When it comes to getting a bargain, the secret is to do your research first to make sure you’re armed with the information required to find the right bike.

You need to ask yourself some serious questions. Questions like, what do you need compared to what you actually want? You might not be able to get what you want, even at sale time, but there’s a real possibility you can get what you need, which is a new higher spec bike than you’ve currently got, right?

Six essential considerations when buying a new road bike

Consider carefully what sort of bike you are looking for. Don’t be fooled into buying a time trial machine just because it’s heavily discounted if you’ve never ridden a TT. Do you need a bike with a race geometry or sportive geometry? Rim brakes or disc brakes? A bargain is only a bargain if you get the right bike.

Similarly, decide on the specification you want. Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo? Most importantly, how much you are prepared to spend? It can be all too easy to get drawn into spending more than you planned when you think you’re getting a deal. Remember, if you spend more than you can afford then it’s no longer a bargain.