Your first bike can cost anything from under a hundred dollars on TradeMe or FB to tens of thousands for a Pinarello Dogma F at KiwiVelo.
Track bikes can cost even more and that's before you get wheels, handlebars and everything else.
You'll get a lot of advice on bikes from the internet, YouTube, coaches, parents on the sidelines and other riders. Here are just a few key thoughts from our experience.
Get the right size
Some brands come is small/medium/large/xl sizing, while others have a cm size (based on the length of the top tube). A quick google will give you the right size based on your height and a particular bike model.
Don't ride the wrong size! It's uncomfortable, inefficient, likely to cause injury if not an accident.
If you a growing human, like Jona, consider buying second hand so you're not hesitating about upgrading every year or two.
Alloy or Carbon? Disc brakes or rim?
To the uninitiated road bikes don't look to different from 50 or even 100 years ago. Even in the past 10 years technology has advanced enough for there to be some trade-offs to consider.
Current top of the line bikes are made of carbon fibre. It's lighter than alloy and more rigid.
Newer road bike also have disc brakes instead of the traditional rim brakes, and on mid to high end bikes the gear shifting is done electronically.
If you're starting out, you should be able to get a decent alloy bike in your size with rim brakes and mechanical shifting for $100-250.
Only once you're out of the social grades or competing in under 15's + would this present a bit of a disadvantage. Then look for a carbon bike, you could get something under $1000 used or $4 - 5,000 new.
Above the u17 grade you might want a time trial bike too. These are designed so that you can ride fast in an aerodynamic position.
For track it's similar. You can start with alloy, which you can hire or buy for as little as $250.
Mountain bikes have a few more variables...
Where to buy
TradeMe is a good place to start to get a basic frame from someone in your neighbourhood.
The Bike Shelf group on Facebook is where you're find bikes and gear from serious riders.
There are lots of great bike stores around if you're shopping for new, and brands that sell direct online.
