are very similar in quality if this one is no longer an option.

#2 Raleigh Merit 2

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I get it, the Cyclocross has you intrigued, but you really wanted a road bike. 

It is easy to get too hung up nomenclature. So keep that in mind as you shop. The manufacturing companies make more money when they can subdivide us into niches.

That said, one of the benefits of a review site is that you get to see the different options that are out there. The “cream of the crop” so to speak.

And Raleigh definitely has some eye-catching plays.

There are several things with the Merit 2 that immediately attract me to it. The first thing that jumps out is the thru-axle design.

These axles are more robust than the standard quick-release axle. Originally made popular by gravel bikes that are used in harsher conditions, it offers more control during high-speed turns. This design still allows you the ease of tire changes without tools, just like you get with the quick release.

The next thing I always check is the wheels.  Wheels are where so many companies start “cutting corners” (no pun intended). Raleigh not only did the double-wall wheels, but they also used the name-brand Weinmann XC180’s.  These reinforced wheels make this one of my top suggestions for the overweight rider who wants a bicycle that will hold up to the weight-loss journey. 

The Shimano Claris shifting system is clearly entry-level, but on par with any model, your local bike shop would have. The same goes for the brakes. More than adequate to stop you, even in wet weather

Basically, the difference between this model and what you could buy locally is that for the same investment, you are likely getting a better wheelset.

With a rated weight of around 24 pounds (larger frame sizes weigh more), this one has got to be one of the top options a new rider could go for. It’s especially ideal for the road-dedicated cyclist.

#3 Raleigh Willard 2

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The Raleigh Willard 2 is an incredible setup for the first-time cyclist. Similar to the Merit 2, this option brings back the flexibility of a gravel bike, similar to the Haanjo 3, but at a slightly lower price point.

There are several similarities between the models. Both of them use an aluminum frame design and this one has a lifetime warranty on the frame against manufacturer’s defects. For those of you who are worried that these bikes are too lightweight for your weight, the confidence of a lifetime frame warranty should put your fears at ease.

I especially like the wheels on this bike. As with the previous models we have reviewed, these wheels are also “double-walled”, which means they are reinforced to handle bumps, potholes, and heavy loads. They also have a thru-axle which is a reinforced axle design that you don’t normally find on road bikes. This reinforced design prevents the wheel from bending and dramatically lowers maintenance costs on what is otherwise an expensive part to repair. To cap everything off, these wheels also have cartridge bearings for maximum speed with no required maintenance.

The Shimano Sora integrated shifters (STI) and drivetrain are reliable models. I’ve seen some of these Shimano Sora setups run for 10 years or longer. I do wish that the front crank wasn’t FSA (an after-market brand), but I’ve ridden an FSA crank for over 5,000 miles and have never experienced a serious problem with them. The Shimano simply shifts a little more smoothly when you use a Shimano front crank with their shifters.

You could argue that this bike deserves the #2 spot. However, I believe there is some merit (pun intended) to providing a road-devoted option that is lightweight, fast and durable. The Merit 2 offers that.

This bike would be onpar with the Merit 2, and I’ll accept any criticism you want to throw my way for putting it as my third choice.

#4 Diamondback Century 1

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What kind of twisted blog is this that ranks the nicer, higher-end models down lower on the list.

I love this model. But have met very few road riders who are willing to step into the sport at this level. Maybe a few, older, doctor’s or lawyers will go for this level. Frankly, I’ve seen a lot of riders save up for years so they can afford to ride at this level.

Aside from their sexy frame lines and cool graphics, the Diamondback is one of the most reliable online bike companies that I have worked with. They have a responsive warranty company, and repairs on the models are extremely straight-forward.

Wheels: The HED brand is rapidly becoming one of the top choices amongst performance athletes. Their cheapest, after-market wheelset right now is listed at $700 on their website. Now these C2+ wheels are more entry-level, but they are still excellent. In fact, with a little research, I found a used pair selling for $350. Since they are both double-walled and slightly aerodynamic, these are wheels you could add to almost any bicycle and you would see an increase in its performance.

Gearing: This model uses the Shimano 105 groupset. Shimano 105 has long been the standard for serious riders. Many amateur racers start with this shifting system.  It shifts crisply, performs reliably and is designed to last for decades of use. This model specifically uses the 50/34 compact crankset which delivers beautiful low-end gearing for hill climbs, without hurting your top-speed capability.

Frame: The frame is 7005 aluminum. Some people think the 7005 is stiffer than the 6061, but I appreciate how well it performs. These frames feel very sporty and are fun to accelerate on. Diamondback pairs this with an extremely relaxed frame shape keeps the rider comfortable and in a slightly more upright position than aggressive racing road bikes do.

I believe this bike is one of the most durable and fun bikes on this list. But that performance comes at a price. Unless you are convinced that this sport is going to be a major part of your life, you may want to start with one of the other models I’ve reviewed.

#5 Giordano Libero Bicycle

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Here we get the budget models.

Ranked #6 on out “Best Cheap Road Bikes” article, the Giordano Libero is probably the top pick for most of my readers. 

The Giordano is a solid package.  Right now, they are one of the cheapest bikes I can find online with STI shifters.  (see: What are STI Shifters?). Basically, that means that you’ve finally reached the quality of components where you won’t constantly be fighting with your bike and you can actually enjoy riding it.

You may notice that it only has 16-speeds.  Don’t worry about that.  They’ve adjusted the gearing on this bike so that you still get plenty of both low and high ranges so that you won’t get stranded next time you try to climb a “mountain” (all hills qualify for this designation when you are starting out).

However, these 16-speed systems shift much better than the cheaply made 24 speed systems.

Less is more, in this case.

Probably the best feature about this bike is that it has one of the lightest frames for the money.  Most of the other ones in this price range will offer lower-quality shifting and combine it with a heavy aluminum or steel frame in order to protect their profit margins as much as possible.  However, the Giordano still uses a 6061 Aluminum and weighs in at the low 30-pound range.

What I don’t like about the Giordano is that they expect 3 bike sizes to fit the whole world.  And, sure, they will be able to fit most of us.  But, as I study the charts, I’m going to try to scare people under 5’4″ and over 6’4″ away from this bike.  I just don’t see how you could ride this sizing and be comfortable.

In addition, if you have back pain or other tweaks you are trying to work around, you might step up to the Vilano.

However, if you are excited to start riding, but are working with a tight budget, you aren’t going to find a better bike for the money.

 Suggested Sizing:

20 inches = 5’1″ – 5’8″
22 inches = 5’8″ – 6’0″
24 inches = 6’2″+

#6 Vilano Shadow Road Bike

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However, I am very pleased with the Vilano Shadow.  I’ve been seeing more of these around town, and I am impressed by how well they ride, and the kind of abuse they can handle.

With the Shadow, you have STI — or Shimano Total-Integrated – shifters. And I love these because your hands stay on the handles at all times. The same lever that brakes you also shifts you. This gives you incredible control in any situation. Additionally, these are the industry-standard shifter and they seem to hold up well.

Secondly, I love how they built this bike with double-wall wheels.  This is something that you see a lot of bikes skimp on, and instead of skimping, they went with the reinforced model.  This is especially important if you are over 200 pounds, or if you expect to do a lot of urban riding.  The wheel upgrade alone is worth an easy $120 alone.  Plus, those Kenda tires should hold up nicely for about 2,000 miles.

Finally, I like how Vilano designs the geometry of their bikes. It’s a comfortable fit that is easy to adjust to your liking.  You should have no problem finding your size among their bikes.

My only caution is that these bikes tend to need a lot of assembly. Sure, they make it sound easy, but you are likely going to need to fine-tune the shifting and brakes, and it’s not uncommon to need to tighten ahead or do some other small adjustment (based on feedback from some of my readers.)

My recommendation would be to schedule a bike build at your local shop. You can order it online and drop it off at your shop and you’ll get a solid road bike that is assembled properly.

 Suggested Sizing:

50 cm = 5’2″ – 5’4″
54 cm = 5’5″ – 5’10″
58 cm = 5’11″ – 6’1

What You Need To Know Before You Buy Your First Road Bike

DIY Sizing and Fit For Your First Road Bike

The most important thing is getting the fit correct.

And incorrectly fitting bicycle is not only uncomfortable, it can cause carpal tunnel and back injuries during repeated long rides.

Not to mention a poorly fitting machine is hard to ride.  It is hard to motivate yourself to exercise on something that is unnecessarily painful.

The fit is everything. Don’t buy a wrong-sized bike simply because it is a good deal!

Bikes are normally measured from the middle of the cranks up to the top of the seat tube and the size is then denoted in centimeters.

However, when that size changes, the top tube length — or reach to the handlebars — should also change.  The idea is, you want one that will not require you to have so much seat sticking out of the tube that it is tipping you over onto your hands (too small) or so tall a bike that you are bent too far over trying to reach the handlebars (too large).

When fitting yourself to your road bike, you want to raise the seat so that when the pedal is at the bottom of its stroke and you place your leg on it, there is just a slight (20-degree) bend in your knee.  Too many people leave their seats too low or too high and this leads to knee pain and early leg fatigue.

Then, when you place your hands on the top of the brake hood and look down at the front wheel, the handlebar should obscure the front axle of the wheel. This fitting is a more arbitrary measurement, however, and the upper body fit should be adjusted as much as you need until you are comfortable.

Here is the basic road bike sizing guidelines:

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″

What  Makes A Road Bike Different?

Road bikes are different from other bicycles because they’re lighter, and use narrower tires.  Furthermore, they put the rider in a more aerodynamic position, which helps immensely with wind resistance.

If you have never ridden a road bike before, you will be amazed at how much faster they are.  With the tiniest of effort, you can be pedaling 5 to 6 miles per hour faster than you would be on a mountain bike. Twelve to fourteen-mile per hour averages is the norm, even for beginning cyclists.

For long-distance road efforts, there is no comparison.

Get Good Components

Get good-quality parts.  That’s where this review comes in.  You’ll want a setup that is going to last 3 years without major repairs.  Most of the ones on this list are still going to be working as smooth as butter a decade from now.

Sure, you don’t want to spend too much on this sport until you know just how much you want to ride.  I get that.  However, I think we can find a happy medium.  And whether or not you decide to continue in the sport, these bikes should maintain good resale value for listing on eBay or Craigslist.

Start pedaling. Burn Calories. Make Friends With Other “Roadies”. Ride further than you ever thought possible.  That is what road riding is all about.

Have It Professionally Assembled

These bikes come mostly assembled, but you will need to adjust the brake and shift cables.  If that is something you haven’t done before, it can be really frustrating to figure it out.

Most shops will assemble the bike out of the box for around $75.  It is money well spent in order to get it right.

Or, you can try to do it yourself, and then take it in if you can’t figure it out. You can sometimes save money by assembling it and then just taking it in to have whatever gears and brakes adjusted that you were unable to figure out.  Typically these gear adjustments and tune-ups run in the $40-60 range.

Most of these bikes have a “break-in” period.  After riding it about 100 miles or so, you will notice that some of the cables have stretched and need to be re-adjusted.  That is completely normal.  Just make an appointment with your local shop to get them re-adjusted.  After everything is broken in, it should only need adjustments every year or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a beginner use a road bike?

Yes, of course! As long as it is an endurance-focused road bike you should have no trouble getting the gist of things. A cyclocross, adventure road, or gravel bike may be up your street if you want to travel off-road, and a hybrid bike could be an option should drop handlebars feel intimidating. But strictly for road usage, the bikes mentioned above do a fantastic job. And any bike you choose that has similar specs and is focused on endurance will be good enough for any beginner.

What is a good price for a beginner road bike?

For a sturdy beginner road bike, we recommend looking for models with prices between $1,000 and $2,000. Anything below that will be at least slightly disappointing. Of course, as long as you have the money, you could also try something a little more expensive if you want to get the top of the line when it comes to beginner road bikes. Some models might even cost double the aforementioned amount.

How far should a beginner cycle?

A beginner cyclist should aim to cycle 8 miles/h (12 km/h) which will achieve a distance of 8 miles (12 km) every hour on average. The distance traveled will be affected by the surface of the ground, the weather, and the type of bike used. However, on flat surfaces, and especially on asphalt, your ride should be smooth and simple to undertake. As long as you focus on the journey instead of the destination, you might as well cycle from one end of your county to the other.

Final Thoughts

Well, I hope you liked this article. Feel free to leave me a comment down below with suggestions and feedback of all sorts.

Other Road-Related Articles:

• Cheapest
• Beginners
• Pedals
• Shoes
• Recumbents
• Fixies
• Single Speed
• Are Schwinn Bikes Good?
• Schwinn Prelude 
• Schwinn Phocus
• GMC Denali

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