Bikes are an excellent solution for commuting and getting around the city, convenient and versatile to meet all your daily needs.
A good road bike should take you where you need to go without a hitch, but be light enough to pick up if required and tough enough to go over bumpy, uneven surfaces.
Bikes have long since become a favorite means of transportation for many, and their popularity is still growing today.
For that reason, the number of available offers can sometimes be overwhelming, making it challenging to make a choice.
If you’re thinking about riding a bike for your everyday commute, you might be looking for the best beginner road bike.
In this article, we’ll present a selection of quality-made, affordable road bikes to help you select the best option.
Comparison Chart
6KU Aluminum Fixed Gear Single-Speed Fixie Urban Track Bike, Shadow Black, 55cm/M, 89541-Track-ShadowBlack-M-55cm
SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike, Warwinds3.0 700C Carbon Fiber Racing Bicycle with SORA 18 Speed Derailleur System and Double V Brake (Red, 54cm)
Best Beginner Road Bike Reviews
6KU Aluminum Fixed Gear Single-Speed Fixie Urban Track Bike
The 6KU Fixie Urban Track Bike has a great blend of sturdiness and style, making it well-suited for the daily commute and somewhat rougher urban rides.
Built of quality aluminum, the bike’s relatively straightforward to maintain and resilient to wear and tear. While the brakes are nothing special, they do their job just fine, especially on city streets.
There’s a simple flip-flop hub that allows for shifting between fixed gear and single speed. If you’re unsure what this refers to, fixed gear means the back wheel is locked with the pedals, and when one is turning, the other wheel is too.
Single-speed makes the wheel free, so while the bike’s cruising, the pedals aren’t moving.
The 6KU Fixie Urban Track Bike is an excellent choice for people who intend to use their bike for everyday commuting and don’t plan on more extreme rides.
The quality it offers compared to ultimate affordability makes this bike quite an attractive choice.
Pros
- Excellent quality material
- Fast and stylish
- Good selection of frame sizes
- Excellent performance
- Easy shift from fixed gear to single-speed
Cons
- Single gear bike
- Basic-quality brakes
Vilano R2 Commuter Aluminum Road Bike 21 Speed 700c
Versatile, sturdy, and sleek, this bike provides a delightful riding experience, especially in its price range. It can handle hills and flat terrain nicely if it isn’t meant for rougher rides. This is made evident by the seat, which isn’t comfortable when going over multiple bumps.
The Vilano R2 Commuter’s neat appearance can be further customized with different color combinations, and a dependable and light aluminum frame sits below the paint job.
With a high-quality steel fork and Shimano components, this bike has much to offer in performance as well as in visuals. In particular, shifting between its 21 speeds is effortless and flawless.
Once you upgrade the seat, this bike can reliably take you on longer journeys, and you can count on it for many comfortable, easy rides.
Its light build means there’ll be no issues if you need to take the bike up a flight of stairs, and the sturdiness will keep it stable and smooth-moving on less-than-ideal roads.
As mentioned, this bike might not be as comfortable on a longer ride, mainly due to its seat.
Pros
- Top-quality materials
- Shimano derailleur and shifters
- 21-speed bike
- Light, fast, and good-looking
Cons
- The seat will need an upgrade
- Not the best quality brakes
SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike
The SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike is the most expensive bike on this list – but the price is more than justified. The carbon fiber build makes this bike tougher and lighter than those made of aluminum, which means more control on the road and less muscle strain even after a long ride.
The material is shock-absorbent and sturdy so that the frame can take a lot of punishment without the risk of breaking.
The gear shifting mechanism functions seamlessly and allows for a smooth transition between the bike’s 18 speeds.
The brakes also work perfectly, stopping the bike instantly and without any unwelcome screeching noises. All this contributes to the comfort that comes from the convenient, careful construction and component placement.
The bike’s appearance is impressive and unique. It comes in several different colors, including blue, gray, orange, and red. It looks more like a sports model than an everyday means of transportation, but the bike performs well on the city streets.
This bike is capable of traversing various types of terrain, offers a smooth, reliable ride, and has the good looks to round up the overall impression.
The quality, functionality, and comfort found in the SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike are usually reserved for much costlier models. Taking all of this into consideration, this bike should be considered as a more affordable top-tier model rather than an expensive middle-tier alternative.
Pros
- Carbon fiber construction
- Very stable and sturdy
- 18-speed bike
- Quality, reliable brakes
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Pricier than aluminum counterparts
- Pedals might need an upgrade
Vilano Shadow 3.0 Road Bike with STI Integrated Shifters
This bike offers excellent performance even on rougher terrain. If a bit heavy, the strong aluminum frame allows for good stability, shock absorption, and vibration resistance so that it will traverse uneven roads with no issues.
The construction provides a comfortable upright stance when riding, although the seat can be uncomfortable on longer routes.
There are 14 speeds available, making the bike even more versatile for uphill or downhill riding, and the Shimano integrated shifters ensure every gear shift is smooth and seamless.
Some compromises were made with the Vilano Shadow 3.0 to make it fit the price range. The seat, pedals, and rims are of inferior quality, and in terms of the cost, this compensates for the premium build and reliability of the frame, fork, and gear shifting mechanism.
Although many bike owners don’t take long before they start customizing their bike with upgraded parts, the seat, in particular, isn’t all it could be. In this case, it won’t present an issue right away, if it is worth bearing in mind.
Some of the original components are subpar, but they’ll serve their purpose quite effectively for beginners.
Overall, the bike’s very dependable and stands out in its class, but it has limitations that should be considered.
If you’re up for some customization and willing to take a deeper dive, the Vilano Shadow 3.0 can serve as an excellent starting point.
Pros
- High-grade aluminum construction
- Excellent control
- Shimano components
- Quality brakes
- Comfortable and stable
Cons
- Somewhat heavier bike
- Less resilient alloy rims
Trinx TEMPO 1.0 700c Road Bike Shimano 21
The Trinx TEMPO 1.0 is a dependable, lightweight bike that offers good stability and outstanding performance, focusing on light build and maneuverability.
The low frame weight makes it very easy to handle and, in combination with the equally lightweight and strong rims, provides quite a comfortable ride.
Excellent brakes and Shimano shifting components contribute to ease of control, even on hard, dirt roads.
For a lightweight bike, the TEMPO 1.0 is surprisingly tough and versatile – although this should be expected when you consider all of the high-quality components. What’s more, shifting gears is as smooth and easy on every ride you’ll take with this bike.
The sporty design will stand out on city streets, and the bike will perform just as well in less-than-optimal riding conditions. This is an impressive bike for its price, with no significant flaws, except for the rear derailleur sound that might bother some riders.
However, that detail is hardly worth considering when there’s so much quality found in this model.
Pros
- Quality aluminum build
- Slim and light
- Reliable braking system
- Shimano shifter
- Strong double-wall rims
Cons
Louder rear derailleur
Final Verdict
While every road bike presented has excellent features and can be relied upon to perform very well in everyday conditions, our top recommendation will have to go to the SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike.
While its price may be almost double of the second most expensive bike on this list, there’s no doubt that this model is worth every cent. The carbon fiber build and the quality components make it extremely reliable and almost on the verge of premium-class.
For those unwilling to spend as much or those constrained by their budget, the Trinx TEMPO 1.0 is a perfect choice. This road bike hits just the right balance between comfort, stability, functionality, and affordability.
The bike is as close to perfection in its class as it can get – versatile and sturdy enough to handle regular use easily, and it won’t ever let you down.
Choosing the right beginner road bike can make or break the experience, especially for those just deciding to invest in a road bike.
Hopefully, this article has helped you choose the best beginner road bike, and you can start enjoying the ride with one of the excellent models presented.