u/emirandemir

Hey everyone,

Completely new to road cycling and just picked up a Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4 as my first proper bike.

Originally I was planning to buy secondhand, but I realised I honestly had no clue what I was looking at. I’d never even ridden a road bike or used proper shifters before 😅 I got a bit worried I’d buy something with hidden issues and not realise until later, so I ended up going new for peace of mind.
Hopefully I didn’t massively overpay… especially since some used bikes were like 1/4 of the price, but I just didn’t trust myself enough yet.

For now I’m mainly planning to:
-commute to work occasionally when the weather is nice (3.5 miles each way)
-do cardio rides around Regent’s Park some evenings/weekends

Would love advice on:
-where is the best place to get equipment
-things I should pay attention to as a beginner
-common mistakes new riders make
-what equipment/accessories are actually worth buying at the start
-anything specific I should know about the Domane AL 2

Thanks 🚴

Hey everyone,

Completely new to road cycling and looking for recommendations for good second-hand bike shops/refurbishers in London.

I’d rather avoid Facebook Marketplace or random private sellers since I honestly don’t know enough yet to judge bike condition properly.

Looking for a beginner-friendly road bike that’s already serviced and ready to ride with drivetrain/chain/tyres/brakes checked recently.

Mainly for weekend rides around Regent’s Park + occasional short commute to work.

I’m around 182cm with relatively long legs — what size should I realistically be looking for as a beginner?