Looking for a beginner road bike?

Before diving into the sport of cycling it is good to evaluate your current and future level of interest. Entry level bikes are great for the occasional cyclist, but consistently riding 3 or more days a week will require something more durable. It is in your best interest to buy the bike that will fit your future needs as much as your current ones.

The most important quality in any bike is the fit. Work closely with your local bike shop(s) to find the bike that is the correct size. Bike fit is a complex relationship between leg extension, hip angle, arm width, arm extension, and foot position. Your bike must be tall enough, long enough, and have the proper sized stem and handlebar to place your body in a position that will prevent injury and be comfortable even on long rides.

Keep in mind that most entry level bikes are equipped with 9 speed drive trains. That means there are 9 gears on the rear cluster. Today all high-end bicycles and bike parts have 10 or even 11 gears. The number of gears will limit your options for upgrades down the road. Switching from 9 to 10 speeds is very expensive. However, switching from a lower end 10 speed to something nicer is not as expensive. Bike manufacturers get huge discounts on the parts they use to make their bikes. You will get a way better deal by buying a complete bike with the right parts than upgrading individual parts. Getting stuck in the 9 speed world will make upgrading out of that world expensive.

Don't hesitate to shop your local CraigsList or Ebay. If you buy used make sure that you have consulted with a more knowledgeable friend to avoid over paying or getting a bike that does not fit properly; fit is paramount.

Recommended brands:

Trek, Specialized, Jamis

Suggested parts:

1 day a week or less usage = Sora, Tiagra

3 or more days = Shimano 105, Campagnolo Mirage

5 or more = Shimano Ultegra, SRAM Rival, Campagnolo Veloce

David K and others...all great answers and advice.

I personally am not a fan of the Trek entry level bikes ( love their higher end bikes though- Madones and Project One).

$500-$600 unfortunately will probably not get you a bike to last the duration. It is likely to get you through a year or two and then if you really get into the sport and inevitable upgrade will probably happen.

I would say your price range is a good starting point to see if you really do become a dedicated rider and then if you do, you can take the plunge into a better bike.

With that said, I would not worry about the 9/10 speed issue. See if you can pick-up a used bike in your price range and get it and ride.

You might check with come local bike clubs to see if anyone is selling an old bike as well as Craigslist. Be careful on Ebay. There are a lot of bike scams on there.

Lots of good points above. I would say don't get too hung up on how many speeds the bike has as you start out. At the price you are looking at, you can sometimes luck into a used bike with an older 9 speed Ultegra or 105 drivetrain/shifters but if not, I have Mirage and Sora 8 speeds on a couple of my bikes that work fine. If you become enough of an enthusiast that you feel a need to upgrade from an 8/9 to 10 speed, you will probably be wanting to buy an entirely new bike anyways.

As everyone has said, make sure you have a proper fit. That is probably your biggest risk trying to buy a used bike as a beginner. Also be a bit careful as the frame size that fits you may vary a bit depending on which company makes it. Good luck in your search and welcome to the sport

You should be able to get a good used road bike for $500 - $600. All of the major brands should be considered, including Giant, Cannondale, Jamis, Felt, and Bianchi. The real issue is to find one that fits you. To do that, you have to be in the right place at the right time. Contact all your local shops to see if they have taken anything in trade (not likely). After that, try to buy locally so you can test ride the bike. Find a local bike technician who can inspect a bike for you to make sure it doesn't have any fatal flaws. Make any sale contingent on that inspection.

HTH

David K has given excellent advice, so I will only add a couple of tidbits that occurred to me. In your area, there might be a couple of local builders who offer excellent products that are not sold everywhere. Check with a couple of local bike shops. The advice about 9 versus 10 speeds is also excellent. If later on you end up buying a better bike, it is nice if parts are compatible, if you have a problem with one bike, you are always able to switch things like wheels from one bike to the other.