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Post by Fordaz on Jul 26, 2013 9:45:40 GMT
Hi guys!
First of all, sorry if this is in the wrong place, but this seemed like the most likely place for my question.
I'm in the market for a Road Bike, been riding my hard-tail MTB on the road for too long and it's time I got something more appropriate.
I've been looking at the Red Triban 3 (which everyone seems to be raving about), but naturally it's proving almost impossible to source one in my size (60cm).
I went to Decathlon in Sheffield to ask if they'd get any more stock in, and was told that there's no chance of me getting one this summer, unless I'm willing to travel to Belfast, which is a bummer.
The guy in the store (nice guy he was too), suggested the new White 3a instead, insisting that the Microshift shifters are "just as good" as the Shimano 2300's, and the steel forks are "ok", but obviously a bit heavier than the Carbon 3's.
My question is this; Does anyone own the White 3a? I've read various forum posts saying the 3a is "garbage", "not worth it" etc etc, but from what I can tell none of these people slating it have actually ridden it.
Does anyone have experience with Microshift parts? As far as I can understand the running gear is the same between the new and old bikes, only the shifters are different.
I can't afford the difference to the Black 5a (well I can, but the wife won't let me spend it), so it's really only a case of the White 3a or waiting until I can source a Red 3 from eBay or something.
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Post by stevo on Jul 26, 2013 9:50:23 GMT
I'm sure the Microshift gears are just as good, otherwise, apart from the forks, it is pretty much the same bike. It is still good value, just that the red one was/is ridiculously good value. You may want to check out the Carrera TDF at Halfords, which is on sale at the moment for £249.00. At that price, it is worth a punt.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 26, 2013 10:12:16 GMT
Bought one for my lad yesterday, no issues with it, if he rides it twice a week and makes it to Christmas without crashing then I may buy him new wheels and carbon forks. Shifters appear fine to me, chainset is pants but will also be upgraded when he's sussed gear changes and selection. Lifetime warranty, great service, good community of users - it'll give you a good start and with tlc won't be too shabby. When he / you / anyone can do 50kms at pace, then he / you / anyone may have surpassed it (maybe not as it's fit for purpose), until then it's ego over ability though IMO.
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Post by captslog on Jul 26, 2013 10:23:42 GMT
How does the new 5 compare?
It looks quite nice 'on paper' having a few of the upgrades which we tended to apply to the old Red3 such as a Sora chain wheel (if that's included in the 'drive train'?) and the nicer paddle shifters.
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panda
Domestique
Posts: 395
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Post by panda on Jul 26, 2013 10:52:37 GMT
Bought one for my lad yesterday, no issues with it, if he rides it twice a week and makes it to Christmas without crashing then I may buy him new wheels and carbon forks. Shifters appear fine to me, chainset is pants but will also be upgraded when he's sussed gear changes and selection. Lifetime warranty, great service, good community of users - it'll give you a good start and with tlc won't be too shabby. When he / you / anyone can do 50kms at pace, then he / you / anyone may have surpassed it (maybe not as it's fit for purpose), until then it's ego over ability though IMO. Hi Rad, Great news that you got the T3A for your son, how is he doing? My 10 year old has had her T3A for a few months now and rides with the 'ladies', but they are close to ejecting her as she is too fast . She rode her first Sportive with me last Saturday, only 30K (a Mini one, with lots of climbs), but she averaged 22kph, which the organisers were very impressed with. As for the quality of the T3A, I am very happy with it. The shifters are great, probably better than the base schimano. I have had problems with the front derailleur and after messing around trying to improve the shifting I gave up and took it to halfords as they were closest and it needed sorting for the Sportive. The guy immediately put it on the stand, stripped the derailleur down and re-set everything up in 10 mins. I asked how much and he said no charge, but told my daughter to drink plenty on her ride and put suncream on! Good advice. Overall, very happy with the T3A, 45cm very good fit for my daughter. Should we have a junior section? P.
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Post by cbrdeano on Jul 26, 2013 10:53:41 GMT
How does the new 5 compare? It looks quite nice 'on paper' having a few of the upgrades which we tended to apply to the old Red3 such as a Sora chain wheel (if that's included in the 'drive train'?) and the nicer paddle shifters. If I was buying now - My money would go on the 5a. It seems to be everything the RED T3 was but with the basic upgrades we all seem to be doing.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 26, 2013 10:58:30 GMT
That's the advice I gave fredscuttle deano - the T3a is fine as a starter or pootling bike but if you're all grown up and there's any hint you'll get a bit serious, then I too would buy the T5a now.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 26, 2013 11:04:21 GMT
Bought one for my lad yesterday, no issues with it, if he rides it twice a week and makes it to Christmas without crashing then I may buy him new wheels and carbon forks. Shifters appear fine to me, chainset is pants but will also be upgraded when he's sussed gear changes and selection. Lifetime warranty, great service, good community of users - it'll give you a good start and with tlc won't be too shabby. When he / you / anyone can do 50kms at pace, then he / you / anyone may have surpassed it (maybe not as it's fit for purpose), until then it's ego over ability though IMO. Hi Rad, Great news that you got the T3A for your son, how is he doing? My 10 year old has had her T3A for a few months now and rides with the 'ladies', but they are close to ejecting her as she is too fast . She rode her first Sportive with me last Saturday, only 30K (a Mini one, with lots of climbs), but she averaged 22kph, which the organisers were very impressed with. As for the quality of the T3A, I am very happy with it. The shifters are great, probably better than the base schimano. I have had problems with the front derailleur and after messing around trying to improve the shifting I gave up and took it to halfords as they were closest and it needed sorting for the Sportive. The guy immediately put it on the stand, stripped the derailleur down and re-set everything up in 10 mins. I asked how much and he said no charge, but told my daughter to drink plenty on hew ride and put suncream on! Good advice. Overall, very happy with the T3A, 45cm very good fit for my daughter. Should we have a junior section? P. He's only just on the mark for the size, so early days, trying to source him a really short freeride MTB stem to bring the bars in closer for him. It's only been ridden round the garden so far. We'll be out later. Re junior section - if we get enough they could start a thread but I think the general ethos on here is no-one is sectioned off, all part of the relaxed thang that is going on at 'TOC' .
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Post by stevo on Jul 26, 2013 11:05:15 GMT
I'm not sure that I agree the sora upgrade on the 5 is worth the extra money. If I was considering spending a bit more, I would go for the 7, which has the Tiagra 10 groupset, which does make a difference imo.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 26, 2013 11:08:22 GMT
Yep but you need to be up to riding a compact - getting up to the Cotswolds and in Wales I'm on 18% - 25% hills at times.
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Post by stevo on Jul 26, 2013 11:46:52 GMT
Yep but you need to be up to riding a compact - getting up to the Cotswolds and in Wales I'm on 18% - 25% hills at times. Yep, that's why i'm sticking with the 'old man' triple. :-) and I run Marathons as well......................albeit about as slowly as I ride the bike! ;-)
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Post by captslog on Jul 26, 2013 11:51:45 GMT
Sorry, I'm a bit confused.
Is the 5A the 'new 5"? If I look on the decathlon website I can't find a 5A, is the 'A' something which we're putting on?
The Old white 5 used to cost about £500, and it had carbon chainstays as well as carbon forks, the New5 is black and I believe is the same frame as the old Reds.
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Post by stevo on Jul 26, 2013 11:56:09 GMT
Sorry, I'm a bit confused. Is the 5A the 'new 5"? If I look on the decathlon website I can't find a 5A, is the 'A' something which we're putting on? The Old white 5 used to cost about £500, and it had carbon chainstays as well as carbon forks, the New5 is black and I believe is the same frame as the old Reds. Yes, it was the 5a when they actually sold the white 5! It is pretty much the same as the red 3 but with updated sora groupset. HTH?
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 26, 2013 15:23:24 GMT
Sorry, I'm a bit confused. Is the 5A the 'new 5"? If I look on the decathlon website I can't find a 5A, is the 'A' something which we're putting on? The Old white 5 used to cost about £500, and it had carbon chainstays as well as carbon forks, the New5 is black and I believe is the same frame as the old Reds. for the intitial fortnight they were on sale both the new 5 and the 7 were marketed as the 5a and 7a, they dropped it - IDKW
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2013 16:11:35 GMT
I have the T3a and it is fantastic. Weight wise it is the same as the red. The MICROshift components are genuinely impressive (though the levers feel a tad plastic at first).
I've ridden mine over 500 miles since May and was the ideal bike to make the move from MTB to road. At £300 it is just the right side of 'oh go on then' money.
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