Best Cheap Entry Level Road Bikes under $500 for 2020 . Find our Cheap Road Bike reviews, comparison charts and buying guides to help you buy the right road bike for daily cruising.
If budget isn’t an issue then you might want to read our list of the best road bikes for 2020. However, if you’re on a budget then you’re at the right place. Here you’ll find the top 7 road bikes that are perfect for anyone whose planning to buy their first bike.
How do You Choose the Right Road Bike?
There aren’t a lot of factors that you need to consider when buying a road bike and the only thing that you need to check for in your next bike is the the quality of components that are used.
A sturdy frame, excellent group-set, comfortable saddle and handlebars that have a good grip is all it takes.
While there isn’t a lot of difference in the quality of components used in bikes under the same price range, one thing that really matters is that the bike is a good fit for your height and weight. A bike that fits your physique makes riding comfortable and avoids carpel tunnel, many sport injuries and other health risks.
#1 Recommendation : Vilano Forza 4.0
The Vilano Forza 2.0 has held the #2 position in our best road bikes of 2020
listing.
Lightweight aluminium Frame
Vilano Forza 4.0 is the complete package. The bike features a Lightweight 6061 Aluminum Frame which is as sturdy and as lightweight as it gets with an aluminium frame.
24 Speed Shimano Groupset
It also features the impressive Shimano STI Integrated Brake lever shifters and the fact that it offers 24 speeds works in the favour of this bike.
As pointed out in our original review, you might want to change your seat depending upon how comfortable you are on the one that comes in stock and whether you’re planning to go for long distance rides or not. A good alternative would be Planet Bike 5020.
Since it is capable of delivering on the kind of performance that is required when preparing for competitions,Vilano Forza 4.0 is a good option for triathletes as a prep bike. You can definitely find better options like Kestrel Legend but in this price range, nothing beats the Forza 4.0.
==> Click here to see Today’s Discount on Vilano Forza 4.0
#2 Tommaso Imola Lightweight Sport Road Bike
Tommaso Imola isn’t something that we hear so often when it comes to road bike but it is a really good piece of italian craftsmanship.
Imola is a beautiful bike and we can see that a lot of time and effort went in it design and framework.
Lightweight Framework and Carbon Fork
The Imola is built upon a Lightweight SLA 6061 Compact Frame Combined with a High Modulus Carbon Fiber Fork that makes for enhanced dampening and comfort while riding.
Shimano Shifters, Crankset and Derailleurs
The bike comes equipped with the Shimano Claris Derailleurs, Shifters and Crankset which makes the it easy to shift gears and brake without having to move your hands.
The whole set adds a lot of control and stability to the whole composition of the bike and is definitely.
Please note that the bike comes in a box and there’s a little bit of assembly required. So, if you aren’t really a DIY kind of person and have no intension of learning then you’ll have to take it to a bike shop for assembly.
All in all, it is a great bike at a great price and Tommaso has left little room for complaint with this bike.
==> Click here to see Today’s Discount on Tommaso Imola Sport Road Bike
#3 Schwinn Men’s Phocus 1600 700C Drop Bar Road Bike
Schwinn is popular for manufacturing budget-friendly road bikes that are mainly built for the daily commuters.
Aluminium Frame with Carbon Fibre Fork
I was surprised to find that the Phocus 1600 comes with a carbon fibre fork,which is hard to find in bikes of this price range. This combination gives you a good flexible bike without compromising on control.
14 Speed Shimano Groupset
Phocus comes with full Shimano 14 speed drivetrain with integrated brake lever shifting. As you might know, Shimano Groupset is the best in class and makes it easy to shift gears.
Unfortunately, it only features 14 speed variations but considering the price, it’s probably good trade-off to make for a lot of people.
Not for the Short guys
The biggest problem with this bike is that it’s only available in one size and as much as we would’ve loved to recommend it to you, if you’re shorter than 5″10′, you won’t be comfortable riding it.
If you’re not tall enough for this one, then you should probably go for either Tommaso Imola or Vilano Forza.
In conclusion, if you do not have a problem with the size then this is the best value for money road bike that you can buy.
==> Click here to see Today’s Discount on Schwinn Men’s Phocus 1600
#4 Vilano Aluminum Road Bike 21 Speed
Another great bike in the current line of products by Vilano. Vilano Aluminium is performance as cheap as it gets. The line of features that you get at this price range is tremendous.
6061 Double Butted Aluminum
The bike is built upon a 6061 Double Butted Aluminum frame with a 700c 1 1/8″ Threadless Fork.
Though it isn’t as light as we might want it to be, the frame is sturdy and keeps the bike in total control.
Shimano Shifters
Vilano Aluminium features 21 Speed Shimano Shifters that are mounted on the handlebars that gives you a good range of speeds to choose from and enables you to make easy shifts without moving your hands.
It is a good option as a prep-bike. Train on a Vilano Aluminium and then get on a lighter carbon fibre bike like a Kestrel Talon for competitions and you’re bound to improve your performance by a huge margin.
The assembly process is pretty straightforward. However, if you’re completely new to it, you might want to refer to Youtube for a step-by-step tutorial.
In my opinion, there isn’t anything to complain about with this bike. It’s hard to deliver a bike like this at this price point and Vilano has definitely done a good job at it.
Vilano aluminium isn’t a bike that you’d want to race on. However, if you’re looking for something that is built to last then this bike is for you. It is built for the daily commuter who values comfort and durability over a lightweight frame and competitive performance.
==> Click here to see Today’s Discount on Vilano Aluminium 21 Speed
#5 Giordano Libero 1.6 Men’s Road Bike-700c
The Libero 1.6 is a pretty bike and has been ranking one of the top 7 entry level road bikes for over 3 years now.
Giordano Libero 1.6 is just like any other mid-range road bikes and there aren’t many fancy features or components that needs any special highlights. However, the bike is just what you expect it to be, good on performance, comfortable for longer rides and affordable.
LightWeight 6061 aluminum frame
Libero 1.6 uses a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame which is the same that’s used in Vilano Forza 4.0, however it is not double-butted. Still, it makes for a pretty sturdy build for the bike.
Shimano STI DriveTrain
The bike features a 16 Speed Shimano STI drive train that does offer you a lot of variations when it comes to shifting.
Unlike a lot of bikes, the assembly process is pretty straight forward and you should be able to do it in under 30 minutes.
However, I would strongly recommend you to take it out for fine-tuning to your local bike shop because it will need some minor adjustments required to keep it a bit more safe when you’re cruising around the city.
Another drawback is that it comes in three standard sizes and while it covers a huge range of people within the default sizes, it will not be a perfect fit for a lot of people.
It is a great bike but if you don’t mind spending another $40-$50 then the quality of components, performance, comfort and custom sizes you get with Tommaso is worth the extra cash.
==> Click here to see Today’s Discount on Giordano Libero 1.6
#6 GMC Denali Road Bike – Best Road bike for Kids
Need something to gift to your siblings or maybe your kids?
Lightweight Aluminium Framework
The lightweight aluminium framework keeps it easy to manoeuvre and control at high speeds.
Shimano Shifters and Derailleur
The bike features Shimano Derailleur and Revo shifts that makes the shifting process as easy as any other mid-range bike that we’ve recommended here.
Despite the fancy Groupset and the lightweight frame, you will find it to be a low quality bike. It is great as a fun bike for your kids but if you’re looking for something that is built to endure long intense rides, this isn’t the right bike.
