The 6 Best Entry-Level Road Bikes To Buy Now
Are you having trouble finding the best entry-level road bikes to replace your slowing-down hybrid bikes or getting into the fast-speed cycling world? We have tested the performance of top in-demand road bike models from Tommaso, Hiland, SAVADECK, Schwinn, and other famous bicycle brands.
Entry-level road bikes are less expensive than triathlon bikes, and they feature aluminum frames and narrow tires to go faster. However, finding the best entry-level road bikes for beginners can be a bit tricky and requires some professional cycling knowledge, which we use for this article.
Suppose you are new to road biking and looking for the latest editions of the best entry-level road bikes. In that case, you will need to do a lot of practice for endurance races and normal riding. We have tested 13 aerodynamic and super-light aluminum bikes from popular manufacturers with retail prices between $300 and $999.
While selecting bikes for testing, we focused on industry standards in the U.S. Market. Our pro-cyclists tested all these bikes for more than 12 months, and according to their views, Tommaso Imola and SAVADECK Warwinds 3.0 are the best entry-level road bikes for starters due to their fast-moving geometry and full-speed control features.
Our mission is to get the maximum number of people into cycling. Regardless of your age, gender, riding style, and budget, we have tested more than 560 bikes to find you the best road bikes. Here is the list of the top 6 best entry-level road bikes prepared by our expert bike testers, which will improve your riding skills for next-level racing competitions.
Best Entry-Level Road Bikes
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
1  | Tommaso Imola Endurance | ||
2  | HILAND Daring | ||
3  | SAVADECK Warwinds 3.0 | ||
4  | Schwinn Fastback | ||
5  | Ecarpat Bicicleta | ||
6  | HEAD PAVA |
1. Tommaso Imola Endurance Bike
Features:
- 6061A Super-Light Aluminum Frame
- Shimano 24-Speed Claris Drivetrain
- WTB Pressure Relief Padded Saddle
- Advance Linear Pull Alloy Rim Brakes
- 700 x 25c Fast Rolling Anti-Slip Tires
- Corsa TC20 Wheels With 20mm Depth
- 6-Sizes For 4’9” to 6’5” Tall Riders
The Tommaso Imola Endurance Road Bike with Shimano Claris R2000 24-speed drivetrain and 700c fast-rolling tires is affordable and top-performing for new riders. This model is built around a 6061A super-light aluminum frame using vibration-damping technology to deliver speed, performance, and a smooth ride.
This bike has a WTB Volt saddle optimized with a pressure relief zone, an ultracompact handlebar to reduce hand pressure, Corsa fast-rolling wheels, and advanced caliper brakes. Tommaso gives a lifetime frame warranty and a 2-year warranty on Shimano parts.
During assembling, we noticed that its frame design is fully customizable to attach almost all types of fenders, rear racks, and other cycling accessories for your ease. In addition, Tommaso offers 3-colors and 6-sizes in this model to facilitate almost all riders ranging from 4’9″ to 6’5″.
2. HILAND Daring Road Bike
Features:
- 6061 Lightweight Aluminum Frame
- Shimano 14-Speed Tourney Shifter
- Front & Rear Alloy Caliper Brakes
- Comfortable Handle & Sports Seat
- Double Wall Aluminum Alloy Rims
- 700 x 25c Low-Resistance Tires
Consider the Hiland Daring bicycle if your budget is limited and you want an ultra-light aluminum road bike. It has a complete internal cable routing design for wind-breaking performance. We purchased it for testing for $319.
This bike has a full Shimano 14-speed tourney shifter, providing quick and seamless gear shifting in emergencies. Its double-walled aluminum rims and dual-caliper brakes give you extraordinary control over bike speed.
The negative points of this bike are that the quality of the provided plastic pedals is just enough, and the sports seat is not comfortable for heavy riders. However, this is one of the lightest entry-level road bikes, weighing only 27 pounds. Hiland offers two sizes in this model for 5’6″ to 6’4″ tall riders.
3. SAVADECK Warwinds 3.0 Road Bike
Features:
- T800 Carbon Fiber Frame & Fork
- Shimano Sora 18-Speed Groupset
- Aerodynamic Seat Post & Seat Tube
- Aluminum Alloy Tapered Handlebars
- 6061 Double Aluminum Alloy Wheelset
- 700 x 25c Continental Ultra Sports Tires
Savadeck Windward 3.0 is the best match for those who love full-speed cycling and want a fully aerodynamic road bike. This bike is manufactured around a carbon fiber frame, fork, and seat tube, which is five times harder than aluminum.
This bicycle is equipped with an advanced Shimano Sora 18-speed groupset, which is very easy to use and provides accurate gear shifting. Its lightweight aluminum handlebars and fully internal cable routing provide wind-breaking rides to quickly get fast speed.
One thing we noticed during the testing was that its double aluminum wheelset and 700c Continental ultra sports tires are excellent for flat racing roads but not suitable for downhill trails and its weight is only 20 pounds.
4. Schwinn Fastback Performance Road Bike
Features:
- Triple Butted Aluminum Alloy Frame
- Full Shimano 16-Speed Claris Shifter
- Racing Saddle & Performance Handle
- Aluminum Fork With Aluminum Steerer
- Promax Aluminum Alloy Caliper Brakes
- Alex Brand Double-Wall Racing Wheels
- 700 x 25c Wear-Resistant Grippy Tires
The Schwinn Fastback Road Bike is an ideal deal for beginners to intermediate riders. This bike is built around a triple-butted aluminum frame and aluminum fork to make it the lightest, fastest, and easiest-to-handle.
Schwinn uses a Full Shimano 16-speed groupset consisting of a Shimano Claris drivetrain, Sunrace 34T cassette, 34T compact cranks, and a Shimano Claris shifter to give fast, smooth, and accurate gear shifting. Its Alex double-wall aluminum rims, Promax aluminum caliper brakes, racing saddle, and 700 x 25c sports tires are specially designed for entry-level riders.
During gear shifter testing, we noticed that the gears rattle a bit at higher speeds, but they shift nicely and smoothly. Schwinn offers six different sizes in this model to accommodate riders from 4’11” to 6’4″.
5. Ecarpat Bicicleta Road Bike
Features:
- Rust-Proof Aluminum Frame & Fork
- Full Shimano 14-Speed Thumb Shifter
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Adjustable Sports Seat in All-Directions
- Quick-Release Front Alloy Wheel
- 700 x 32c Multi-Terain Sports Tires
The Ecarpat Bicicleta Road Bike is the best match for racers who want to do a lot of practice in rainy weather or on wet roads. The company provided fully hidden cable routing in a wind-breaking aluminum alloy frame to make it lighter and more aerodynamic for fast rides.
The speed control system consists of a Shimano 14-speed thumb shifter and dual mechanical disc brakes, which provide full control in every riding situation and allow for an unforgettable riding experience. Our testers appreciate its 700 x 32c multi-terrain tires, which give excellent grip on bumps, roots, and other rough roads.
Another interesting feature that we appreciate is its quick-release front wheel for easy storage or puncture repair. These double-wall alloy wheels have less rolling resistance and require less energy to achieve a fast speed. You will get an 85% pre-assembled bike along with assembly tools.
6. HEAD PAVA Entry-Level Road Bike
Features:
- Rust-Proof Aluminum Alloy Frame
- Super-Light Carbon Fiber Front Fork
- Full 22-Speed R9 Shifting Groupset
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Performance Racing Saddle & Handle
- Anti-Slip Pedals & Fast Rolling Tires
- Endurance-Oriented Alloy Wheels
The Head Pava is one of our favorite entry-level road bikes. It features compact 2x cranks and an 11-speed rear derailleur to make an excellent combination of a 22-speed gear shifting system. Due to its comfortable geometry, you will never feel any pain or stress after riding it all day.
This model is built around a lightweight, rust-proof aluminum frame and ultra-light carbon fiber fork to make it lighter, aerodynamic, and fast. Its dual aluminum disc brakes are also very sensitive to sudden stops in any emergency situation.
The slightly more upright riding position and longer wheelbase provide excellent stability even at fast speeds. Head offers three sizes in this model to accommodate 5’8″ to 6’4″ tall riders, which means this bicycle is unsuitable for short-height riders. Overall, we found it reliable and perfect for entry-level racers.
Specifications of Best Entry-Level Road Bikes:
An important mistake that many beginners make when choosing and buying entry-level road bikes is that they think expensive bikes costing more than $2000 can fulfill their needs. These bikes are certainly good, but not everybody can afford such expensive models.
Here is a short guide for beginners who want to know the main specifications of an endurance road bike to consider for their racing practice. We recommend you use the main points of this buying guide as a checklist before buying. Following is the list of specifications of the best entry-level road bikes for starters.
Frame Material: Lighter, faster. Never Buy a steel-frame bike; they are heavy and will not give you fast speed. We always suggest aluminum alloy frames for entry-level road bikes. It would be much better if you found a fully carbon fiber frame bike, which is five times harder and lighter than aluminum frame bikes. For example, the SAVADECK Warwinds 3.0 that we have discussed above is outstanding, efficient, and comfortable.
Geometry: Many types of bike geometries and frame designs are available in the market. We prefer a slim wind-breaking frame geometry with a height-adjustable seat and handlebar to keep it simple. Because every rider has a different body shape and cycling needs from another.
Shifter: Shimano is the king and a leading brand that provides outstanding gear shifters and drivetrain bicycle groupsets. A majority of famous cycling brands use the Shimano shifting system. No matter how many gears are provided, they should be from Shimano.
Handlebar & Seat: Almost all the above-recommended entry-level road bikes have lightweight aero handlebars and slim and breathable sports seats. Never go with a heavily padded seat and flat handlebar because both will badly affect your riding speed.
Brakes: Although disc brakes provide excellent stopping power even in rain, we mostly prefer caliper brakes for entry-level racing road bikes to keep the bike lightweight and fast.
Wheels: Always choose lightweight, double-wall aluminum wheels that allow fast rolling and easy-to-start rides. These aluminum wheels require less energy to start and, in return, provide maximum speed.
Tires: We prefer 700 x 25c slim sports tires because they have low rolling resistance and move faster than any other type. However, if you want to ride these bikes for normal commuting, you can go with 700 x 32c grippy tires.
Why You Should Trust Us:
We have a team of experienced pro-bike racers who have participated in and won many endurance racing competitions over the past twenty years. They actively participate in the complete review process, from market research to purchasing a bicycle for testing.
For this comparison review, we researched the online cycling marketplaces and purchased 13 fully aerodynamic road bikes, ranging in price from $300 to $1000, for testing. Our testers regularly spend more than 40 hours a week testing bicycles and giving their reviews on performance and quality.
They continuously take more than 25 test rides on each road bike model on racing tracks of the Mount Tamalpais cycling route, a peak in California, and use the most aggressive riding styles to evaluate the quality of provided specifications.
How We Tested Entry-Level Road Bikes:
We have tested all the above bikes and are fully satisfied that these affordable entry-level road bikes will give you great value for the money without breaking the bank. Before testing, we physically check each bike’s weight, frame size, wind-breaking geometry, and maximum weight limit.
We deeply check the performance of each component, such as brake response, handlebar grip, smoothness of gear shifting system, seat quality, the material used in the bike frame, wheel size, and tire grip on different road surfaces.
During testing, our testers adapt many types of riding styles, including sudden brakes, changing shifters at fast speeds, quickly moving the bike from flat road to rough unpaved surface, and much more, to check the strength and handling of these bikes.
After testing, our reviewers meet with each other, analyze the findings, and calculate the rating metrics to give a ranking and declare the winner of the Best entry-level road bikes for starters.
Our Rating Criteria:
Our testing and rating metrics for the best entry-level road bikes are divided into the following ranking criteria. You can use these points as a checklist to decide which bike is best for you.
- Bike Weight ( Separate Frame Weight + Component Weight)
- Frame Geometry (Material + Wind-Proof Design)
- Maximum Speed Limit (No of Gears + Shifter Quality)
- Upright Riding Positions ( Seat + Handlebar Position)
- Speed Control Features ( Response of Provided Brakes)
- Price Point ( Specifications + Additional Extras)
The most important factors to consider for any racing bike best for entry-level riders are frame geometry, handlebar design, total bike weight, and shifter response, which account for about 50% of the total ranking metrics.
Our Testing Team Members:
At Best Bikes Lab, we have a team of professional cyclists and bike racers with over 10 years of experience in bike repair, testing, and coaching. They have tested more than 560 bicycles and up to 2600 cycling products for our readers. Some of them still work at bike-repairing shops, while some have written useful guides for beginners and intermediate cyclists.
Stephon Batz is a senior editor for our road bikes review section and has ridden different types of bicycles since 2009. He has spent 15 years of his life participating in bike racing competitions and endurance gravel events since 2018. Many cycling event managers still invite Stephon to be the chief guest in their competitions. He has more than six years of excellent knowledge of bike assembling and repair.
Bart Summers is a staff writer for our road bike reviews and uses his years of cycling experience in content strategy. For this review, he actively participates in our market research and calculates rating metrics to finalize the ranking list of the best entry-level road bikes for starters. Bart also published a very useful cycling book, “50 Top Bike Racing Tips,” in which he shares his racing experience to teach excellent tips to help beginners win competitions.
Professional Tip For Beginners:
When it comes to buying an entry-level road bike, always make a checklist of the reasons behind your purchase, including road conditions, weather, wind speed in your area, and your inseam height. This will help you quickly find a bicycle that is suitable for your needs.
Affiliate Disclosure:
This post might contain affiliate links to recommended products that we have tested or are fully satisfied with regarding their quality and performance. Whenever you make a purchase through our provided links, we may receive a small commission from the manufacturer without any extra cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate marketing policy.
Conclusion:
Many newbies like you may get confused when choosing the correct and suitable entry-level bikes because there is a wide range of cycling brands that offer performance bicycles. But always keep in mind that every bike is not meant for speed. Some are built for normal casual rides on city streets, while some models are specially designed for wind-breaking fast rides.
Choosing the right aerodynamic frame design, advanced shifting system, and quick-responsive components requires some professional knowledge. Simply check out the specifications of endurance racing bikes that we discussed above and buy the best entry-level road bikes to start practicing a lot.
