Hiland Road Bike Aluminum Frame 700c Racing Bike with 14 Speeds Drivetrain

(Alliance of the Highlands, No. 1) In white, 0). So you're debating whether or not to spend $350. Aren't you going to spend $00 on a piece of garbage? No way, you're not going to do it. Instead, you'll get a fantastic bike for the money, so don't be surprised. a little background on myself br>br> Since I was nine years old, I've been cycling. Yrs 19- At the age of 23, I spent four years working as a mechanic and salesman in a bike shop while also training and competing in competitive cycling races. Since my early twenties, I've been competing in motocross on and off. I've been competing in open mountain bike races on and off for the past 15 years, and one of my 2016 races in the 35-plus category earned me first place. This is a 45-year-old group. br>br>At the moment, I own five bicycles, including this one. Two Orbea mountain bikes with hand-built frames, a Niner Pro cyclocross bike, an old Specialized Allez Comp road bike (on which I finally cracked the frame after 24 years of riding) and, of course, the Hiland Alliance 1. This bike's official name is 0 (short for zero). In the last 30 years or so, I've also owned a few other bikes. As a result, you can assume I've done a lot of bike reviews. Aside from my resume. . . br>br>I bought this bike with the intention of using it as a permanent attachment for my Cyclops trainer. I broke the downtube on my Specialized Allez Comp (rip) and needed a replacement as soon as possible, as the trainer is an essential part of my workout routine. I don't need another high-end road bike because I train on my Cyclocross because it gives me more route options and better flat protection, so I was just looking for something that could take a beating on my trainer and came across this one. Budget bikes have few options, so I took a chance on this one after considering several others in the 350 class. 00- 600 00 range (most likely the same ones you've been eyeing). br>br>Building this bike was a breeze for me because I have years of bike-building experience. After an hour of wrangling, it was fully assembled and adjusted. Take your bike to a bike shop and have it completed for you for a few dollars if you have no experience wrenching on a bike. There are a few minor adjustments that can be made to the shifting, brake pads/calipers, headset, and other components that will make riding much more enjoyable. Otherwise, it is, in fact, 85% pre- constructed in the manner specified br>br>However, there is no reason to give this bike a rating of less than four stars. It's a five-star bike for the money. br>br>Once again, this is the Hiland Alliance 1. The bike's true name is 0; I bought the 55cm size, which is in the middle of the road, and it weighs 26 pounds. 2 lbs with my own set of Time Atac clipless pedals (they add 1 pound to the bike, making it technically 25 lbs). Without the pedals, the weight is 2 lbs. This measurement was done on a digital scale. br>br>The front large chain ring is a 50T ring, which makes pedaling in the big gear a little easier than in the small gear. On high-end road bikes, this is a typical 53/54T big gear. I'd prefer it to be 53/54, but that's merely a wish. On my test ride, the brakes were off-brand clinchers that were surprisingly easy to adjust and quite strong; the wheels are machined surface with a groove, so there was no brake squeak, and the brakes were very quiet and strong. For off-brand brakes, this is quite impressive! To be honest, they feel like mid-range Shimano 105's. br>br>The front and rear derailleurs are Shimano, and they do the job. The thumb shifters on the bar allow for precise, quick, and smooth shifting (I've only used STI and down tube types before, so this was a pleasant surprise). It only took a few adjustments from an expert to get them just right. br>br>The frame and fork are both made of aluminum alloy, and the frame is extremely strong and thick. The stem (or "goose neck," as it was once known) and seat post are also made of aluminum alloy and feel just as solid. In the end, this isn't a flimsy bike; it's built to last, despite the fact that it's about 5 pounds heavier than a bike that costs $2,000. 00 bike in this size, but it's not noticeable when you accelerate; it's lightning fast! br>br>The frame is extremely rigid, transferring all of your power to the wheels. Surprisingly, despite the slack head tube angle, this bike handles extremely well; it's a great balance of corner stability and quick handling. I was completely taken aback when I found myself grinning and laughing because this bike is so much fun to ride and so stable! The price for performance is incredible! br>br>I bought it with the sole intention of being a slave to my trainer, but after my test ride, I would gladly use this bike as a road trainer. If you plan to ride it on the road, invest in some upgraded beefy Continental tires that are puncture resistant, rather than race tires, which will flat frequently. Purchase some 700/25c cross tires with tread on the sides and a slick center. There's plenty of room in the frame stays and fork for 700/28c tires, which I recommend. Tires with a larger diameter are more stable and resistant to punctures. br>br>Also, get some clipless pedals and shoes; don't scrimp and get toe clips, or use the flat plastic platform pedals that come with the bike. They're well worth the learning curve, and trust me when I say that you'll be glad you followed my advice. br>br>Use this bike as a road or indoor trainer, then upgrade to a race bike when you're ready to compete. For $350, don't expect a race bike. 00, but don't dismiss it completely. This bike is a lot of fun to ride; I was expecting a good trainer/beater bike but was pleasantly surprised. br>br>The exterior styling is also quite appealing; I purchased the white model (with very tasteful red/blue accents). It's unusual for me to get a white bike because all of my other bikes are black in some way. Nobody will be able to tell you're riding a $350 from afar. The wheels are very decent with aluminum hoops and hubs, although they are not sealed bearing hubs, so you'll need to grease them every now and then (I didn't realize they even made those anymore!). Thankfully, the hubs and bottom bracket/chain ring bolts were all tight to factory specs. For $50. br>br> 00- $75. 00 more I'd like to see an integrated STI shifter version of this bike, as well as one with a 54T front chain ring and sealed hubs, but as it stands, this is a great deal. Sure, it's not exotic, but if you want a fast and stable riding bike that's also bombproof and dependable, you won't be disappointed. The component selections are sound; they're all low-cost but provide a lot of bang for your buck. br>br>The majority of the negative reviews come from people who have no idea how to build or adjust a bike properly. If this bike had been poorly constructed, I would have gladly reported it here because I am not afraid to be blunt in my reviews. I've built hundreds of bikes in my time, so I know what I'm talking about. I'm not fooled by low-cost bicycles; I've seen them all! br>br>If you're looking for an affordable fun road bike that lives up to its price and then some, don't hesitate to get one in your size. After I wear down that rear tire on the trainer, I'll order some Continentals in 28c for this bike; no other upgrades are required. Don't waste money on upgrades; instead, save your money, train hard, and reward yourself with a much higher-end bike in a few years. Wise words of advice.

Kensley Young

| Jan 12, 2021

The directions were a complete disaster. The videos were instructive, but they left out instructions on how to complete the front break caliber hookup. A part for the front break calibers appeared to be missing as well. Hiland has yet to respond.

Khari Daugherty

| Aug 06, 2021

I took the bike to a shop to have it assembled in its original carton and received the following notice:br>br>It was missing a critical special screw assembly on the front brake that I was able to find in some used parts I havebr>Both wheels needed truing (straightening) because they were bent out of shapebr>The front derailleur was not installed correctly and I repaired thatbr>Both derailleurs needed adjustment to shift smoothlybr>Bothe brakes Remember that you may need to be skilled or pay for the adjustments if you want to assemble this yourself.

Harper Medina

| Aug 27, 2021

It's holding up for me at 6'3" and 225 pounds with an athletic build. I have no problems riding 20 mile treks. I made a few minor changes, such as switching to clipless pedals and changing the seat, but all of the other components are still in good working order. br>br>Excellent starter bike for those who want to try out the sport. Because the gear shifters aren't like those on most high-end road bikes, I'm sure it'll take some getting used to. This bike is great if you don't want to compete but still want to stay healthy. On 20-mile rides, I average around 14 mph, so you should be able to keep up. On a downhill, you might run out of gears, but I got up to 25 mph before I was concerned. br>br>I hope this review is useful to others who, like me, were looking for a starter bike to try things out.

Quentin Marshall

| Apr 06, 2021

Now that the bike is complete, I was able to obtain the missing component from a local bike shop (for free). rideable I've had a lot of fun with the bike so far. The bike was missing a part to connect the brakes, as was mentioned in other reviews. To obtain a part, I contacted customer service in China, who informed me that they did not have one. I'd have to go out and look for it myself. They said they'd reimburse me, so I gave them all of my personal information (which I don't believe they did). They then sent me an Amazon link to a different part of the book. said that this could work The bike appears to be in good condition, but my previous experience has made me wary of its quality.

Joelle Delaney

| Jul 28, 2021

It was simple to put together this product. Some people have expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the instructions are only available in German. In my box, there were both English and German instructions. It only took me 30 minutes to put it together. In terms of the ride, it's my first road bike, so there's nothing to compare it to; I've previously only ridden mountain bikes. I can tell the difference between them because I can see and feel the differences. This bike is lightweight and quick, and it comes at an unbeatable price. I've been riding for a few weeks and haven't had any issues thus far. I just got back from a 25-mile ride that went without a hitch. My riding companions paid three times as much, and this bike is just as good.

Nicole Andersen

| Dec 10, 2021