Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 15:35:45 GMT
Hi folks. First post.
I'm 36, used to be a massive commuter/light tourer cyclist then ended up living so close to a city centre that I just walked everywhere AND with two babies sold my last bike as I didn't have time for fun'n'fitness cycling and it was hard to get a pushchair past it in the hallway of our maisonette.
ANYWAY...
Want to get another bike. In the past I've spent up to a grand on bikes - and also done up freebies and cheapies - when I was young and fancy free but now with a mortgage, two kids, etc. will need to go uber frugal.
I was quite tempted to get a nice 80s/90s steel frame and a nearly new modern grupo and make a 'modern retro' but realised the little costs would add up and I couldn't say for sure Mrs would allow me the time to actually build the thing. Plus, truth be told, while skinny tubed steel looks the part, modern style bikes are, overall, better.
So I started looking at the entry level of the major brands - but that was really Β£600+ and not anywhere near as frugal as I wanted. Could have gone nearly-new used but then you find by the time you've replaced a tyre, chain or other bits it's hardly worth the bother.
About a year ago a local cyclist showed me his Triban 7.
'Wassa triban?' I said, assuming it must be something exotic as it certainly looked the part and had decent Tiagra components.
'From Decathlon - wouldn't buy a bike anywhere else these days'.
'Isn't that a sort of Adsa for camping gear?'
'Yeah, but the bikes are really good and much cheaper than the big brands.'
So I googled it, went to a store in Reading when I had to go to London, and learned about all the good reviews these bikes get.
Anyways, I now have the choice of buying a used, slightly upgraded Triban 3 (carbon forks) locally if I can get the price down (seems there's some kite flying with these 'cult' bikes) and get a cheap buy or just zooming to Reading to grab a 500se (not really bothered about the 500 as I'm just as likely to change cranks, brakes or grupo bits at some point either way).
Are there any other advantages to the 500s over the Carbon fork 3?
I'm 36, used to be a massive commuter/light tourer cyclist then ended up living so close to a city centre that I just walked everywhere AND with two babies sold my last bike as I didn't have time for fun'n'fitness cycling and it was hard to get a pushchair past it in the hallway of our maisonette.
ANYWAY...
Want to get another bike. In the past I've spent up to a grand on bikes - and also done up freebies and cheapies - when I was young and fancy free but now with a mortgage, two kids, etc. will need to go uber frugal.
I was quite tempted to get a nice 80s/90s steel frame and a nearly new modern grupo and make a 'modern retro' but realised the little costs would add up and I couldn't say for sure Mrs would allow me the time to actually build the thing. Plus, truth be told, while skinny tubed steel looks the part, modern style bikes are, overall, better.
So I started looking at the entry level of the major brands - but that was really Β£600+ and not anywhere near as frugal as I wanted. Could have gone nearly-new used but then you find by the time you've replaced a tyre, chain or other bits it's hardly worth the bother.
About a year ago a local cyclist showed me his Triban 7.
'Wassa triban?' I said, assuming it must be something exotic as it certainly looked the part and had decent Tiagra components.
'From Decathlon - wouldn't buy a bike anywhere else these days'.
'Isn't that a sort of Adsa for camping gear?'
'Yeah, but the bikes are really good and much cheaper than the big brands.'
So I googled it, went to a store in Reading when I had to go to London, and learned about all the good reviews these bikes get.
Anyways, I now have the choice of buying a used, slightly upgraded Triban 3 (carbon forks) locally if I can get the price down (seems there's some kite flying with these 'cult' bikes) and get a cheap buy or just zooming to Reading to grab a 500se (not really bothered about the 500 as I'm just as likely to change cranks, brakes or grupo bits at some point either way).
Are there any other advantages to the 500s over the Carbon fork 3?