Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2016 0:26:58 GMT
Hello everyone!
I'm back into cycling after three years off the bike and thinking of getting my first road bike and would appreciate the views of forum members. I'm very slowly feeling my way back in and I've been wheezing about in a truly pathetic fashion for the past week.
My current ride is a Dawes Discovery 201 hybrid and despite a service it has seen better days and truth be told I've never found it a great bike to ride, even when it was newer and I was a regular rider.
I'm looking for something that is quick. light and pleasurable for longer leisure rides and around town rather than road racing.
The Triban range looks terrific value for money ... but which Triban?
I was first drawn to the 500 or the 500SE but was put off (perhaps wrongly) by the Microshift gears
And then thought about the 520 but at £450 would be the absolute most I could afford starting off.
And how does the 300 range fit in? It doesn't appear to show up on the Decathlon website. Has it been discontinued?
My idea is to persist with my current bike until I get my confidence, skill and fitness back as it is fairly forgiving of any errors before getting a road bike, so I'm in no made rush. Is there any time of year when the Triban models go on sale? (I assume a new model is introduced every year and the old stock shifted more cheaply to make way for the new model)
Any advice would be gratefully received by owners of any of the models would be appreciated. Apologies in advance for any daft questions as I am pretty much an ignoramus when it comes to road bikes!
|
|
|
Post by jondxxx on Sept 28, 2016 6:03:41 GMT
Nothing wrong with Microshift gears. The 500 is a good bike but the 520 is a bit more versatile allowing wider tyres and easy mudguard fitting. They do only seem to have sales when they bring in a new model. I was able to get my 540 because they upgraded the spec. to 11speed. However, often they only have a limited range of sizes left.
|
|
|
Post by utriban on Sept 28, 2016 6:12:55 GMT
Hello everyone! I'm back into cycling after three years off the bike and thinking of getting my first road bike and would appreciate the views of forum members. I'm very slowly feeling my way back in and I've been wheezing about in a truly pathetic fashion for the past week. My current ride is a Dawes Discovery 201 hybrid and despite a service it has seen better days and truth be told I've never found it a great bike to ride, even when it was newer and I was a regular rider. I'm looking for something that is quick. light and pleasurable for longer leisure rides and around town rather than road racing. The Triban range looks terrific value for money ... but which Triban? I was first drawn to the 500 or the 500SE but was put off (perhaps wrongly) by the Microshift gears And then thought about the 520 but at £450 would be the absolute most I could afford starting off. And how does the 300 range fit in? It doesn't appear to show up on the Decathlon website. Has it been discontinued? My idea is to persist with my current bike until I get my confidence, skill and fitness back as it is fairly forgiving of any errors before getting a road bike, so I'm in no made rush. Is there any time of year when the Triban models go on sale? (I assume a new model is introduced every year and the old stock shifted more cheaply to make way for the new model) Any advice would be gratefully received by owners of any of the models would be appreciated. Apologies in advance for any daft questions as I am pretty much an ignoramus when it comes to road bikes! Hi, for a budget of 450, I'd go for 500SE. Leave some room for additional equipment and upgrades (clothing, shoes, some maintenance, maybe new wheels if you decide to commute ... the appetite will come ) 500 is an excellent bike, well supported by Decathlon. Microshift might require some TLC, especially if you are person who gets OCD about rubbing and such, but not more than more expensive models. It can be made perfect and long lasting - nothing wrong with it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2016 6:28:31 GMT
Welcome, my two pence worth: go down to your nearest Decathlon and get a hands on feel. I've checked the web sight most sizes available but it's not always up to date. Either of the bikes will be fit for purpose your choice, happy shopping.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2016 11:36:01 GMT
Thanks for the excellent advice everyone. After reading the above I am leaning towards the 500SE (seems daft to be such a badge snob about the gears) Luckily there's a Decathlon not far from where I work so I'll swing by next week at take a shufti.
In terms of buying a bike from Decathlon what level of service and support can I expect in store?
My wife got her road bike from Halfords thanks to being tied to them for cycle to work and was met with utter cluelessness and chronic lack of interest in helping her get the right size and selecting a road bike that we right for her. Are we in similar territory at Decathlon?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2016 17:22:30 GMT
Hi Jamesie
I am fairly new to taking on a road bike. Initially I was thinking that a hybrid would work out well for me but despite there being 2 dividing camps on the internet regarding hybrid giving you the best/neither of both worlds, the reality was that nobody I knew recommended a hybrid. So I found myself buying the Triban 540. I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing but I have no regrets what so ever and I am now convinced its the right way to go. I mention this because your aim seems similar to mine. I ruled out brand snobbery by going to Decathlon but one thing I don't think you will get away from in the lower end of the group sets is....you get what you pay for. So it's the same through out all bike brands...from B-Twin to Canyon or whoever. The better the groups the more expensive the bike. I don't think brand snobbery was your concern with group sets...I think you realistically questioned the level of micro shift gears. Thats not to say they won't suit your purpose, they just have a certain place in the market that is not all about snobbery. JonDxxx obviously has a decent enough opinion of them.
On to your later posts. I've had decent enough service from Decathlon so far I think it depends on the persons skill (not the establishment). But regarding sizing, there is a lot of stuff on youtube about fit and thats fine for saddle height and leg position but regarding the upper body, it gets a bit personal depending on your aerodynamic requirements (race V touring). Ultimately the bike geometry also effects suitability of race V leisure comfort. Take your time.
My Triban 540 was £450 in July this year. Takes up to 32mm tires, has eyelets for panniers yet it is a pretty sporty looking thing that is better than I am at distances and probably (I haven't done one yet) makes for a great sportive ride. In the grand scheme of things my over riding opinion is that the 500 is a similar bike and I'd say you wouldn't sense a lot of difference.
|
|
|
Post by rockbus on Sept 28, 2016 22:30:11 GMT
I'd just go for the best one you can afford and buy it as soon as you can!!! Sure you'll have no regrets
|
|
|
Post by erictherat on Sept 29, 2016 8:18:54 GMT
More riding happiness from extras like shoes, pedals, clothes etc than from extra money spent on bike. Imo Don't forget stuff like bottles, pump, tools etc too.
|
|
|
Post by r0b1et on Sept 29, 2016 15:32:09 GMT
More riding happiness from extras like shoes, pedals, clothes etc than from extra money spent on bike. Imo Don't forget stuff like bottles, pump, tools etc too. I agree with you: get a basic bike and kit to get you out there when conditions aren't exactly perfect... then you get hooked and have to improve the bike. No point getting the great bike, but never having appropriate kit to ride it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2016 16:09:45 GMT
Decisions, decisions....
I'm more pursued by the 500SE And spend anything left over on kit. Although something someone said upthread fave me slight cause for concern. Is it possible to fit mudguards to the 500SE?
My wife has Crud Racer 2 mudguards on her road bike and would like something similar.
|
|
|
Post by r0b1et on Sept 29, 2016 22:44:32 GMT
It's basically the same bike as the t3,and I have those exact guards on mine. You will not reliably get 25s to work with guards though.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 10:12:56 GMT
Thanks R0b! Am I correct in thinking the 500 SE comes with 23mm tyres as standard? So that would only be an issue if I wanted wider tyres (which I understand seems to be the way things are going!)
|
|
|
Post by iggypop37 on Oct 2, 2016 16:55:33 GMT
got the cruds to work fine on my T3a which i think is the same frame that was with 23mm conti gatorskin tyres. Wheher I would want such narrow tyres again is another question.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2016 23:15:13 GMT
I actually had my first real go on a road bike today. My wife let me take her Boardman Road Sport out for a 14 mile run. Aside from the discomfort of the woman specific saddle, I was completely bowled over by the experience of being on a road bike.
Compared to my hybrid it was so smooth and fast across the flat and nowhere near as 'twitchy' as I'd imagined a road bike would be. It runs 25mm tyres and I liked the Claris gears on it.
Whatever the bug is, I've well and truly been bitten by it and I had to be retrained from heading straight to Decathlon
The only thing that perturbed me slightly was braking from on the hoods feels a bit awkward and takes a bit of strength to get decent stopping power, does that get more comfortable/easier with time?
Iggy - what difference do you find with 23mm tyres? Is it speed or stability that suffers with the narrower tyres?
|
|
|
Post by jondxxx on Oct 3, 2016 8:41:12 GMT
Once you get your own bike you can fiddle with the handlebars and shifters to find the most natural position for you. However,the brakes on a road bike are optimised for use in the drop position so maximum stopping power won't be available on the hoods. The tyre width question is mostly about comfort as at the correct pressures the wider tyre is just as fast. But then the arguments about tyres are never ending.
|
|