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Post by bobcollege on Jul 30, 2013 17:24:46 GMT
I've had my T3 since February and to be honest it hasn't got the use I thought it would have. When I was looking for a road bike I was looking at bikes in the £700-900 bracket but like many saw the T3 review in the mags and people raving about it on the net so I thought if its as highly rated as it is then I will have to try it instead of spending the £500-600 for a similar specced bike. One thing I have noticed is that there are alot of people buying the T3 and immediately swapping parts for better quality equivalents. This leads me to think that maybe I should have spent the £700-900 for a better specced bike in the first place. Myself I hate the triple chainset, cant get it to run smooth no matter what and I hate the naff thumb shifters so I am swapping the whole lot out for a Tiagra groupset. My other bike is a specialized sirrus comp hybrid, I know its a totally different riding style but the whole drive train feels alot better. Gear shifts are quick and smooth with no chain rub on the front derailleur like my T3 and it makes the whole experience of riding it alot more enjoyable compared to the Triban I have everything apart from the Tiagra shifters sat waiting to be fitted to my T3, maybe when the work is complete then I may start to enjoy the bike a bit more than I am now. Im interested to know if anyone else still loves their T3 or wished they spent a little more for a better specced bike.
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Post by lowey on Jul 30, 2013 18:57:41 GMT
I bought my T3 in July last year (Happy Anniversary to me!) as a way of getting into Road Cycling. I'd just started getting out on my mountain bike and wanted to see if road cycling was for me. Not knowing much about road bikes or having much money, I was looking in places like Halfords at the TDF until I stumbled across 'The Review'. Yes I've spent money upgrading over the last year, first it was pedals and shoes, then the wheels (a necessity after trashing the stock wheels by not knowing about the hub issues). Then came the saddle and finally the Tiagra Triple chainset and SRAM cassette. Were the last upgrades necessary...no they weren't but they were inexpensive (to me) and I did the work myself so I've learnt something along the way Would I like a more expensive better spec'd bike...Yes. Do I think I made a mistake buying the T3 instead of a more expensive bike with better components...Definitely not. I would have been very annoyed if I'd spent £700-800 on a bike that sat in my shed and didn't get used if i'd found road cycling wasn't me. Eventually I'd like to upgrade and that's my plan for next year, but I'll definitely be keeping the T3 as a winter bike. And as a bonus the T3 came with this Forum A friendly place to discuss a shared interest and hell..I've even learnt a lot about bike maintenance which gave me the confidence to work on my bike rather than running to the nearest LBS.
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Post by stevo on Jul 30, 2013 19:16:13 GMT
Not at all. I have ridden my friends Trek 1.5 quite a bit with a tiagra compact and absolutely no way is there £550.00 difference in quality or performance. I honestly don't see a massive difference in the groupset - and I honestly enjoy the button shift. There is a massive amount of 'name' snobbery in bikes, but they are not massively complex machines and I really don't see how some of the prices are justified.
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Post by robertsims on Jul 30, 2013 19:33:22 GMT
Not a moment's regret from me. I have spent very little with just a set of spd pedals (already had mbt shoes and I commute so lots clipping in and out and walking) and charge spoon saddle. Also fitted new chain when original died. Total about £40 and I love it. Done 1500miles on stock wheels and tyres (tyres looking old now and will soon be replaced) after regreasing hubs. In terms of the thumb shifters I really like them. So easy to change when on hoods (where I spend 90% of my time) and when on drops it's usually down hill so in a top gear or so anyway and no need to change. Without over exaggerating my t3 has changed my life in terms of fitness, health, weight loss (2stone lighter now than xmas) and just sheer dam happiness!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 30, 2013 20:03:36 GMT
Mine is beautiful and fast - the upgrades are all cost effective ones my end I believe and done after breaking the back of earning them and knowing why I needed them; all upgrades have been done with purpose, as part of the journey and the timing of them has enhanced progression. Sometimes the problem is not the bike, it's about management of all the things that make you a holistic cyclist and much of this in the mind and body, in parallel with setting your steed up as well as possible to suit you, this doesn't need to be expensive though ... spend more on what you may perceive to be an improvement (perhaps believing the hype) and it won't necessarily make you ride any more often than you do now, if the base problem is motivation to get out there (perhaps it might get you going for a bit and if so then great?) but you might expound the feeling of disappointment by throwing big money at things in the longer game IMHO if it simply is a case of getting on with it . My philosophy is that you just need to get out and ride, avoid the excuses, get the bike fettled and set up as best possible to aid your mind set, which also means getting used to and accepting the foibles of a triple set up and dealing with any problems that come your way. I believe if you get the experience and miles under your belt, you should be able to pick gears with a feel for what combinations work - I reckon the engine and ECU is what needs the most work here though personally !? With some canny buying, my T3 (as it stands in this photo), cost £570 all inclusive, it weighs just over 9 kgs - in addition to this picture that was taken this morning, I've shortened the stem this afternoon, with the cast off from my lad's new T3a ... this was done for a net nothing cost really and my first impressions from just a quick jaunt down the lane and back are that there's more comfort, even if it's a little less 'race', it will allow the distances to go up as a compromise. Increased fitness and weight loss will outweigh any other issues, an example of a simple move that improves the fit, the stem would just sit gathering dust otherwise anyway. Mods: Sigma Computer Exustar Pedals Sora Chainset & BB - bundle from Merlin SRAM PG850 Chain and Cassette (11-28) Mavic Aksiums Conti Ultra Tyres Fizik Bar Tape Arte Selle Saddle Plastic 'cheap as chips' Cages Clarks Brake Blocks Look at the beauty of it , 2250+ kms and still going great; nay, I'd actually say improving with age, the epitame of refined cheap chic personified: Nothing against an expensive 'now' bike though ... although next year you'll need another one to keep up with that mullarkey !
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Post by martin122 on Jul 30, 2013 20:15:53 GMT
I had the T3 bought for me so all I have spent on it is new wheels,cassette,chain and new tyres.im very happy with the T3 and has made me a lot healthier and I feel so much better for it.i will change the chainset over the winter but that's about it unless anything breaks on on it. will look into getting 10speed and possible carbon the end of 2014, will always keep the T3 and so glad I have one, its a great value road bike. I always wanted a RED road bike as they are very quick
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 20:18:34 GMT
Not me. At the time I bought mine, if I'd have known the distances I'd be doing I might have thought twice about getting one. But I'm so glad I didn't. If I hadn't upgraded anything I would still be riding it. Yes I will upgrade to a "better" bike in the future but I will still keep the T3 .
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 21:24:15 GMT
I honestly don't think you could regret it for the price. I would ask you to look at the alternatives and there are very few in the price bracket. I cannot believe I actually considered buying a road bike from Tesco for £250. I thank the bike-fairy for making me see the light on that one!
My T3 is as stock as they come bar shorter stem and pedals. In fairness everything else others have upgraded are not necessities and it's been enhancements. Although I get slight chain rub in certain combinations, I can easily look past this for it being a triple and being able to replicate the gearing without any rubbing. So I can ride many miles on what I feel (but this being my first road bike), is a great frame.
Your next price bracket is £500 mark and again T5 is your best bet I would say. Otherwise you are going 700-900 mark and that's to much for a first attempt at road biking when you don't know if its a hobby to last.
If anything, Btwin/Decathlon must be congratulated for getting more of us into road cycling and making us enjoy it. I'm sure they don't make ridiculous amount on each bike but they have won hoards of new customers.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 21:45:47 GMT
I had my T3 and really liked it. I swapped to a T5a and now I really love it. Not been out as much as Id like cause of my stupid back, but each ride is fun ( bloomin painful saddle not withstanding!) I really wouldnt have spent any more money than I did and am yet to find a bike that stands up to it for looks and spec. I love the grey and blue of the 5a. Cycling plus review confirms this! I lust after beautiful Pinarello's and other carbon framed beauties but I cant think I'll ever be in a position to spend thousands on a bike so my faithful 5a is my weapon of choice. Now just need to get out more!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 30, 2013 21:49:06 GMT
I honestly don't think you could regret it for the price. I would ask you to look at the alternatives and there are very few in the price bracket. I cannot believe I actually considered buying a road bike from Tesco for £250. I thank the bike-fairy for making me see the light on that one! My T3 is as stock as they come bar shorter stem and pedals. In fairness everything else others have upgraded are not necessities and it's been enhancements. Although I get slight chain rub in certain combinations, I can easily look past this for it being a triple and being able to replicate the gearing without any rubbing. So I can ride many miles on what I feel (but this being my first road bike), is a great frame. Your next price bracket is £500 mark and again T5 is your best bet I would say. Otherwise you are going 700-900 mark and that's to much for a first attempt at road biking when you don't know if its a hobby to last. If anything, Btwin/Decathlon must be congratulated for getting more of us into road cycling and making us enjoy it. I'm sure they don't make ridiculous amount on each bike but they have won hoards of new customers. If we all went for what's essential only, we would just go round a relative's houses and borrow the old road bike rusting in the shed, it would make you just as fit, as long as you could get into the mind set to ride it often and regularly; this is a road bike of the moment, we are vaguely into performance here I think but at a reasonable price ... that boundary is movable of course and massively subjective. IMO though, you can make a T3 (or more easily a new T5) pretty spot on for your needs and get up there with the perceived added values of a £1500 bike quite easily, if you tweak and adjust the thing with nous and efficiency in a smart way for your own needs (like you get with a bike fit from a pricey shop) - that's half the battle. Perhaps only Davey on here IMO is able to do justice to 'more' bike, as money alone won't make the difference. I can only speak for published performances on here of course, as there are likely club riders and commuters with other bikes who don't publish data but if you're after a bike at 7.5 kgs and a compact crank etc., over the 9 - 10 kgs options that's available with the Triban variants but you don't ride much, then the easiest gain is losing 2.5 kilos or getting more powerful if you're already a light one. Jus' sayin' loike.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 22:04:32 GMT
I honestly don't think you could regret it for the price. I would ask you to look at the alternatives and there are very few in the price bracket. I cannot believe I actually considered buying a road bike from Tesco for £250. I thank the bike-fairy for making me see the light on that one! My T3 is as stock as they come bar shorter stem and pedals. In fairness everything else others have upgraded are not necessities and it's been enhancements. Although I get slight chain rub in certain combinations, I can easily look past this for it being a triple and being able to replicate the gearing without any rubbing. So I can ride many miles on what I feel (but this being my first road bike), is a great frame. Your next price bracket is £500 mark and again T5 is your best bet I would say. Otherwise you are going 700-900 mark and that's to much for a first attempt at road biking when you don't know if its a hobby to last. If anything, Btwin/Decathlon must be congratulated for getting more of us into road cycling and making us enjoy it. I'm sure they don't make ridiculous amount on each bike but they have won hoards of new customers. If we all went for what's essential only, we would just go round a relative's houses and borrow the old road bike rusting in the shed, it would make you just as fit, as long as you could get into the mind set to ride it often and regularly; this is a road bike of the moment, we are vaguely into performance here I think but at a reasonable price ... that boundary is movable of course and massively subjective. Rad, I am but a simple humble man...can I come around and borrow any rusting bikes in your shed?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 22:05:17 GMT
Actually knowing you, nothing in your shed would be rusty, especially a bike of yours lol
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 30, 2013 22:12:04 GMT
I didn't say in my shed , you should see the relatives! ...but don't jump to conclusions though, my shed is pretty rustic as well - we've got an industrial scale old chicken shed with too much construction junk in it ... one day it will be perfect .
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2013 22:15:22 GMT
...perfect as a bike workshop of course. Unless the misses or kids have dibs on it for something else!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 30, 2013 22:20:33 GMT
We've got too many projects going on, I tend to ride my bike rather than bother about it all too much - busman's holiday doing your own house when you've been sorting buildings and houses out 9 - 5.
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