After having a go of my brother's road bike, I've decided to get one myself next year using the Bikes to work scheme. I've always had XC MTB's but I only use it on the road and they always end up on semi slicks anyway My budget will be £500, £550 absolute maximum. this article is all I've got to go off. Bearing in mind it's my first road bike, I'd like something a bit more forgiving, and the option to add mudguards would be a big bonus. Which one would you go for, or any suggestions not on the list? Any bike specific to Halfords is out unfortunately.

I'd go for the specialized allez.

I've fairly recently bought a Revolution Country Traveller. Not cool, but a great balance of kit and price and you could ride it all day, and you can hang panniers off it. Particularly if you wait for one of Edinburghs reasonably frequent 15% off offers. Very pleased with mine overall.

Second hand Focus Cayos can be had for £500.

When you think that a lot of the bikes to work financiers insist that you pay RRP you will lose a load of discount you could have expected, so it isn't quite as good as it seems.

Would you not buy 2nd hand on eBay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cannondale-CAD...=item2c66fc1942

There will be loads available soon after those that rushed out to buy bikes after watching the Tour de France and the Olympics get bored of them!

You can't buy 2nd hand bikes on the ride 2 work scheme.

Yeah, but a decent 2nd hand bike could still work out cheaper (and a better spec), unless he needs to use the scheme to spread the payments.

I didn't go second hand because there were too many dubious bikes. I could easily see a situation where I ended up buying a bike without seeing it for, say, £300, and then needing to spend similar to get it into decent condition.

I don't want to get a 2nd hand bike as if something's up with it the bills can quickly mount up. It's going to have to be through the scheme. this is really tempting though. I'll see what the crack is in Jan next year once the scheme starts up; may get a 2012 model a bit cheaper.

I think that the obvious choice is Giant Defy range, even the Defy 5 2012. I bought one myself earlier this year and I am very happy with it. It doesn't have show piece group set but decent enough for smooth gear changes and most importantly it has got very good and light frame. To be honest if you'll look hard you might even find Defy 3 2012 for just over £500... You can't go wrong with a Giant

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/giant-2012-road-launch-30729/

It really depends what you want to do! It doesn't really matter which bike you get at the £500 level as they are OK for going down the pub and riding to the shops but you will never feel that you are flying on a bike that weighs more than 10kgs. Buy whatever you like and give it a go, if you like it then you will need minimum £2000 to a decent bike fit for competing on. If you ride on your own, it doesn't matter what you ride on but if you are going to ride with other people then you may struggle to keep up on the hills. Enjoy the ride!!!

Trouble with Bike Schemes is that shops rarely discount as they already have to give a cut to the scheme. Personally, apart from being a cheap loan, I'm a bit ambivolent about the scheme now the taxman has chopped out much of the benefit

I've bought the Airlite 100 outright. I didn't want to spend too much in case road bikes aren't for me. I'm not saddled with payment for a year that way and I got a good saving on the RRP too. Can't wait til I pick it up

Good on you, enjoy riding it!!!

Let us know what it's like! I have a Carrera road bike framed hybrid, with flat handlebars. There are no rack mounting points on it though, so I might sell it and get a road-bike that does have mounts, so I can use it to commute to work.

I've been using a Specialized mountain bike with semi-slicks but it's not a very fast bike as you can imagine.

The Decathlon Btwin Triban 3 is pretty much reckoned to the best bike under £500 and it's £300...glowing review in this month's Cycling Active - 92%

That's a good one Vicks, Carbon forks Oh well, no going back now.

Enjoy the Raleigh

Thanks Vicks. Part of the appeal of the bike is that it was a Raleigh, last time I had one was when I was 11 and I always had them as a child.

Bike Boffins: there are road bike Carbon forks on the bay ranging from £70 - 150. If I decide to upgrade the standard alloy one in a month or two, is it difficult to fit? Are they normally compatible?

I think the sizes vary - bokcers will advise for sure. Also, perhaps the bike spec opn the website can give you a clue!

I had a Raleigh Boxer when I was ickle back in the days of Penny Farthings!

Thanks for the tip, I'm now considering this one. I'm expecting Lakeside Decathlon to have sold out in my size though (I'm 6'3" and will probably go for the 60cm frame based on online calculators), but I do want to test ride one before ordering. I might go with the Cycle to Work Scheme if it's cheaper.

Being red it matches my Hardrock!

Naughty Vickster! The Raleigh went back today. Went and bought the August Cycling monthly, then the B'twin carbon forks, 24 gears and the line "this is the best value for money bike we've ever tested" meant I had to have it. It's even built in Italy!

What's it like to ride then pinin?

Getting one these Btwins for Mrs Bockers. For the spec you just can't get close. Cheaper than most of the hack on ebay too.

I'll tell you when it gets here! I can guess though my answer will be 'uncomfortable', as I don't know that many obese people trying to ride drop-bars!

Top Value indeed Bockers. Especially when it's £1 delivery for the next week from Decathlon

I read that you should check all the nuts and bolts are done up tight before riding for the first time!

I always check my nuts.

My wife would love to check Bolts too, but I bet she could not catch him

Re: bolts, yes good idea to check! We got a Diamondback bike for our oldest son, has front disc brake and all the disc bolts were loose Also, with cheaper bikes (and some more expensive ones ) some of the nuts and bolts rust rather too readily with all this rain...

Good stuff, Pinin

Ref the Triban - all sold out in Reading and a long waiting list. There were some in Surrey Quays the other day. Don't know about Lakeside

I am moving to drops for my daily bike - Giant Avail 2 girlie model

There was a Triban 3 "locked" to a lampost near my office with a lock about the thickness of a piece of string...been there, got the T-shirt, claimed on the insurance

Loads of discussion of it on Cyclechat.net. Sounds like they come up small, 5'10 recent purchaser exchanged their 57cm model for a 60cm