Best Road Bikes Under £500

Giant Contend 2

Review

The Contend is Giant’s entry level road bike with similar geometry to the incredibly popular Giant Defy Advanced. While maintaining many of comfort features of the Defy, the Contend has a slightly shorter wheel base for nimbler race-oriented handling characteristics. The endurance style riding position is slightly more upright than a race bike, which will help to keep you comfortable in the saddle for longer.

The Giant Contend 2 is built around an ALUXX-Grade aluminium frame that features butted tubes for a lighter ride. The Contend features a Shimano Claris 2x8 speed drivetrain with compact chainset and wide range cassette. This gives you a great spread of gears for climbing as well as flying along the flat. The Giant S-R3 wheels deliver dependable rolling performance.

Liv Avail 2

Review

Liv are a women’s specific brand and all their bikes are designed from the ground up especially for female cyclists. Built in the same factory as Giant bikes the Liv Avail features a great value ALUXX-Grade aluminium frame with butted tubes for a lighter ride. The women’s specific, endurance geometry is ideal for sportives and long rides. This is because the more upright cycling position helps to reduce fatigue, keeping you feeling fresh in the saddle for longer.

Like the Contend, the Avail features a Shimano Claris 2x8 speed drivetrain with compact chainset and wide range cassette. This gives all the gears you need to take on every climb and ride fast on the flat. Women’s specific contact points enhance comfort while the Giant SR-3 wheels deliver dependable performance that you can trust.

Specialized Dolce Women’s

Review

With women’s road cycling continuing to gain traction it is great to see a female specific road bike at such an affordable price point. The Specialized Dolce is an endurance or sportive style road bike clocking up the miles efficiently and in comfort.

Women’s specific endurance road geometry offers a slightly more upright riding position than a traditional road racer which helps to reduce fatigue on long rides so you stay fresher in the saddle for longer. The carbon fibre composite fork features Zertz vibration damping inserts for an even smoother ride.

Like the Avail, the Dolce features a Shimano Claris 2x8 speed drivetrain with a wide range cassette so you can climb even the steepest of hills as well as picking up plenty of speed on the flat.

Specialized Allez

Review

A refined road bike without the price tag. With many features you would usually associate with high end machines the Specialized Allez is a great way to get into road cycling. The premium quality alloy frame is combined with a full carbon fibre fork with a tapered steerer for more precise steering control..

The 2x9 speed Shimano Claris drivetrain offers a wide range of gears while the 25c tyres are ideal for general road cycling. The Specialized Allez is versatile road bike that offers incredible value for money.

Whether you're just getting into road cycling, commuting, or just looking for a new bike, the Allez is the perfect choice. Featuring a lightweight alloy frame, carbon fibre fork, and mounts for racks and fenders, it's as performance-packed as it is versatile.

Scott Speedster 50

Review

Redesigned for 2019 the Scott Speedster 50 is now lighter than its predecessors. Like the other bikes featured here the Speedster gets an alloy frame with endurance geometry. Ideal for sportives, this more upright riding position will help you to perform at your best on long rides over mixed terrain.

Unlike the other bikes here the Speedster 50 doesn’t get carbon fork blades. Instead, the Scott has better performing Syncros Race wheels which will accelerate quicker and climb better than more budget focused wheelsets. The 2x7 speed Shimano drivetrain has a slightly narrower range than the other bikes mentioned here so will require a bit more leg power to get you up the steepest climbs.