Are you ready to get off the couch and start riding? Maybe you have seen the professionals and thought that it looks like fun! You do not have to take it as far as they do, but you can certainly ride a bike to get excellent benefits such as weight loss, great cardiovascular healthy, and a lifetime low impact exercise.
I hear what you are probably thinking in your head when you think about getting started. Road bikes are super expensive right? Wrong! Riding a bike may seem to be a dream when you walk into the store down the road from you and the cheapest option you can find being sold is over $1000.
That is a lot of money. If you have the money to spend and have been a cyclist for a while now, these are well worth the money.
But you are just getting started! You do not know if this will be a life long activity let. You can always upgrade from your first road bike down the line, but getting out to cycle does not need to be expensive.
Click here to see the Best Rated Road Bikes On Amazon
The fact is that many of you are on shoestring budgets. I get it, I was right there with you a few years ago. Purchasing an inexpensive bike can either be a great experience, or a downright awful one. You need to find one that has quality parts, but that will also be comfortable enough that you want to get on it ever day.
I wrote about the best road bikes for beginners earlier but this time I want to go into more depth for those people on a tight budget. We will go into 5 reviews of the cheapest road bikes being sold today. Each bike is going to have different features so make sure you keep in mind which ones you would rather have or those you can go without. Always keep in mind the size you are looking for as well, I will briefly go over proper fit down the line.
Schwinn Prelude Budget Bike
I had to put this Schwinn on the top of my list. You are almost all familiar with this brand. If you are not, you have been far away from the cycling world. I would be willing to be many of you even road a Schwinn when you were a child. Am I right?
Schwinn used to be an incredible brand that was known for putting out nothing but excellent quality products. Since the “good old days” though, the company has been sold and their goal is much different today. They are mass produced and the brand sticker is slapped on just about anything.
Even though there are quality issues with other products, this is a great starter bike with an insane price.
Seriously, where else are you going to find a road bike for less than three hundred dollars? Well, you would be hard pressed to find a bike as good of quality for less than the Prelude.
This is the complete setup for those looking on a budget. This bike enables you to ride almost year round, and even sturdy enough that you should be able to complete your first 100 mile ride without a problem. Over the lifetime of this cycle, you may wish to get a new saddle, or possible to fix up the tires at some point from a local bike shop, but these are all things you can do at home with a little time spent in front of youtube.
The Prelude is a lot heavier than any of the other products we will go over today. This model weighs in at 30 pounds and eventually (1 to 2 years down the line), you should probably think about getting an upgrade.
The only bad thing I can really say about this bike is that the frame size is a one size fits all. It does not really fit ALL, but they only come in a single size. If you are 5 foot 6 inches to around 5 foot 10 inches you should fit this cycle just fine. If you are a few inches off in any direction, you may be setting yourself up to a very uncomfortable ride and possible injuries. Do yourself a favor and do not even think about this if you do not fit the size.
If you have the money to buy a lighter bike, I would drop that money in a hearbeat. Lighter bikes are easier and much more enjoyable to ride.
That being said, a road bike less than three hundred dollars and everything you need to get started out on the pavement, you need a Schwinn Prelude.
Click here to see the price of the Schwinn Prelude on Amazon
Vilano 21
Lets say for a moment that you have a little bit more money but still want an entry level road bike that is affordable and on the cheaper side. What should you get? I would recommend that giving the Vilano 21 a try would be in your best interest. This is the perfect cycle for people who are first time riders. Anyone from college age to people trying to get back into shape would do well with this purchase.
So what are you getting in a few key points? You are getting a well made, durable bike that comes in different sizes (yay!), and it is a lot more lightweight than the competitors.
It becomes a lot more lightweight because the frame is made out of aluminum. It is hard to fit this type of frame in at this price, and I have seen this same frame used in bikes double range. That being said, this frame is extremely strong while remaining lightweight. To see this combination of features at such a low price, it is really nice to see.
Although entry level, you start to get some name brand components. The trigger shifters are made by Shimano and make for smooth shifting. These really are on the low line of Shimano components, and you would get a lot better quality going with something more expensive. That is not to say that they are not very well made and will hold up to years of riding if you pick not to upgrade.
As any new rider will soon tell you, climbing hills is hard! What I like about the Vilano is that you get a special gear that will make climbing hills easy and enjoyable without breaking into too hard of a sweat. This is a great way to get accustomed to climbing steeper climbs in the future.
At 25 pounds, with a solid construction and nice looks, this budget road bike is perfect for increasing your physical fitness, commuting to work, or riding your first 100 miles!
Quick Sizing Guide
- 50 cm = 5’1″ – 5’4″
54 cm = 5’5″ – 5’9”
58 cm = 5’10” – 6’1
Click here to see the price of the Vilano 21 On Amazon
Vilano Shadow
Vilano is an excellent brand for beginners and professionals alike, which is why I have included them a few times in this post. All of their frames are pretty similar and allows them to produce many bikes. The more bikes they can make, the more affordable they are going to be to you, the end consumer. What makes the difference in prices for the different models? Typically it will all come down to what components are going onto the bike.
The bikes that I went over previous to this model are great, they really are! They are missing one thing that I currently have on my own personal road bike, and that is STI shifters. These are my favorite aspects of any bike almost. What these are, are shifters that are built into the levers for your breaks. What does this mean for you? It means that the break bars on your bike can actually cause your cycle to shift by moving them! How cool is that?
This provides a few different abilities. First, this is super safe since your hands can remain on the break bars at all times without needing to move them to shift. Second, it is extremely fun and the shifts are very fast.
With this in mind though, getting this type of shifters does not come cheap to your pocketbook. These are not simple pieces to produce, and you will need to shell out more money if you want them included. I personally think they are worth every cent extra you spend on them because they feel great while riding. They also help to keep the value of your bicycle high in case you want to resell it down the road.
If you want to know any more about this bike, just check back one review to the Vilano 21 speed (everything else should be the exact same). If you want an upgrade in components that are sturdy and well made, then I would highly suggest checking out this unit if you are looking to go on centuries or further.
Quick Sizing Guide
- 50 cm = 5’1″ – 5’4″
54 cm = 5’5″ – 5’9”
58 cm = 5’10” – 6’1
Click here to see the price of the Vilano Shadow On Amazon
And here comes another Vilano!
These seriously are hard to beat for how much money you will spend on aquireing one. The Vilano Forza 4.0 is a small upgrade from what we have talked about. In fact, this is about just the middle of the line for a cheaper budget build. Middle of the line does not need to be expensive though, far from it!
Where the other bikes fall down on this a bit, the Forza 4.0 is made to be extra durable out on the trail. You get the inclusion of double walled wheels, and a reinforced frame this time to ensure longevity of your bicycle.
When it comes to brakes, you will be stopping fast with the use of Promax brakes. They work well, but are one of the places that Vilano decided to cut some cost with this unit. They are not as firm as some of the other brakes that I have used over the years. If you want to stop on a dime, you want a break that is more firm, and less squishy typically.
Riding daily on the Forza 4.0 feels great while not being too expensive. I have also seen plenty of people riding these on a few century rides around town.
This particular unit is made in a lot of different sizes. I will drop you a quick sizing guide in a moment here. Keep in mind that if you are in between sizes, I would suggest going with the smaller size if you want to be the most comfortable in the saddle. Bike fit can be tricky, but this is always a good rule of them.
If you plan to ride this cycle for a long time, look into getting new pedals, as well as a new seat at some point. Both of these would be huge upgrades in relation to comfort and speed.
You can shop around, but the best price for this bike I have found has been on Amazon. These come in around half a grand. No one will probably believe you what you paid for it so just make up a number when you tell them!
Quick Sizing Guide
- 50 cm = 5’2″-5’5″
52 cm = 5’3″-5’6″
54 cm = 5’7″ – 5’10”
56 cm = 5’8″ – 5’11”
58 cm = 5’10” – 6’2″
Click here to see the price of the Vilano Forza 4.0 on Amazon
The Best Cheap Roadbike Out There – The Diamondback Century 1
If you have talked to any serious cyclists out there, they may have told new riders that you should pick up a bike with 10 speeds in your rear cog. While it is true that these parts shift a lot smoother and feel better to ride compared to 8 speeds in the back, you can cut yourself some slack, and make some serious savings.
Once you have been riding a little bit, as long as you have enough gears to use to your full potential, you can pace everyone out there on the road! Get a few less gears and get a massive amount of savings? That sounds like something a budget shopper like yourself would love!
This is why I love to recommend the Diamondback to almost everyone I talk to. They are not a very well known brand, but it will be almost impossible to find a similar cycle in a local shop for anywhere close to the price you will pay on line.
The Century 1 Diamondback has the same quality as much more expensive bikes. This difference is usually in the hundreds of dollars.
Now that you know the savings to be hard, lets discuss a little bit more about it. First, this is a great beginner road bike because it is very comfortable but at the same time was built to go fast. The angle of the seat tube keeps the rider in a more upright position for extra comfort. This is important because any beginner getting on a race bike is going to feel extremely sore after just a few miles from the positioning. You get to sit more upright, have less stress on your back, and have a more enjoyable ride. What is more important than that?
As for components, you get shifters from Sora. These are made well, and I found them to react well to my shifts. The crank in the front is made from FSA and has proven sturdy so far. As for breaks, they are made by Tektro which I found to be extremely responsive and firm, all great things.
Just take a look at that picture, it looks amazing too!
For your dollar, this is the best value you are going to find.
Click here to see the price of the Diamondback Century 1
Inexpensive Road Bike Assembly
When you purchase one of these bad boys, they are going to come in a box as parts.
Do not fret though, they are partially put together.
There are going to be cables for almost all of the controls. These can be loosened and tightened in order to adjust the shifters and breaks of the bike.
This may seem daunting at first, but this is actually not too hard to do. Look up a youtube video if you need help.
If you cannot figure out how to do it, put it together as best you can and then take it to your local bike shop. If it is partially put together, your local bike shop should only charge you about $50 to finish setting up your bicycle and getting you out thee riding.
Leave a Reply