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Post by cocopops on Jul 30, 2013 22:27:59 GMT
I brought my T3 after reading the great write up. Had the bike for about 3 months now, not done as many miles on it as would have liked. The only things I have changed are the pedals and added a shorter stem.
love the bike would never get rid of her..However might buy a new Hybrid for winter riding?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 7:27:32 GMT
I bought mine in september last year after watching Wiggins win the tour last year, id never owned a road bike and only had a carrera mountain bike for any cycling experience. With a small budget it did take me a while to find the 'right' bike but then read the cycling active review where the T3 got 96% and decision was made. Even then I had to wait for stock in my nearest decca - wednesbury and from collecrion to today the bike has been excellent im still completely hooked and try to get out on it as often as possible. Admittedly the gears do need tweaking though this is something I enjoy doing, doesn't take long and feels very satisfying when you get it just so. Mine remains stock besides spd sl pedals, a whire saddle ( purely cosmetic) and a set of R501's and red rubino's (the original wheels died after over 1000 miles which I think is more down to me and too many regular power washes - lesson learnt! )
I still love it and enjoy every second in the saddle and if I had to choose between road and mountain biking I would give up the mountain bike in a heartbeat.
Here's to many more happy miles with my red T3.
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 31, 2013 8:07:42 GMT
I actually fell in love with the T5. Then Whitney came along (T7), it is a romance that has known no boundaries. No regret here. Initially Whitney set me back £600 plus £100 of other stuff on the day. It was £700 plus another £150 to get the Cube Peloton that I was also looking at - I just love the Cube design! but the T7 was a particular buy given the same specs.
Well since end of March my total spend is £1148. I never dreamt that I would have spent so much and I could have got the FC3 for £850 had I waited. Yet that doesn't upset me, on the contrary, my relationship with Whitney is worth a lot more in the "now" then what ever money was saved up for the future that just might not happen. NOW is the most important thing and we are having a great time! I have never lived has I am living now - most healthy, most fit (well since getting old!) and the most thrills. Yep I am a happy bunny with my Whitney. Off course if I where to win the FC on RiTMO then Whitney will have to share me, but that ain't coming from my pocket!
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Post by robjcold on Jul 31, 2013 8:55:14 GMT
Like many people here I bought my T3 at the end of last summer after Wiggo, the Olympics and the Cycling Active Review. I was looking for a low cost entry and the T3 certainly fitted the bill.
Three of my mates also bought road bikes at around the same time, a £900 Focus, a £700 Boardman, and a £500 Giant. All four bikes are still going strong, all four of us have bought clipless pedals, although I am the only one to have upgraded a number of other parts. All four bike are alloy frames / carbon forks, and the Focus was the only Tiagra (10 Speed) equiped bike. My T3 (originally) the Boardman and Giant are all Sora (8 Speed).
I never got on with the Sora thumb shifters, so earlier this year I upgraded to Tiagra (total cost around £200, although I have since sold the Sora brifters for £50, so I would claim this upgrade 'cost' me £150). The Boardman has been through a number of spokes, and I have upgraded my wheels for Fulcrum 5's (cost of £125). I've also replaced the saddle and bar tape (another £40). I guess I need to be careful not to go down the 'Trigger's Broom' (for those of you who remember Only Fools ...) scenario with the T3 only to find out it's no longer a T3, but I have no other changes planned at the moment.
So by my reckoning I'm now riding a bike that has cost me £615, which (forgetting the frame for a minute) is as at least good as the Focus, and better than both the Boardman & Giant. To be fair none of this really matters as I am more than happy with my T3, and my cycling mates are more than happy with their bikes.
Do I regret buying the T3 and wish I'd spent £600 up front ? No, when I bought the bike in all honesty I wasn't sure if I'd love cycling 1 year on, so it was a very low cost way in. For the first 8 months (with the exception of the pedals/shoes) it didn't cost me a penny above the original £300, and I probably covered 500 issue-free miles on it. Another 500 miles later and I still love it. The changes I have made have improved it, and I think the additional £315 has been well worth it.
Will I still be riding it in a couple of years ? I certainly aim to be.
Am I lighter, fitter, and healthier for buying it ? Certainly am.
Oh and I don't imagine there are Focus, Boardman, and Giant Forums that are a friendly and helpful as this one.
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 31, 2013 9:00:26 GMT
Like many people here I bought my T3 at the end of last summer after Wiggo, the Olympics and the Cycling Active Review. I was looking for a low cost entry and the T3 certainly fitted the bill. Three of my mates also bought road bikes at around the same time, a £900 Focus, a £700 Boardman, and a £500 Giant. All four bikes are still going strong, all four of us have bought clipless pedals, although I am the only one to have upgraded a number of other parts. All four bike are alloy frames / carbon forks, and the Focus was the only Tiagra (10 Speed) equiped bike. My T3 (originally) the Boardman and Giant are all Sora (8 Speed). I never got on with the Sora thumb shifters, so earlier this year I upgraded to Tiagra (total cost around £200, although I have since sold the Sora brifters for £50, so I would claim this upgrade 'cost' me £150). The Boardman has been through a number of spokes, and I have upgraded my wheels for Fulcrum 5's (cost of £125). I've also replaced the saddle and bar tape (another £40). I guess I need to be careful not to go down the 'Trigger's Broom' (for those of you who remember Only Fools ...) scenario with the T3 only to find out it's no longer a T3, but I have no other changes planned at the moment. So by my reckoning I'm now riding a bike that has cost me £615, which (forgetting the frame for a minute) is as at least good as the Focus, and better than both the Boardman & Giant. To be fair none of this really matters as I am more than happy with my T3, and my cycling mates are more than happy with their bikes. Do I regret buying the T3 and wish I'd spent £600 up front ? No, when I bought the bike in all honesty I wasn't sure if I'd love cycling 1 year on, so it was a very low cost way in. For the first 8 months (with the exception of the pedals/shoes) it didn't cost me a penny above the original £300, and I probably covered 500 issue-free miles on it. Another 500 miles later and I still love it. The changes I have made have improved it, and I think the additional £315 has been well worth it. Will I still be riding it in a couple of years ? I certainly aim to be. Am I lighter, fitter, and healthier for buying it ? Certainly am. Oh and I don't imagine there are Focus, Boardman, and Giant Forums that are a friendly and helpful as this one. Amen to that - another happy customer!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 9:11:35 GMT
Not one regret here on the t5a.....over a 1000 miles covered and I still smile as I'm swooping along a windy lane or flying down a hill.
In fact I often think "why would I need more".
Upgrades are inevitable for most people I think..... You can't help spending money on the one you love..... You want to treat her.
I've spent just shy of 250 on mine which still puts me at the same price bracket as the Felt I had my eye on... And there's no doubt I would have bought a similar amount of bling had a bought a £700 bike.
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Post by captslog on Jul 31, 2013 10:32:57 GMT
My T3 came about a week before my birthday in March, and other than a quick ride around the shop, I wasn't allowed on it until "the day". When the Day came, it came with rain for around a week, so I had two weeks with a pristine unridden bike, and time for doubts to set in
During that time I wondered if I'd made the right decision in what i'd bought, Mrs Slog was happy to go to the T5 at the time of purchase, but I thought it was too much to spend for something I might not carry on with (dope!). I was also uncertain about the carbon chainstays(?) in the T5 frame; carbon forks are easy to replace, they weren't! I was even unsure that I had the right size.
The first time I got to go out on the T3, it was a big disappointment. Badly set-up, bent chainrings etc. and struggling to make it ride nicely.
It took me a while to get used to it, and a while longer to get it all right.
Now I think it's a good bike for the money plus what I've spent since. Other than pedals, bag, lights etc. the only upgrades on there is the Sora Hollowtech2 crankset and the nicer tyres they fitted in the shop.
I'm certainly pleased with it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 10:39:07 GMT
When did you all buy your T3? And what was the trigger?
I ask because reading the majority of posts, people mention the cycling active review as the reason. I only discovered this article recently.
I bought my T3 April 2012 (some of you earlier?) and all based on stats. I looked around, sub £300, weight wise (which was my biggest concern), the T3 ticked all the boxes. If I'm honest the listing of a carbon fork was a big clincher as well.
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Post by psyclepath on Jul 31, 2013 10:42:18 GMT
I enjoy my T3 and have covered over 1000 miles now since I bought it in May. However, my mate bought the Moser speed off Wiggle for £488, and I wish that had been available at the time as it is a great bike for the money.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 31, 2013 10:52:11 GMT
I bid on a second hand one just before Christmas last year on e-bay, I put in £211.11, thinking it would be mine and would do as a stopgap before buying something better in the spring. I was easily beaten by about £25 (I think) and was surprised at the resale value, so just thought it's a no brainer, we'll just buy a new one and sell it on in the spring when I've decided on the next appropriate bike ... I still own it of course ... nothing else has been justifiable to date ... when (if) I can manage 60km (can do that distance of course) at over 30kmh average, then it may be time to buy something else but I doubt I'd sell it now anyway; said fancy new bike will be too precious to take out in any old weather (remember that Boardman I've mentioned that my friend has sat waiting for me www.boardmanbikes.com/road/air90.html ).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 11:01:31 GMT
When did you all buy your T3? And what was the trigger? I ask because reading the majority of posts, people mention the cycling active review as the reason. I only discovered this article recently. I bought my T3 April 2012 (some of you earlier?) and all based on stats. I looked around, sub £300, weight wise (which was my biggest concern), the T3 ticked all the boxes. If I'm honest the listing of a carbon fork was a big clincher as well. Got mine at the beginning of Feb 13. Had a carrera hybrid and wanted something a bit lighter and quicker. Read what people were saying about the 3 on cyclechat and the rest is very happy history.
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Post by captslog on Jul 31, 2013 11:10:32 GMT
When did you all buy your T3? And what was the trigger? I ask because reading the majority of posts, people mention the cycling active review as the reason. I only discovered this article recently. I bought my T3 April 2012 (some of you earlier?) and all based on stats. I looked around, sub £300, weight wise (which was my biggest concern), the T3 ticked all the boxes. If I'm honest the listing of a carbon fork was a big clincher as well. As already stated:- March 2013, triggered in some ways by Mrs Slog's (and other's) need to buy me a birthday present. Unlike some above I was already 'road' cycling on a £75 ebay budget bike Sprint and this was pre-Wiggins, but got the feeling that this was dissolving under me (spokes snapping, clunks in the drivetrain etc) and needed replacing if I wanted to go further faster.
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Post by stevo on Jul 31, 2013 11:16:32 GMT
Is that the one Chris Boardman was doing his presenting on in this years tour de France coverage?
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 31, 2013 11:22:05 GMT
No idea!
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Post by stevo on Jul 31, 2013 11:30:16 GMT
Guess you watched Eurosport then? ;-)
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