Womans Rod bike for £500

[matronryan]

Womans Rod bike for £500

A good friend of mine has started cycling and signed up for a London to Paris ride. She needs a new bike but wants to spend no more than £500 on it. Can anyone give me some suggestions?
Thanks in advance

 

[avanti]

My wife, who is a 30-mile rider, has a Specialized Dolce - I see the list price in the UK is around 650 pounds but maybe you can find a 2011 or earlier model or a demo for less.

If you prefer a flat bar bike then look at the Cannondale Quick models.

 

[rgmerk]

A good friend of mine has started cycling and signed up for a London to Paris ride. She needs a new bike but wants to spend no more than £500 on it. Can anyone give me some suggestions?
Thanks in advance

For 500 pounds, you're really looking at fairly low-end equipment. Something like the Boardman Comp is an example of a reasonable value road bike in this price range. Second-hand may be a better option, if you've got somebody who can help sort out the right equipment.

Most important thing is that the bike fits her properly. Swapping saddles and adjusting bar position can do wonders for the comfort of any bicycle, and getting a professional to do this is extremely valuable if there are long days on the road.

If she doesn't already have them, proper shoes and "clipless" pedals are an extra expense but essential for comfort on long rides.