Best cheap road bikes 2024

Our pick of the best cheap road bikes available and guide to how to choose

Male cyclist riding a cheap road bikes
(Image credit: Getty Images - Milos Bjelica)

The best cheap road bikes can offer you miles of smiles without costing the earth, even though some of the best road bikes can cost thousands. If you're starting out on your cycling journey, or looking for the best commuter bike, then you probably don't want to spend a fortune.

If there's one thing the bike trade loves, it's a bit of 'trickle down technology'. This simply means that features found on top end bikes will be available on mid-range models the next year, and eventually on cheap bikes. 

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Freelance writer

Luke Friend has worked as a writer, editor and copywriter for twenty five years. Across books, magazines and websites, he's covered a broad range of topics for a range of clients including Major League Baseball, the National Trust and the NHS. He has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and is a qualified bicycle mechanic. He has been a cycling enthusiast from an early age, partly due to watching the Tour de France on TV. He's a keen follower of bike racing to this day as well as a regular road and gravel rider.