Above photo: Getty Images

So here you are, browsing the web for tips on how to choose your first roadbike. With a limited budget, and hardly enough knowledge about the sport, the vast ocean of roadbikes to choose from make the decision an all too arduous task.

Fear not, my friend. Fate has smiled upon you and led you to this website. You are in luck as we are about to impart to you some of the most sage advice you will ever receive in this, the dawn of your cycling ‘career’. So sit back, pour yourself a beer, and enjoy the next 15 minutes of reading. By the end of this article, we guarantee hope you will know what kind of bike you ought to start with. 

Choosing a roadbike for the first time is a very difficult activity for most, mainly because the beginning cyclist wants his first roadbike to be perfect. Unfortunately, this is most often not the case. No matter how great this first roadbike will be to you, you will eventually develop preferences that will cause you to set this bike aside, and purchase a new one suitable to your needs. The terrain you ride in, fitness changes, events participated in, and development in riding style all contribute to this. 

Nevertheless, fear not, and fret not. We are here to help you choose that first bike, to help make sure that it makes your beginning experiences in the sport as enjoyable as ever. 

Before we proceed, it is prudent to know by heart the parts of a roadbike. Below is a diagram that illustrates this, you will have to refer to this diagram as you read through this series of articles.