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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2013 9:43:28 GMT
I know this is probably boring all you red owners, but I wanted to solicit the opinions of you experienced bikers.. I am finding it very difficult to get weight info comparison on the two.. The Decathlon site (for some reason) doesnt list the weight of the new 3A, but when I spoke to the guy in the shop he said he thought it was 11.5KG.. However after a bit of googling I found these two docs on the BTWIN press website.. The give the old red 3 and the new white 3A as both being 10.5KGs press.btwin.com/sites/all/files/RANGE%20ROAD%202012%20BD.pdfpress.btwin.com/sites/all/files/en%20TRIBAN%203.pdfDo you think thats correct..? I know the old Red is a better bike (better spec) and the 5A is similar, but I dont want to waste the summer (missing all the riding in the sun) by holding on for either a Red 3 or a 5A in a 60 (both of which the guy in Decathlon said could be over 4 weeks away (and probably never for the red).. As Im a newbie if they are both similar weight I can live with the reduced component spec (and maybe fit a carbon fork myself next year).. Am I neing naive..? Thoughts?
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Post by Spoakes on Jun 8, 2013 12:18:20 GMT
I was advised by the guys in decathlon in Surrey quays NOT to get 3a!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 13:59:43 GMT
Surely the 3A is going to be heavier as it has metal forks compared to the carbon forks but I can't see the difference being a massive amount.
As a noob myself, weight wasn't a major difference and I ended up just getting a 5a as it was what they had in stock and I wanted a bike.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 16:11:22 GMT
Slightly on a tangent... Has anyone read the press release that Paul has linked to? Its the most amusing and terrible translation I've seen since the instructions for my Chinese torch!
"Agile and goes everywhere, this bike allows you to ally the physical exercise to the pleasure during strolls on road"
"A pleasant bike, which gives sensations during the rides"
and my personal favourite.... "Racy, he may, without complex attack a mountain trip"
Think Yoda wrote the last one!
If they're press releases, the press must be amused!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 17:34:59 GMT
As an update to this thread... The 3A that I had on order via the website turned up Thursday, and having exhausted all attempts to get either a Red T3 or a 5A I decided that the temptation was too much and that I couldn't let it sit in the garage, I had to get out and try it.. It could be four weeks before any 5As available and I can't stand the thought of missing the good weather now it's here.
Now I don't have too much to compare it too as this is my first road bike, but I have to say I am very impressed...! Weight wise I crudely weighed it on the wife's bathroom scales and the size 60 with pedals fitted was about 11.1KG..
I did about 4 miles Thursday but there was was chain noise due to the chain catching the front derauiller when in the lowest gear on large from cog.. So I took it to the Reading store and they adjusted it.. I did 6 miles yesterday and much better, I also inflated the tyres up (I'm really suprised at how hard they need to be to reach the specified rating on the side of the tyre)..
I fitted my wireless computer and saw that my top speed was 29.5 Mph (on a relatively small slope), so more than happy with the performance.. I can't compare road feel to the carbon forks as I have never ridden with them, but I can't say I overly feel a lot of vibration. The microshifters work very well and changing is very precise (once I got the front derauiller fixed). The breaks are absolutely superb, I'm 14.5 stone and they stop me very quick, feeling very secure..
The bike does not feel heavy at all, in fact I compared it to the old 5 in the store when I was there (which was a smaller size), and that felt about the same..
I mentioned to the guy in the shop that I heard that I should have received free lights with the bike.. He said that the 3A does not now come with them.. When I moaned saying that it's a worst spec, same price, and no lights, he went and got me a fee set, so pleased with that even if hey are not that great..
I have taken some pics of how it came boxed if any one is interested (which wasnt very well as one of the hoods was slightly scuffed), and I can also can take pics of any components if any one wants to see anything in particular..?
I do feel like the poor cousin on here now (although I note there are some other T3A owners on also), but I just couldn't loose the summer waiting for a 5A, who knows if they get them in sooner than expected they may swap it, from what I've heard they are pretty good on customer service..
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 19:08:00 GMT
Nice one Paul. Apart from the forks I think the 3A has a nicer looking paint job than the red which I have, but I do love white bikes. You could always hunt on eBay for some carbon forks, seen a few pairs selling reasonably on there.
Steel forks don't really suffer from vibrations anyway, I had some on my old giant fcr and that was comfortable enough. It's alu forks that are the bad ones for vibration.
I can't say I blame you for not wanting to wait 4 weeks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 19:27:09 GMT
Was surprised in Decathlon yesterday when I was told the reason the 3a doesn't have carbon forks is because carbon forks have to be replaced after 5 years !?
Anyone heard that before?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 20:38:47 GMT
I don't know about replacing every 5 years but they are brittle by nature? from what I've been told. With CF, although very strong and better for absorbing the vibrations, once you have a fracture of any kind, you pretty much need to replace it. I don't think there is any give on them as it normally means the structure has been compromised and it can lead to sudden failure. I would think with ally fork, you'd have a bit more give.
Actually happened last weekend with fellow rider I was with. One to many pot holes led to pretty large crack on his nice expensive fork. He didn't even bother taking 2nd look, bought another fork the next day.
Can you imagine fork collapsing down a hill @ 40mph :/
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Post by psyclepath on Jun 8, 2013 22:32:59 GMT
I weighed my Red T3 size 57 on my digital bathroom scales (which are pretty accurate) when I first got the bike before I added any bits to it and it weighed exactly 10.5kg. With regards forks, most "normal" and "budget" forks are hi-ten steel rather than aluminium. Cro-mo forks are a step up (before carbon) I believe and are kinder for vibrations than hi ten steel. I find the vibration issue only really becomes apparent once I've been riding for 45minutes-1hour. When I started club riding a few months ago I was on my new hybrid with basic steel forks. It's a great bike actually but I don't know if I will ever use it again now I've got my T3! Anyway I did find after any rides over around 10 miles that the vibrations were a problem in that I'd get this tingling feeling in my wrists. It's a bit like if you've ever used a power tool for an extended period eg an orbital sander. Now on long rides on my T3 of 30-50 miles I do still get a slight tingling in my wrists when I stop, but it is no way near as bad as on my hybrid. Now obviously riding position may have something to do with it in that your arms and shoulders may absorb more on a road bike but considering the much higher tyre pressure and less rubber to cushion the vibrations, the carbon fork must be doing a great job. On the other hand you are putting more weight on your wrists on a road bike so the vibration effect could be worse I suppose, so the carbon fork is even more forgiving. Your point about sudden failure of carbon is valid, though it's pretty rare. If a steel fork is damaged or at the end of its life apparently it will slowly bend rather than fail completely If you don't trust carbon, then I think a good cro-mo fork is considered the best option!
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Post by psyclepath on Jun 8, 2013 22:42:26 GMT
That could be some serious liability though for Decathlon if their carbon forks failed at speed, I would like to think a big name like that would be pretty confident in their product! A batch of dodgy forks could lead to some serious damages claims against them!
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Post by Spoakes on Jun 9, 2013 0:37:18 GMT
I thought the t3 had carbon forks with a Ali bar going down in them. I may be wrong
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 8:50:00 GMT
I thought the t3 had carbon forks with a Ali bar going down in them. I may be wrong The T3 (red) does but the new T3A (white) which has replaced it has steel forks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 9:04:43 GMT
That could be some serious liability though for Decathlon if their carbon forks failed at speed, I would like to think a big name like that would be pretty confident in their product! A batch of dodgy forks could lead to some serious damages claims against them! I'm sure the forks go through stringent testing before being put into production (I hope all manufactures do that!). I don't think there would be any issues with the fork itself but it's only if a crack did develop, say from a rider slamming into a pot hole or the like. In that situation, I wouldn't say it's Btwin's issue really because the fork has been damaged in riding. Then if you still decide to ride a fork that has a crack in it and are injured, then that's even more liability on you. On road vibrations, what is the quickest cheapest method for improving the comfort? Some of the roads I've recently been riding on for 30-40 miles are not great and yes vibrations can be felt through whole body. More handlebar tape? I guess I should start wearing gloves again really. Chap who replaced his fork informs me, curved forks are better at absorbing the bumps, then the straight one we have on our T3.
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