So, you want to get into cycling but you’re not sure where to start? We’re here to help you find the perfect bike to get you inspired as you set out on the road or trail. It seems like every year new bikes, disciplines and technologies are popping up left, right and centre, confusing even the most savvy cyclist. For a newcomer, the range is mind-boggling, so here’s our list of the top ten sub-£1500 road and mountain bikes to suit any budget or type of rider.
Mountain Bikes
Designed around a high-performance, ultra-lightweight A1 SL Aluminium frame with the Women’s XC 29er geometry, the Jett Comp is a bike perfectly suited to the determined cross country rider. Its durable and efficient component package includes the SR Suntour XCR-Air fork with size-specific travel, and Shimano Deore rear derailleur for precise shifting.
The Hardrock is all about getting out into nature and having fun without compromising the bank account. To optimise its reliability and longevity, the aluminium frame has been equipped with durable components, precise brakes and a terrain-gobbling fork for maximum confidence out on the trails.
The Women’s Sport Trail geometry is given to the durable aluminium construction paired with the SR Suntour 650B suspension fork to dampen the ‘pogo’ effect. A Shimano Alivio rear derailleur takes control of the shifting and Shimano hydraulic discs put power into the braking.
The Pitch begins to take trail-riding a bit more seriously with a hardtail design that offers efficiency on the climbs, speed on the flats and a sturdy design that can be depended on. The Sport Trail geometry is employed in the lightweight aluminium frame construction, paired with a custom SR Suntour 650B fork complete with Multi-Circuit Dampening technology for maximum comfort.
The Rockhopper is where efficiency and capability cross trails with a snappy confidence over diverse terrains. The lightweight A1 SL Aluminium frame is built around Trail 29 geometry and paired with a Manitou M30 29 fork. With the Shimano SLX rear derailleur fitted at the back, a better combination of durability, reliability and performance will be difficult to find.
Road Bikes
The Specialized Allez has long been the benchmark for entry-level road bikes, built to provide a versatile, sturdy and confident ride. This model is equipped with Shimano Claris 9-speed shifting and carbon fork. Simply put, the Allez is a great all-rounder that promises to be just the start of your journey in road cycling.
Where the Allez is the men’s benchmark, the Dolce sits in the same seat on the women’s side. As an endurance road bike, it puts performance and comfort at the forefront. Shimano Claris wraps the A1 Premium Aluminium frame with a subcompact crankset, FACT carbon fork and Axis Sport wheels.
A diehard adventure bike that is capable and reliable on all terrains. The ‘adventure-bound geometry’ of the A1 Premium Aluminium frame is paired with a wide carbon fork to accommodate wide tyres and the chosen groupset comes from Shimano SOra. The tyres wrapping the wrapping the Axis Sport Disc wheels are the Espoir Sport 700x28mm with double BlackBelt protection for puncture protection.
Optimised for speed, performance and endurance, the Dolce Evo is at the top of the range of our aluminium frame range. The Evo has an E5 Premium Aluminium frame built with our D’Aluisio SmartWeld technology, Shimano Tiagra 10-speed shifting, fast Axis Sport Disc wheels and wide Roubaix tyres for maximum comfort.
Tipping the scales at £1500, is the ground breaking Allez Sprint Comp, an aerodynamic speed machine constructed from E5 Premium Aluminium. This is high performance and efficiency on a budget done better than it has ever been done before. The S-Works FACT carbon fork complements the D’Aluisio SmartWeld (DSW) frame to maximise stiffness and responsiveness, and it makes use of a Shimano 105 groupset paired with Praxis Alba crankset.
Hopefully you’ve got a good idea of what’s available now and we’ve helped to narrow down the choices. Now all that you’ve got the bike sorted it’s time to plan some rides, get out into the great outdoors, and above all enjoy your new wheels!
