Anyone got a Triban RC 520?
Discussion
I am a bit of a newby when it comes to cycling and I bought a MTB last year and really enjoyed going out and riding some of the trails where I live...ending up going out 3-4 times a week when it was still light in the evenings.
However this year I am thinking I really want to try cycling to work, it's about 13 miles each way, pretty much all road. I've done it a couple of times on my MTB and it's just taking me to long....to make it feasible I need to get the journey done faster so I am thinking about going for a dedicated road bike for commuting.
I've been thinking about getting a Triban RC 520 in the cycle to work scheme, it seems to have a decent set of components, has disk brakes and has the ability to add in some mudguards...so seems to tick all of the boxes and comes in at a fairly reasonable cost.
However would be great to get some real world views or if anyone has any other suggestions at this sort of price range? I could probably go up to £1k for the right bike.
However this year I am thinking I really want to try cycling to work, it's about 13 miles each way, pretty much all road. I've done it a couple of times on my MTB and it's just taking me to long....to make it feasible I need to get the journey done faster so I am thinking about going for a dedicated road bike for commuting.
I've been thinking about getting a Triban RC 520 in the cycle to work scheme, it seems to have a decent set of components, has disk brakes and has the ability to add in some mudguards...so seems to tick all of the boxes and comes in at a fairly reasonable cost.
However would be great to get some real world views or if anyone has any other suggestions at this sort of price range? I could probably go up to £1k for the right bike.
I was in a very similar position this time last year...the Kona full sus just wasnt the quickest way to get to work so i considered a full road bike and gravel bikes too.
I test rode the Triban but in the end i chose the Boardman ADV 8.8, it just felt nicer to ride...the build quality and spec was just that bit nicer...and the Schwalbe G One tyres are brilliant!
It feels that bit more robust than an all out road bike which helps for the few kerbs and gravel paths that litter my commute to work.
I test rode the Triban but in the end i chose the Boardman ADV 8.8, it just felt nicer to ride...the build quality and spec was just that bit nicer...and the Schwalbe G One tyres are brilliant!
It feels that bit more robust than an all out road bike which helps for the few kerbs and gravel paths that litter my commute to work.
alock said:
The one thing that put me off a Triban when I started was that they have very low max rider weights. You can find these if you hunt out the detailed specs on their website.
Hmm that's interesting...that's on the current range? I can't see anything under detailed spec on the bike page about rider weight, the only reference I can see to bike load is under the backpacking section where it says its suitable for light bags.
I don't claim to be a lightweight so would be good to check!
The road disc bike? This one? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-520-disc-roa...
Or the gravel version? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc520-gravel-id...
They're both cracking value compared to most mainstream bikes, but they lack a little gloss as a result (look at those exposed cables, that's so 2006!*) (*- that's a joke btw, one of many cheap features sold by manufacturers as a premium addition is to hide them).
Road wise it's worth looking at or sitting on the Canondale Caad Optimo 105 for 2020 (£1000) and Specialised Allez E5 elite (£1050, hopefully your C2W scheme gets a discount from list), different geometry so worth sitting on them if you can, and unless you live near a Decathlon doing the same with a Triban is difficult, with mainstream stuff your LBC could well have these in.
Gravel wise, Cube have plenty of kitted out commuters with mudguards fixed from the off but look out for them adding cheap suspension forks which add 50% to the weight, the Whyte Stirling is a grand's worth of nice. Giant Fastroad 1 a good alternative.
Much choice. Too much choice. It's good fun to see them all though
Or the gravel version? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc520-gravel-id...
They're both cracking value compared to most mainstream bikes, but they lack a little gloss as a result (look at those exposed cables, that's so 2006!*) (*- that's a joke btw, one of many cheap features sold by manufacturers as a premium addition is to hide them).
Road wise it's worth looking at or sitting on the Canondale Caad Optimo 105 for 2020 (£1000) and Specialised Allez E5 elite (£1050, hopefully your C2W scheme gets a discount from list), different geometry so worth sitting on them if you can, and unless you live near a Decathlon doing the same with a Triban is difficult, with mainstream stuff your LBC could well have these in.
Gravel wise, Cube have plenty of kitted out commuters with mudguards fixed from the off but look out for them adding cheap suspension forks which add 50% to the weight, the Whyte Stirling is a grand's worth of nice. Giant Fastroad 1 a good alternative.
Much choice. Too much choice. It's good fun to see them all though
Ah yeah sorry...was the road bike rather than the gravel...I have my MTB for anything rougher so really just after something to get the commute done a bit faster!
Luckily we have a couple of Decathlon's nearby so I managed to sit on a Triban yesterday and found it pretty comfortable...but that's just in the store and really no more than a couple of minutes so how it feels after an hour or so to and from work may be pretty different.
I'll have a look at at he Canondale and Specialised...hopefully someone local carries them!
Thanks for the advice!
Luckily we have a couple of Decathlon's nearby so I managed to sit on a Triban yesterday and found it pretty comfortable...but that's just in the store and really no more than a couple of minutes so how it feels after an hour or so to and from work may be pretty different.
I'll have a look at at he Canondale and Specialised...hopefully someone local carries them!
Thanks for the advice!
mathmos said:
alock said:
The one thing that put me off a Triban when I started was that they have very low max rider weights. You can find these if you hunt out the detailed specs on their website.
Hmm that's interesting...that's on the current range? I can't see anything under detailed spec on the bike page about rider weight, the only reference I can see to bike load is under the backpacking section where it says its suitable for light bags.
I don't claim to be a lightweight so would be good to check!
Probably a 56-58cm frame looking at Evans cycle size chart.
I see there is a Specialized dealer not to far from me so will go take a look this weekend at the Elite...although I did get a bit ebay blind last night and stuck in a cheeky offer on a Boardman 8.9 carbon bike...it hasn't been accepted or rejected yet!
I see there is a Specialized dealer not to far from me so will go take a look this weekend at the Elite...although I did get a bit ebay blind last night and stuck in a cheeky offer on a Boardman 8.9 carbon bike...it hasn't been accepted or rejected yet!
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