TribanMan's 'Triban General' Thread

So to cover the first point:

I've been commuting (and going across town to see friends etc.) on a Brompton for the past four years. Great bikes do their job fantastically well I find, great for the stop-start light laden routes, weaving in and out of traffic, comfortable 'doggy begging' upright position that town riding calls for. The only thing that I've never been satisfied with is the position of the bell on my 2015 model which is not positioned in a place where it is conducive to convenient 'warning' use steadily approaching pedestrians who you can spot in advance arn't seemingly aware of whats going on/where they're going (and so instead of bothering to awkwardly reposition to get belling at them just slow down and accommodate them instead) and certainly not for quick-time requirements when it's really needed to avoid an acident when going faster and a pedestrian does something stupid suddenly. I've had one or two of close calls over the years because of this problem which has been the only thing on them that I'd improve and have never been happy with. They've addressed this with a much better positioned one in newer models I'm aware. Other than that I rate them very highly. But anyway I'm rambling (do it a lot bear with me apologies).

As said I generally use it for commuting which is a short 15-20 minute job and especially in the past year or two always take it easy and relatively relaxed trying not to break a sweat (especially in the summer, cycling in work clothes) and would hazard a very rough guess that probably 65-70% of the time I'm generally in the lowest gear of my 3 speed, with the other 35/30% (maybe even less) in second gear (rarely go into the highest).

Apart from the commute and occassional 30/45minute route to meet friends in free time I don't generally do any other riding.

I have a few years ago done London to Brighton with some work colleagues which I very much enjoyed. This was not on the Bromton but rather a very crappy old mountain bike (no suspension) loaned for the ride from a colleagues friend or relative etc. Got respect from colleagues all kitted up on their road bikes when I made it up Ditchlin Beacon on that thing! (I put it down to the gel though lol). I did do some training for this in the couple of months before building up to longer rides across and out of/back into town of about 30 miles round max on the Brompton though.

More recently last year I rode to Cambridge with a friend on his gf's road bike without any preparation at all. "It'll be easy" they said, "its all flat" they said, "you'll be fine" they said..needless to say without the prep to get my fitness levels up (I'm generally very unfit) and not being used to a road bike (and not having clips or whatever the term is for the shoes (why is it 'clipless' if you clip into them!? I will google..) or padded shorts I made it..but boy did I struggle to. Was fun but much harder work than it should have been and an enormous relief for me when we finally got into town.

Apart from that I don't do much riding outside of the commute and visiting friends. I've realised I would like to though, which I'll expand on in a moment. The reason I don't I believe is because the Brompton's design reduces the appeal for lesiure riding in a couple of ways.

Firstly, the tiny wheels means the ride really isn't great (this is widely acknowledged of the bikes already). Its a very bumpy one that doesn't take kindly to roads that arn't smooth as a baby's bottom. At times I choose to cycle on the better, more recently tarmac'd main road over an older in-need of TLC (but still much, much better than many roads) segrated cycle lanes available on that same road.

Secondly, again I suppose it's down to the wheels or some other aspect of the design, the bike relative to other full sized bikes simply have no roll to them (don't know if 'roll' is a technical/acknowledged term for what I mean, should become clear though..). The amount of power you need to continualy put in means you can never just coast and cruise along with relatively little effort, it always requires topping up and the amount that it does roll along subsequenty is minimal. I swear it feels like you have to pedal on a decline with a tail wind at times! (Slight exageration but you get my point..)

Finally, minor issue but is something I've thought about from time to time: While the 'folding and taking inside' aspect is brilliant and certainly not taken for granted in some respects, if I ever do go out for a nice (but rare) afternoon cycle on my own it does become a bit of a faff having to fold it down everytime you want to pop into a shop to get a bottle of water or carry a pint through a pub while hefting the 12kg block around avoiding people tables and chairs when going through to the garden etc. I don't own a lock and due to their value (inc. resale value) wouldn't feel comfortable locking it up (indeed I've previously got one that didn't belong to me nicked that I left locked up rather than taking it in where I was going into..). Maybe I'm imagining it being a greater issue than it actually is, and will find having to lock up a full size bike just as great a (minor) inconvenience in the end, but on the other hand would be nice to at least have the option of locking it up and leaving it (I am paranoid about bike theft though - to be discussed further).

Something else that I like to do worth mentioning is go out to different parts of town to explore them (I live in London so like to explore the different areas). For this I normally get the tube and walk around explore and hop back on home (don't cycle for Brompton's drawbacks for comfrtable leisure riding noted above).

Oh! Me! Me! Me! Couldn't resist posting before you carried on with your story!

Sounds to me is if what you are looking for is near/at the bottom of the Triban range. That's sort of how I started. I rode a MTB 7 miles to work on the flat a couple of times a month. Then a colleague told me to get a road bike as it would be easier. I had a 'racer' 25+ years before, but thought I might not like it in adulthood (narrow wheels and razor blade saddle). So I looked for a 'cheap' option to try it. BTwin got rave reviews for 'lower end' bikes. I realised I could buy a new one with better spec than I could a second hand 'branded' bike with lower specs. I decided on a budget and bought the best I could within that budget. I loved it!

I started doing upto 10 mile leisure rides on the flat and then build up to commuting everyday. I got the bug and attempted a hill, then another and then stole a local cycling clubs weekly 20-30 mile rides and did them on my own. I changed the saddle for more comfort and I upgraded the wheels. It felt like a new bike! I cycled everyday, wind, rain or shine. I did a series of winter sportives and completed my first fondo. I lost loads of weight and I loved it!

I then saw others with carbon bikes. I treated myself. I relegated my original BTwin to a commuter and 'winter hack'. It was lighter, I was quicker, I could do more a bit easier. It was awesome! Rides increased in length and difficulty. My weight dropped a bit more as I did mountains and 100 mile closed road sportives. It was awesome. I joined a cycling club and rode even more.

I nearly had a big accident during one winter when I couldn't stop in time going down a big hill in the cold and wet. I 'needed' disc brakes. I bought an aluminium disc braked bike to 'upgrade' my winter bike/commuter. I let my son use the old BTwin for occasional rides and kept it as a spare.

I found my cycling friends had Di2 on their carbon bikes. I wanted it! I thought of upgrading, but then had an opportunity to buy what is now a Van Rysel for a very good price - I had to have it! I was shocked at how much better it was than my original carbon bike! Not so much fettling and even easier to go up hills! I've subsequently changed the gearing and added oval chainrings and have been attempting as many Top 100 Hills as I can. I can do 100 miles without fear and still love cycling! The old carbon bike sits on a TT that I bought to get my cycling fix when the weather meant going out on the bike was too dangerous (wind and ice).

I commute everyday, I ride at weekends, I have a TT set up and Zwift in bad weather. I have more bikes than I 'need' (according to my wife) and have spent a fortune on them and upgraded here there and everywhere. But, if I'd done that with other brands, I would have been severely in debt!

So, how is this relevant to you? Its just a cautionary tale about not thinking longer term. My suggestion would be for you to:
- Set a budget and get the best you can within that budget (Dont forget pump, tubes, saddlebag etc etc)
- Don't just think about what you want now, but think about how that may snowball
- Decathlon roadbikes offer significant value (some more than others)
- Tweaks to some 'lower end' Decathlon bikes can increase their awesomeness significantly
- Aluminium is great to start with and probably all you need.

The one thing I can't help you with is leaving bikes locked up and cycling in London. Personally, I wouldn't do either! 

Thanks for the reply! Really enjoyed reading it. Noted re: thinking long term. Indeed I am looking at the lower end, I've already drafted most of the next parts covering first impressions of the bikes I'm looking at and have tested which at this point comprises the 100, RC120 and RC500. Will post when home tonight. Also vaguely curious about the hoprider range but doubt I'll go for one of those when it comes to it.

Have briefly thought the appeal of a nice floaty zippy carbon frame! But yeah probably a bit advance at this stage.

Interesting re: disc brakes, I've commented on these and my preference in my draft so would be interested in your take once I've posted. In the past I haven't generally been riding (commuting) when it's wet but have more recently as the fun of a ride outweighs wet so long as it's not chucking it down heavily. Wouldn't have thought I'd be doing leisure riding in the rain but who knows.

Had to Google what Di2 was assumed would likely be a group set or some sort of componentry but blimey £1000 quid! Must be the bees bollocks!

What's TT stand for specifically? I had assumed time trial but your post seems to indicate it may be (a bike/set up?) for indoor home riding/training?

Re: getting sucked into starting a collection, so long as I'm in my current place that won't happen anytime soon, one of the great things I didn't mention about the Brompton is ofc that it's a great bike for people who don't have the space at home to keep a full size bike as it folds down so small (and quickly and conveniently). The one draw back about the flat I'm in at the momemt (have been for a gpood few years now) is that the place is tiny and one of the reasons a full size bike hadn't appealed to me before is that I actually don't have anywhere to keep one as things are currently arranged. I'm determined to find a convenient solution to this problem now though and sure some work around can be found (sans hanging it over my bed..not up for that lol).




Ah I think I see now - so the 'clipless' refers to the lack of old school 'toe clips' which makes sense considering that you confusingly seem to 'clip in' cleated shoes to pedals on 'clipless'!




Yes will cover this in my forthcoming post but the 'beater bike' 100 appeals for this reason (and the others considering they're still lower spec/cheaper bikes to a lesser extent).




Nice yes, looking and both bar options on this model and will be commenting on thoughts so far on both shortl and intend to soak up in next couple of test sessions before buying. Thanks for the reply!

Oh right never would have got that didn't even from a google! Have seen people mention 'a turbo'/'the turbo' in my reading a few times past week or so but didn't know what people were referring to.

Lol I can't see what the emoji's youve used as they're not displaying on my phone, assume u would be referring to the length of my posts taking all my time drafting!? I'm doing them one handed while commuting on my Brompton I'll have u know!

Really though, and I know I'm stating the obvious here but the thing about all of the bikes I found is that the position really is soooo different to the Brompton, like, suprisingly different. I was aware how different road bikes are from pottering along on my friends on the way back from the pub over the years (I remember how this bike feels more than his gf's from when I rode on it to Cambridge for some reason - am going to find out more info on his bike when I next see him for comparison - its so low and sporty it's a really different beast to the Brompton and even the these Tribans!) but with the supposedly more 'relaxed' geometry and comfort/beginner focus of these bikes, I would expect my friend's bike to feel totally alien to me, while with the Tribans I was expecting something not quite so leaned forward as it actually felt like it was. Even on the flat bar RC500 I felt like it was surprisingly forward, to the extent that I wondered if I'd be able to adapt and get used to it (or at least like it).

In someways the flat bars appeal because of the supposed greater stability/leverage offered and upright position I'm used to in the traffic for riding about town, but on the other hand really like the idea of the versatility of drop bars with the different positions for longer rides (and like the idea of a vaugely anatomically more natural wrist position in the default position on the hoods with knuckles facing out compared to knuckles facing forward on flat bars - not sure if I just like the idea though and doesn't/won't mean much in practice). As well, I do wonder if I feel so far forward on the flat bars why not just go the whole hog and out and out with the drop bars rather than doing it half measure with 'flat bars on a road bike.'

I don't remember my wrists hurting on the Brighton ride though, but my memory is terrible anyway and am sure I really did benefit from swapping position on the road bike on the Cambridge ride. It's just a bit of a shock with the Tribans given everything I'd read about comfort and relaxed geometry etc. and am so used to the Brompton (on that I've got the standard, more upright bars rather than the sportier flat ones too). I do really love the position on the Brompton (but guess I'll never get a nice smooth, little bit speedy job that cruises and rollls easy as so desired on a city bike with a doggy beg position).

Also felt the width of the drop bars on the RC500 was very and surprisingly narrow which I wasn't expecting. I know they're normally narrower but again these were more than anticipating. And the steering, getting used to the steering is also something that I'm honestly a bit nervous of on the drops, not that necessarily I won't be able to adapt, but just that I'll never grow to like it and always wish I had the flat bars.


In my initial Decathlon session they didn't have a few of the bikes I'd wanted to try (rim brake RC120, one of the two sizes of a one or the other for e.g.) and was wondering if it's possible to order them in online to try to make sure they have stock when you arrive or is that a ridiculous ask? I was thinking about dropping them an email to ask (obviously you can order them in if you caugh up the cash online before hand but wont be doing this just to get them in to test..).

Cheers Paul

Re:
- I don't own any of those bikes
- I have no experience of flat bar and flat bar components
Noted and noted

- Shimano components are more prevalent across the market
I had assumed as such from what I'd read so far. Do you pint this out with anything in mind, for e.g. it means that spares are easier to come by or that it's easier to upgrade specific parts to a complete, higher quality group set?

- Microshift are seen as lower end. (I've not had them before)
- I noticed a big difference going from Sora to 105 (maybe that's what you noted in going from Microshift to Shimano)
Yes aware re: first point and believe you're right re: second, inc. the shifters I thought although am not sure they're Sora on the RC500? Maybe they are I'll have to double check.

- Disc brakes can squeal (especially in the wet), but so can rim brakes! Don't contaminate the pads and rotors
I don't know anything about disc brake tech so will have to make sure I look into basic maintenance to avoid, the concern though was that for disks I'd heard that if the problem arises it's wholly unfixable which I'v not seen people describe for rims in my limited reading, maybe this is not the case though.

- On the Triban I had, if you felt you were leaning (reaching) too far forward you can flip the stem. That brought the bars up and a little closer to you. the 500 has a 'new' stem. Not sure if you can still do that.
Not aware what you mean by flipping the stem so will have to look into that and enquire at the shop if it's possible. Am aware they come with 'spacers' though, inc. seemingly one on the top - could this be removed and put underneath for greater height? And by extension (pun intended) theoretically add in 20 spacers to raise it to a height conducive to a doggy begging position on a road bike (not that I'd actually go that far of course, would be very odd, and funny, too see,  so just curious more than anything).

- Everything will feel funny/different to a Brompton. You get used to anything after a while. Tingling sensations and pain are different. A couple of mm here and there adjustment can make a massive difference in bike set up
Yes aware of importance of proper set up and fit so is why I appreciate the limits of testing them as they are in the shop! Am sure whatever I go for will be satisfactorily  adaptable (both me and the bike) in the end.

- 5ft 11': Looked like M
- M has 420mm handlebars. XS has 400mm. You could ask if you could change - But I don't think 420mm is particularly narrow.
Noted, would that be a change to the width of the bars as they come on XL for e.g.to get the extra width? Not sure why referenced extra small for anything other than illustrating there are different widths to suit the frames. I wouldnt hwve thought a big chain like Decathlon wpuld accommodate such a request from a fuss pot like me! Somethinhg I'll bear in mind though. Probably not all that narrow anyway like you say and just felt relative to what I'm used to/was expecting/in comparison to flat bars

All that is detail though. Budget may rule out the more expensive (and better imho) model as would wanting rim brakes. I personally don't like the idea of the gears on the 100. Sounded to me as if you were leaning toward the 120. All 3 could potentially get stolen.
Budget rules out anything beyond the RC500 but only because I think spending anymore would be unnecessary at this stage (though probably wouldn't buy so soon either) and would problably say the 120 only on minor points like the frame shape and rim brakes and marginally reduced risk of it getting nicked due to being slightly cheaper. And as still undecided what bars I'd like would say if I'm leaning towards it it would only be marginally at this point but on the whole still very undecided, hence further test intentions.

You're absolutely right though, from what I've read I am resigned to the fact that any and all could get nicked regardless, so just about minimising risk by being cautious/sensible (and reducing the shock/heart sinking feeling when you come to find it gone from a rack etc. you'd secured it to - imagine this could be reduced slightly with a cheaper bike - as the stolen Brompton wasn't mine (or a friends, it was an employer's) I didn't experience this really irl but have had dreams where my one has been lost/forgotten/stolen and as dreams feel so real definitely feel like I know the feeling!).

Thanks for the input so far, appreciate I ask a lot of questions and write long posts so  (and this goes for everyone) don't feel you have to come back on every point (or at all). Cheers again!

Also for anyone else, the one drawback I've heard about the 500 is how bleddy difficult it is to change tyres with the stock wheels. This is something factoring into my consideration as sounds like it could be a pain. Understand it''s borne of the tubeless ready wheels which the RC120 doesn't come with if I'm correct  so doesn't suffer this issue (correct if wrong) but on the other hand also acknowledge I could upgrade the wheels fairly cheaply to something better when needed.