Top 3 Best Beginner Road Bikes Under $300 – Buying Guide

Well, road bikes nowadays are one of the best partners in life and you can effortlessly go anywhere with them, but the problem is budget and for that reason, we have here the best beginner road bikes under $300.

With the advancement in technology and especially in the vehicle region, the road cycle prices have also increased, limiting the purchase for people looking for a fully functional two-wheeler to get going on outside adventure.

Comparing the budget-friendly bikes to some of the most expensive ones, you won’t find many differences, besides the fact that they represent a reputed brand or they represent the upper-class society.

So, we compiled this article to give you some of the best budget-friendly products without compensating for features, comfortable rides, and quality. Therefore, let’s hop right into the product reviews.

Comparison Table of Our Best Beginner Road Bike Under 300

Product	Brake	Weight	Speed Number	Weight	Price
Eurobike Store EURXC550	Eurobike Store EURXC550	Disc Brakes	Steel Frame	21	32	Check On Amazon
Vilano R2	Vilano R2	Caliper	Aluminum frame	21	27	Check On Amazon
Schwinn Kedzie	Schwinn Kedzie	Caliper	Steel Frame	1	31	Check On Amazon

1. Eurobike Road Bike XC550:

Well, our best pick is Eurobike Store EURXC550 and in comparison to other best beginner road bikes under 300, it has an overall versatile design with great functionalities like speed, size, weight, durability, and braking system that can’t be found in any other product.

It is specifically best for people who are a bit short on height, not that it doesn’t work for heightened people, but the size range available is optimal for shorter people who like to enjoy a country ride.

Our Research:

According to our research, the EURXC550 is the best product you can place your bet on if you are looking for a budget-friendly two-wheeler that can give you a stylish look and great features inside a single body.

First of all, the main thing about the product is its physical appearance, coming with the red and black all-around design that catches the attention of the public.

You will also notice that it has a sporty look to it, like the clearance is a bit balanced, the types are alloy rims with tri design and the handlebars are meant for comfortable sporty handling.

In comparison to the other products like Vilano R2 and Schwinn Kedzie, they are much simpler and lower in quality than the EURXC550.

Moving forward to the manufacturing side, it has durable steel manufacturing, which does make it a bit more heavy in comparison to other products we have on our list, but it also makes it much more durable.

To balance the weight, manufacturers went with a change in manufacturing, which results in the two-wheeler being only 31.5 pounds. Well, that does include the drawback of the product, but when comparing it with the overall features, the weight doesn’t matter that much.

On the performance side, the speed gear of the product is 21, also found in the Vilano R2, which provides you with a much better riding experience. It has 700c x 28-millimeter tires, giving better traction control on dirty or sandy plains.

Fascinatingly, you can use the tires on versatile planes, making it all-terrain usable. The Braking system of the product is also something to talk about, coming with the upgraded dual disc braking system that goes well with the tire and stops without slipping.

You might be wondering if the product is comfortable or not? Well, it has a really nice seat along with a handle, that gives you a proper riding posture for your road ride. Comparing it with Schwinn Kedzie, you will feel it to be well off for longer distances, while Kedzie is best for shorter urban rides.

You won’t have any problem riding it but on the other side, assembling is a bit of a problem and the tube is hard to find.

All in one, if you are looking for a versatile product on budget with a sporty design and durable built you cannot go wrong with the Eurobike and it also works flawlessly for shorter people, in case you are comparing it with other products.

2. Vilano R2 Commuter Aluminum Road Bike Shimano 21 Speed 700c:

Most Italian two-wheelers are not included in the budget-friendly range because of their price, but here we have Vilano R2 in our list of best beginner road bikes under 300. The reason for picking this product is its purpose, which is being a commuter cycle.

Besides being a commuter two-wheeler, you will find it to be less sporty and weighty in comparison to the EURXC550. It is relatively simple on the physical appearance, being perfect for your short city rides.

Good for people who want to get something lightweight and smooth, the Vilano comes with aluminum manufacturing, bringing you something that has the sweet spot between durability and weight.

On the other hand, the Aluminum is not the simple one, rather the 6061 double Aluminum frame, providing you effortless movement without worrying about strength. Here you can differentiate the Vilano from the EURXC550.

On the performance side, the product has much more to offer than just manufacturing and a lightweight design. Concerning its speed, it has 21 gear shifters and you can effortlessly change the gears because of the A050 thumb shifters.

There are quick-release wheels and pedals that make it much more reasonable for beginners, in case they have to change stuff on the bike. The same features are also available in the EURXC550, but they are a bit more comfortable in usability.

Moving forward to the braking system in performance, the two-wheeler has Caliper, which is where the product becomes a bit questionable. Yes, the Caliper braking style is not bad, but when comparing it with products like EURXC550 it feels a bit under featured. Yet, the Schwinn Kedzie has the same braking system.

All in one, if you are looking for a reasonable beginner bike that can give you a smooth, effortless and comfortable riding experience on budget, then the best bet is Vilano R2 Commuter.

3. Schwinn Single Speed Road Bike:

Thirdly, we have the Schwinn Kedzie Fixie, which is a rather simple product considering it is in our best beginner road bikes under 300 reviews. On a fair note, it is best for people looking to go for rides in urban areas or inter-city because of its responsiveness and reliability that no other product has.

Yes, on the physical appearance, the bike seems a bit too simple, like it has two simple frames and a simple handlebar that any other in the market has, yet the fascinating thing is that the manufacturers went with a color combination that makes it a type of flip flop hub.

The manufacturing of the design is done of steel and fork but the important thing here is that it is somewhat lightweight. In comparison to the Eurobike XC550, this product is much lighter. The durability is also very good but a bit lower when compared with the best pick. You won’t have any problems like denting, bending, or such.

So, you might ask, what special does it have in comparison to others? This product has a flip-flop hub, meaning you get to choose between a fixie or a single-speed ride. There is also the 46T by 18T single-speed drivetrain that makes the performance of the bike shine.

The wheels are 700c like the Eurobike XC550 and the Vilano R2 Commuter, meaning you can’t get wrong with a simple town ride as well as rough terrains.

Most importantly, this product has a height of around 34 inches on its standover, meaning the shorter people are going to have a problem riding it, and works best for people who are from 5.8 to around 6.5

The braking system is the same as the Vilano, Calipers are not the worst in the market, but they are surely not the greatest and when comparing them with the Eurobike XC550, they surely are not up to the task.

Lastly, the two-wheeler comes with alloy rear and front rims, and the seats, grips are Schwinn urban, meaning they are extra soft and comfortable to use. The fascinating thing about this product is that you get all this right under the mark of 200 dollars, instead of 300.

All in one, if you are looking for a simple two-wheeler that works in urban areas and you are most likely to spend the least on a road bike, then the Schwinn Kedzie is the right one to get.

Buying Guide For Beginner Bike Rider:

Not that we are over with our best beginner road bikes under 300, you might ask yourself, how to get the right one for my scenario? Well, here we have the buying guide of the article that deals with all the factors that you need to consider while making a fair purchase. So, let’s hop right into the buying guide of the article!

Your Requirements:

When you are getting a two-wheeler under the 300 dollar mark, you need to question yourself, what are your requirements? Are you in search of a product that has the most comfortability or something that has quite a lot of speed? Either the cycle will be for short routes or it is going to be for longer routes?

These questions are essential to ask yourself because the cycle comes with a specific purpose and that further affects the tires, the riding experience, and the design of the cycle.

For example, in our review, you can see that the Eurobike XC550 is something sporty and has a great shape to work around with a larger distance, while due to the design and the braking system, you won’t have a problem going downhill.

In comparison to that, the Vimano is meant for shorter city rides, meaning you won’t be good for longer distances and downhill rides, but it will surely be more agile and easy to move around than Eurobike.

Lastly, when comparing them with the Schwinn Kedzie, you can see that it works flawlessly for reliable urban rides. It is also not good for downhills or speedy rides, but it works for urban rides.

Manufacturing:

The materials used in manufacturing play a major role and you need to consider them before making a purchase. There are usually two materials usually found in budget-friendly products like Steel and Aluminum.

It is not a secret that Aluminum is much lighter than Steel but has also lower durability. So, either you are looking for a fast, agile and effortless to move around the cycle, then Aluminum plays its role. On the other hand, Steel is not going to get bumps, denting, and construction issues any time soon.

Features:

There are quite a lot of things you need to look for in a cycle like weight, shock absorption, height, ride experience, braking system, paddling, comfortability, and traction.

If you are a heightened person and you are looking for a cycle, you need to look for something that has more clearance and if you are a shorter person, then you need to look for something with shorter clearance.

The Weight of the cycle doesn’t matter if the cycle has good features like having disc brakes or even other upgraded braking systems found in Eurobike XC550.

Paddling and the comfort of the cycle are directly related to the seat of the cycle and the handle that comes with the cycle. Most of the sporty cycles come with a lean sitting posture but the simpler cycles come with straight bars.

It’s your choice which one is most suitable, but for shorter distances, the linear bar is the most optimal choice and if you are into a bit of speed, stunts, or distance rides, then the sport design works best.

Like we have here the XC550, which has a sporty design followed by Vilano, and the Kedzie has a much linear bar working best for shorter urban rides.

Shock absorption is directly related to the suspensions and the placement of shocks. Most cycles come with inter-frame suspensions or shocks on the front, mid, or rear of the cycle. Well, nowadays you will find all the cycles with good shock absorption, meaning they have good suspensions.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

What is the best road bike for beginners?

There are quite a lot of beginner road cycles, but the best amongst these beginner ones are those with good features, comfortable seats and handle budget-friendly pricing, and reasonable built quality. Considering this, the best beginner one is Eurobike EURXC550 followed by Marin Lombard.

How much should I spend on a beginner road bike?

You can find road cycles at various price points as they can even go to 2000 dollars. But, you don’t have to spend that much because in 300 dollars you can find decent beginner road cycles.

What bike should a beginner buy?

Every cycle has its specific purpose and beginners mostly, like to go for inter-city commutes, urban and road rides. Therefore, the beginners should go for road cycles followed by tandem cycles, fixed gear cycles, BMX cycles, and Hybrid cycles.

Are road bikes worth it?

Yes, they are totally worth it because you can catch speed quickly without even wasting much strength. In comparison to Hybrid or other types, road cycles are much more effortless.

Are road bikes hard to ride?

No, road cycles are one of the easiest ones to ride because of their effortless paddling and faster speed. They don’t go well for off-road rides but their comfortability, reliability, and riding experience are great on road.

Conclusion:

When you are going for small city rides, then road bikes are your best friend because you don’t have to paddle that much and comfortability is another factor to talk about. But, the problem with road cycles is that they come at some cheap prices and some really high prices as well, it’s hard to find the sweet spot in between. For this specific reason, we compiled this article on the best beginner road bikes under 300 followed by an amazing buying guide to get you started with your purchase.

Even still, if you are having difficulty making up your mind and want a recommendation from our end, then we will surely recommend the Eurobike EURXC550, because of its sporty design, its gearing system, its quality, its disc brakes and the comfortability it provides all inside the line of 300 dollars.