If you’re a complete beginner when it comes to road bikes, you’re not alone! Many people need a better way to commute to work or school but have no clue where to start when looking for a sweet new ride. In this article, we look at 6 of the best beginner road bikes under $300. Some inexpensive cycles feature impressive components like disc brakes and internal cables, while others are simple and effective.
Who knew it was truly possible to get a fast, durable, and comfortable bicycle on a budget of only $300? Sounds great, right? We’ll dive deep into some potential issues with each bike and what reviewers are saying about them. Specifications are meaningless if the bike is delivered broken! Without further ado, here are our favorite beginner road bikes under $300!
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Our Pick For The Best Beginner Road Bike Under $300
The Trinx Tempo 1.0 is the ideal road bike for a beginner. It features the best color schemes, solid specifications, and is sized for a comfortable ride by practically anybody over 5’5’’. The aluminum and steel construction offer a perfect mix of performance and affordability.
Best Road Bikes Under $300 Overview
Image | Model | Features | Price |
 | Vilano R2 Commuter |
| |
 | Hiland Road Commuter |
| |
 | Max4Out Road Bike |
| |
 | Trinx TEMPO 1.0 |
| |
 | Eurobike XC560 |
| |
 | AVASTA Single-Speed Urban Commuter |
|
Vilano R2 Commuter
To start our list of the best beginner road bikes under $300 is the Vilano R2. Riding this bike may take a lot of gear shifting, but with that responsibility comes great power. The narrow tires make it a great candidate for speed and performance, but 25 mm tires are far from rare among the bikes on this list. It will do the trick as an entry-level commuter bike for smooth roads and basic dirt trail riding.
If you plan to use the bike for endurance rides, we recommend changing the seat to a more comfortable saddle and taking it to a bike shop to ensure it’s sturdy and balanced. Aside from that, it has excellent bones, and most of its components will last a while. Overall, a great road bike for somebody who needs something cool to ride to work.
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 3×7-Speed Gearset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- This bike provides excellent value for the money.
- With a few upgrades, this can become a reliable commuter bike!
Pros
Cons
Hiland Road Commuter
The Hiland Road Commuter is very similar to the Vilano R2. The main differences are that this bike offers fewer gears, has a heavier frame, and is not rated as highly.
While this bike still offers decent value for money, it’s entirely possible you will discover damage or issues with the assembly. Namely, the instructions given reportedly do not always match the bike sent. This can be frustrating and has led customers to file down the seat tube to get the seat to fit. However, if you know a thing or two about assembling bikes, this one should be a lot easier to put together, like the Vilano R2. It’s a good frame that may require upgrades and professional maintenance to become a great bike. However, this bike does better at accommodating riders of many heights.
Other versions of Hiland … Top 7 Hiland Road Bikes Review
Key Features
- Steel Frame and Fork
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 2×7-Speed Gearset
- Caliper Brakes
- 14-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- Offers flexibility in potential rider heights from 5’2” to over 6’0”
- It has excellent and easily visible color choices, offering black, blue, silver, yellow, black & yellow, and silver & blue.
Pros
Cons
Max4Out Road Bike
A distinct entry on this list, the Outroad brand or Max4Out brand road bike, has some exciting features. Firstly, it comes in 14-speed or 21-speed variants. However, this isn’t the strangest part of the bike. It comes in four colors, two of which come with disc brakes, and the other comes with caliper brakes. This is unconventional but allows the single-bike model to offer a wide range of options. Advanced braking and a higher number of speeds are more efficient. However, for riders who dislike the 3-spoke variants, the caliper brakes will have to do.
This bike is among the cheapest on this list and offers some of the best specs, making it an excellent choice for those who understand what decisions to make. It also fits a somewhat extensive height range from 5’3” to 5’10”.
Key Features
- Aluminum Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 2×7 or 3×7-Speed Gearset
- Mechanical Disc Brakes / Caliper Rim Brakes
Why we liked it
- It comfortably rides anyone from 5’3’’ to 5’10’’.
- There is great versatility in color and speed options.
- It’s uncommon for a bike this inexpensive to offer disc brakes.
Pros
Cons
Trinx TEMPO 1.0
The Trinx Tempo is chock full of fantastic features and excellent qualities. If you can get past hard-to-reach trigger shifters and a few popped tubes, it checks a lot of boxes for newbie riders.
The aluminum frame and steel fork offer corrosion resistance, and the initial setup is straightforward with a video guide. Its solid construction and robust functionality are also highlighted by the fantastic color choices Trinx has chosen for the product. A green and black color scheme is as shocking and acidic as electrically charged poison, while the blue and white option promises to wash you out to shore for a soft beach nap. It may not be as many choices as other models, but the color schemes are much bolder and more attractive. This bike would be ideal for anybody over 5’5” who wants the coolest yet still budget-friendly and functional road bike.
Key Features
- Aluminum Frame and Steel Fork
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 3×7-Speed Gearset
- Caliper Rim Brakes
- 14-28T Cassette
Why we liked it
- The bike is designed for practically anyone over 5’5” to ride it comfortably.
- The seller will provide a surprisingly comfortable seat.
Pros
Cons
Eurobike XC560
The Eurobike XC560 offers many of the same features as the Hiland Road Commuter. That said, a rigid suspension, solid frame, and 21 speeds are more than you need to start riding a road bike.
The color choices offered for this model are good, and it has internal cables, giving it a sleek appearance and good aerodynamic performance. However, this bike is only a good fit for taller riders, about 5’8” and taller. Also, it has only a handful of product reviews and has the worst Amazon rating of any bike on this list. Likely, there haven’t been enough customers from the seller to give it a meaningful reputation. This bike offers one of the most comfortable seats and a great specification sheet for the price.
Key Features
- Steel Frameset
- 700 x 25C Tires
- 3×7-Speed Gearset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- It checks a lot of boxes for novice riders, a narrow seat, cool colors, and solid durability.
- It has an ultra-aggressive riding position, even more so than other road bikes at this price point.
Pros
Cons
AVASTA Single-Speed Urban Commuter
The AVASTA Single-Speed bike is the most unique road bike on this list. It has only a single rear gear, no gear shifting, and no derailleurs. The simplicity of not having to change gears makes this bike an excellent choice for kids. It would make for a great neighborhood bike, doing best on paved surfaces as opposed to dirt trails.
This lightweight bike allows you to ride free with a freewheel configuration, where you can coast without pedaling. However, you can also ride it in ‘fixie mode.’ Fixie means the pedals must rotate for the rear wheel to rotate and vice versa. This can be dangerous going downhill because if you let your feet off the pedals, it’s hard to find an opportunity to get them back on without hitting your shins. It features a flat handlebar with easily accessible hand brakes and would be a quick and responsive city bike, safe for kids (as much as a bike can be), assuming it’s in freewheel mode or ridden only on flat roads.
Key Features
- Steel Frame and fork
- 700 x 25C Tires
- Single-Speed Gearset
- Caliper Brakes
Why we liked it
- You can ride this bike freewheel or fixie-style.
- The simplicity and customization of the bike make it a great choice for basic cycling.
- This bike has sizes for riders from 4’10” to 6’6”, meaning practically anybody can fit on the bike.
Pros
Cons
Buyers Guide: How To Select The Best Beginner Road Bike Under 300:
Frame Materials
Bikes in this price range will almost always come with steel or aluminum frames and forks. Steel is a bit heavier and cheaper, while aluminum offers more corrosion resistance and lighter weight. However, it won’t make as much of a difference as you probably think.
Stainless steel frames will be tough to corrode, and they’re also much closer in weight to aluminum than commonly assumed. This shouldn’t be your primary focus when choosing a road bike, but aluminum is typically a better frame material for all intents and purposes.
Handlebars (Flat Bar vs. Drop Bar)
It’s uncommon for a road bike that isn’t a hybrid bike to come with a flat handlebar, but one such bike is on this list, the AVASTA Single-Speed. It’s primarily down to preference which handlebar style is better, but the drop bar is more versatile and allows you to ride in a more aggressive position. You can grip it at the center like a flat bar and sit more upright, or you can lean over and access the brakes from a second position to ride faster.
Overall you should consider the drop bar the preferred road bike handlebar style unless you have a strong preference against them.
Shifters and Gears
Having a multi-speed gearing system may be intimidating for someone with minimal experience riding a bike. The simplicity of a single-speed or ‘fixie’ bike may be very attractive to you as a first-time cyclist. However, we recommend you eventually get a bike with multi-speed gearing because it’s a much more versatile system. You can control how much of your leg power you put toward speed vs. torque. This will allow you to go faster when going downhill or on flat ground and make it easier to pedal while going uphill or on a rough patch.
It may be hard to get used to, but generally, the more speeds your bike has, the more control you have over your power output.
FAQs About Best Road Bikes Under $300:
Are cheap road bikes any good?
Many people think that because a bike costs only $180 or $200 that it must not be any good. Indeed, they aren’t as effective as multiple thousand-dollar bikes, but that should be obvious. Unless you are unlucky or purchase a bike from a seller with lousy customer service, you’re reasonably likely to get a bike you can ride for a few hundred miles right after assembly. You might need a replacement bike or part due to rough shipping handlers. You may also need to visit a bike shop to fix or adjust your bike.
Nonetheless, if it’s your first time riding a road bike, or a bicycle in general, starting cheaper is not a bad idea before you know whether or not you like to ride it.
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How many gears should a road bike have?
An excellent choice for somebody utterly unfamiliar with gear shifting and unwilling to learn would be the AVASTA Single-Speed. It offers superior control and performance at a lightweight and cheap price point. The simplicity of its gear system also makes it very easy to hop on and get started. However, many other road bikes feature 14, 16, 20, 21, or 22 speeds, which offer increasing levels of flexibility for the rider to convert their pedaling power into speed or torque.
There is no correct number of gears for a bike, but the number on the bike you choose should be based on your own experience and comfort level.
How do I choose the right size road bike?
The best way to ensure you don’t get a road bike that will be too small or too big is to check the sizing of that particular bike model. Not all bikes are made the same, and while one cycle may claim that people as short as 5’1” should ride their 50 cm framed bike, another bike may limit their recommendation to 5’4” for their 49 cm frame.
It’s all down to what the bike company recommends and what buyers are saying about the bike. Double-check the sizing for whatever model you’re considering purchasing and ensure the size you buy is recommended for riders at your height. If you’re unsure, look at bike reviews or ask on the seller’s page.
Explore the best-reviewed bikes for every price point from $200 to $20,000 … Best Road Bikes In 2023
Conclusion
While the AVASTA Single-Speed offers amazing simplicity and minimalism, and the Max4Out brand road bike is stylish and high-performance, there is one clear winner for the best beginner road bike under $300. That bike is the Trinx TEMPO 1.0! The Trinx TEMPO offers the best color choices, barely beating out the Max4Out color schemes. Also, with a great range of potential riders and an impressively comfortable seat, it’s ready to go upon assembly! Like any bike at this price point, taking it to a professional for adjustment and replacing a few parts will get you a lot further. However, this bike does not need such things and has excellent entry-level specifications and a simple assembly process!
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