Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 19:45:20 GMT
Hello,
I just want to give my personal opinion and views on the successful triban 3 and 5 of last season and the new 3, 5 and 7! which is in now this season.
So there is no confusion, i do work round these bikes quite alot (3 to 4 times a week, 5 hours per day) so I'll be able to give you the full understanding of what was effective on the old tribans and how this has effected the new tribans of today.
Last seasons, the tribans have slowly increased in popularity just down to the fact of value for money. However what surprised all of the decathlon's over the UK was the review from Cycling active after they, not reviewed our bike, but give our bike the 1st prize result. This was a shock especially after we beat a Vitus Decium which is running a 2x9 shimano 105 groupset and the fact it is exactly 3x the budget of our starting value bike.
This is what took decathlon by storm resulting with the triban's sweeping off the shop floors (hence, for alot of you people, the reason why you struggled for a Triban 3 and possible 5 in the summer of 2012. All i can say to that is sorry.)
When we run out of Triban 3's in the first few days, a lot of people were saying, "whats the difference between the 3 to the 5".
Well, 1st of all, from visuals alone, you can see the upgrade of the groupset and chainset running a Full Shimano Sora with a triple compact crank on the front and a 9 speed 25-12 (some earlier 5's actually ran 26-12) cassette on the back. With that came the modifications to the frame. The frame came with a carbon seat stay with a more curve styling at the lower part of the seat stay to help improve comfort and flexibility of the rear during rides. But to the frame, with it being in a triangular shape, this allowed the frame to be stronger, reducing the amount of aluminium on the bike lowering the overall weight. but alot of people questioned. was this better for only £200 more. to some people that may have been, its A-2-B so i dont need the fancy equipment which was a valid point. However, with you having the triban 3, if you was to upgrade the 3's components to the 5. you lose out not only financially but in specification aswell. Reason: the rear seat stay. The 2 bikes can have the same components but the 5 would always have the lighter, stronger and more effective frame.
A year has past and triban's were a hit, however B'Twin released the word of a new triban 3 and 5 but with the return of the Triban 7. Everybody all over for Decathlon Cycles were stoked to see what the new bikes we're gunna be like spec-wise and visually.
Time went by but they finally released images of the new 3, 5 and 7 to the stores with its spec listing. It was a shock with what they done however, with some it wasn't a drastic improvement. After looking at the bikes a bit more and analysing the spec. We realised that the bikes are the best of both worlds, a well specced bike for a decent value. However this was for the 5 and the 7.
Unfortunately we couldn't say the same for the 3. The triban 3 actually went DOWN in specification which we were slightly disappointed and disheartened about. The obvious one was the "no carbon" forks, returning them back the steel alloy, which is a standard fork for any bike without carbon forks. Then we looked at drivetrain. At first you see shimano 2300 front and rear derailleur with a 2300 3x8 cassette and crank. Okay, that doesnt sound so bad but you then look at the shifters. Now they do hold a slight improvement practicality wise over the old 3 as its got 2 buttons on the outside of the brake to change up and down, leaving the brake to do 1 job. This is more easier for beginner riders but the issue is the make is microshift. Microshift are a company that make shifters nearly identical to shimano's but its made of plastic. With it being made of plastic, although it is much lighter to shimanos equipment, its unpredictable for when they can break as there is no wear indicator.
With that in mind we though, surely the price is gunna drop to keep it competitive... It did... but sadly, not by much. £279.99. pounds only knocked off the price. Decathlon cycles agreed that last years mode is a walkover to this years.
Now before i go on about the other 2 bikes, im going to give you the thing about the new bikes, if you compare them as 3v3 or 5v5. the old season will beat this new seasons by spec, but what people dont notice is what has actually happened with the frames.
With the 3 being an incredibly popular bike in the summer with the bonus feature of the triban 3 upgrade package review. B'Twin took this on board and give the people what a they want... A better Triban 3.
They've taken the old 3 frame, and given it the full upgrade. The new 2013 Shimano sora compact groupset, running a 50-39-30 chainset and a 25-12 9 speed cassette. With shifters that now have the secondary lever behind the brake. The wheels, tyres, brakes and handlebars are all the same made by its home brand, b'twin. but for the fact they've made it £399.99. You can see why now it has been reborn and renamed as The New Triban 5.
Now with that in mind, you've now understood the reasons behind the new 3 and 5. because last year, if anybody wanted a competitive bike and wanted it for less than a grand but a bigger upstep to the 5. well our answer in few words was unfortunately, tough luck. there was a big price range gap that we couldn't do anything about.
times change and boy, did it is change something. The Triban 7. With it still being the Triban 5 with a makeover at heart, its performance, says something else. Having an upgrade from a triple compact crank to a double compact starts to imply a more competitive style of bike. Let alone it being a tiagra. With that, the drivetrain still remains in tiagra family keeps the smoothness in the bike, with also the fact its now running a 10 speed on the back so shifting is going nearly impossible to notice (in a good way, of course). The only thing left missing to make this bike truly amazing is the price. £699.99.
Sounds like alot but the fact you get a upstep from the sora on the 5. For an extra of £100, me personally, well worth the money and well worth the value.
Okay, rivals... For the old triban 3, its gunna have to be the new triban 5. Hands down. With it being the 2300 vs sora for £100 difference. The old 3 will be difficult to beat.
The old 5, its gunna be its newer, better and older brother. The triban 7. Its exactly the same reason as the last rivalry but it being sora vs tiagra. The 5 has still got some fighting chance for the value but spec gunna hard to beat.
Overall, the old triban's have set the standard high and with the new trying to prove there mark, the new triban's still have the old in heart.
I just want to give my personal opinion and views on the successful triban 3 and 5 of last season and the new 3, 5 and 7! which is in now this season.
So there is no confusion, i do work round these bikes quite alot (3 to 4 times a week, 5 hours per day) so I'll be able to give you the full understanding of what was effective on the old tribans and how this has effected the new tribans of today.
Last seasons, the tribans have slowly increased in popularity just down to the fact of value for money. However what surprised all of the decathlon's over the UK was the review from Cycling active after they, not reviewed our bike, but give our bike the 1st prize result. This was a shock especially after we beat a Vitus Decium which is running a 2x9 shimano 105 groupset and the fact it is exactly 3x the budget of our starting value bike.
This is what took decathlon by storm resulting with the triban's sweeping off the shop floors (hence, for alot of you people, the reason why you struggled for a Triban 3 and possible 5 in the summer of 2012. All i can say to that is sorry.)
When we run out of Triban 3's in the first few days, a lot of people were saying, "whats the difference between the 3 to the 5".
Well, 1st of all, from visuals alone, you can see the upgrade of the groupset and chainset running a Full Shimano Sora with a triple compact crank on the front and a 9 speed 25-12 (some earlier 5's actually ran 26-12) cassette on the back. With that came the modifications to the frame. The frame came with a carbon seat stay with a more curve styling at the lower part of the seat stay to help improve comfort and flexibility of the rear during rides. But to the frame, with it being in a triangular shape, this allowed the frame to be stronger, reducing the amount of aluminium on the bike lowering the overall weight. but alot of people questioned. was this better for only £200 more. to some people that may have been, its A-2-B so i dont need the fancy equipment which was a valid point. However, with you having the triban 3, if you was to upgrade the 3's components to the 5. you lose out not only financially but in specification aswell. Reason: the rear seat stay. The 2 bikes can have the same components but the 5 would always have the lighter, stronger and more effective frame.
A year has past and triban's were a hit, however B'Twin released the word of a new triban 3 and 5 but with the return of the Triban 7. Everybody all over for Decathlon Cycles were stoked to see what the new bikes we're gunna be like spec-wise and visually.
Time went by but they finally released images of the new 3, 5 and 7 to the stores with its spec listing. It was a shock with what they done however, with some it wasn't a drastic improvement. After looking at the bikes a bit more and analysing the spec. We realised that the bikes are the best of both worlds, a well specced bike for a decent value. However this was for the 5 and the 7.
Unfortunately we couldn't say the same for the 3. The triban 3 actually went DOWN in specification which we were slightly disappointed and disheartened about. The obvious one was the "no carbon" forks, returning them back the steel alloy, which is a standard fork for any bike without carbon forks. Then we looked at drivetrain. At first you see shimano 2300 front and rear derailleur with a 2300 3x8 cassette and crank. Okay, that doesnt sound so bad but you then look at the shifters. Now they do hold a slight improvement practicality wise over the old 3 as its got 2 buttons on the outside of the brake to change up and down, leaving the brake to do 1 job. This is more easier for beginner riders but the issue is the make is microshift. Microshift are a company that make shifters nearly identical to shimano's but its made of plastic. With it being made of plastic, although it is much lighter to shimanos equipment, its unpredictable for when they can break as there is no wear indicator.
With that in mind we though, surely the price is gunna drop to keep it competitive... It did... but sadly, not by much. £279.99. pounds only knocked off the price. Decathlon cycles agreed that last years mode is a walkover to this years.
Now before i go on about the other 2 bikes, im going to give you the thing about the new bikes, if you compare them as 3v3 or 5v5. the old season will beat this new seasons by spec, but what people dont notice is what has actually happened with the frames.
With the 3 being an incredibly popular bike in the summer with the bonus feature of the triban 3 upgrade package review. B'Twin took this on board and give the people what a they want... A better Triban 3.
They've taken the old 3 frame, and given it the full upgrade. The new 2013 Shimano sora compact groupset, running a 50-39-30 chainset and a 25-12 9 speed cassette. With shifters that now have the secondary lever behind the brake. The wheels, tyres, brakes and handlebars are all the same made by its home brand, b'twin. but for the fact they've made it £399.99. You can see why now it has been reborn and renamed as The New Triban 5.
Now with that in mind, you've now understood the reasons behind the new 3 and 5. because last year, if anybody wanted a competitive bike and wanted it for less than a grand but a bigger upstep to the 5. well our answer in few words was unfortunately, tough luck. there was a big price range gap that we couldn't do anything about.
times change and boy, did it is change something. The Triban 7. With it still being the Triban 5 with a makeover at heart, its performance, says something else. Having an upgrade from a triple compact crank to a double compact starts to imply a more competitive style of bike. Let alone it being a tiagra. With that, the drivetrain still remains in tiagra family keeps the smoothness in the bike, with also the fact its now running a 10 speed on the back so shifting is going nearly impossible to notice (in a good way, of course). The only thing left missing to make this bike truly amazing is the price. £699.99.
Sounds like alot but the fact you get a upstep from the sora on the 5. For an extra of £100, me personally, well worth the money and well worth the value.
Okay, rivals... For the old triban 3, its gunna have to be the new triban 5. Hands down. With it being the 2300 vs sora for £100 difference. The old 3 will be difficult to beat.
The old 5, its gunna be its newer, better and older brother. The triban 7. Its exactly the same reason as the last rivalry but it being sora vs tiagra. The 5 has still got some fighting chance for the value but spec gunna hard to beat.
Overall, the old triban's have set the standard high and with the new trying to prove there mark, the new triban's still have the old in heart.