A poor mans road bike?
Discussion
Hi all,
After watching the olympics and being "inspired" to get outside and do something active I have decided to purchase a road bike! Unfortunately being a student my budget is "as little as possible" so I have been looking and I am a little stuck about what bike to go for.
Would something like this be a waste of money? or would it be a good starter bike?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.htm...
Thanks in advance for your help and advice!
Jamie
After watching the olympics and being "inspired" to get outside and do something active I have decided to purchase a road bike! Unfortunately being a student my budget is "as little as possible" so I have been looking and I am a little stuck about what bike to go for.
Would something like this be a waste of money? or would it be a good starter bike?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.htm...
Thanks in advance for your help and advice!
Jamie
Good review here: http://www.cyclingscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/... seems like a bargain! ETA, at the end of the article the cycling actie journo says he is getting one for long term test, so check out the mag for more.
I'm in the same boat... Need to lose a few pounds, feel similarly inspired! A mate works in a local bike shop, and has sorted me out with a Viking San Remo. I pick it up at the weekend, and it was worth spending that little extra - it's the first price point when you apparently get a road gear set, rather than a cheaper mountain bike gear set, pedals/crank were the better Shimano components - that sort of thing....
See this previous thread where I wrote a brief review of mine...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1167767
Anyway, it is now another month or so on from writing that and I am still thoroughly happy with my purchase. I was suffering from a bit of knee pain and so took the bike into the local bike shop for a full geometric bike fit and the guy couldn't believe how little the bike cost. He said that the nearest he had on offer was the Trek 1.1 which was inferior due to having a metal fork but is the best part of £200 more expensive.
Don't worry about the brand snobs, the bike is well made and has thoroughly useable kit on it. You'd have to spend a lot more to find anything better. Plus, as has been mentioned, the guys at the shop offer a decent service and you get a warranty if required.
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1167767
Anyway, it is now another month or so on from writing that and I am still thoroughly happy with my purchase. I was suffering from a bit of knee pain and so took the bike into the local bike shop for a full geometric bike fit and the guy couldn't believe how little the bike cost. He said that the nearest he had on offer was the Trek 1.1 which was inferior due to having a metal fork but is the best part of £200 more expensive.
Don't worry about the brand snobs, the bike is well made and has thoroughly useable kit on it. You'd have to spend a lot more to find anything better. Plus, as has been mentioned, the guys at the shop offer a decent service and you get a warranty if required.
timnoyce said:
See this previous thread where I wrote a brief review of mine...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1167767
Anyway, it is now another month or so on from writing that and I am still thoroughly happy with my purchase. I was suffering from a bit of knee pain and so took the bike into the local bike shop for a full geometric bike fit and the guy couldn't believe how little the bike cost. He said that the nearest he had on offer was the Trek 1.1 which was inferior due to having a metal fork but is the best part of £200 more expensive.
Don't worry about the brand snobs, the bike is well made and has thoroughly useable kit on it. You'd have to spend a lot more to find anything better. Plus, as has been mentioned, the guys at the shop offer a decent service and you get a warranty if required.
Hi Tim,http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1167767
Anyway, it is now another month or so on from writing that and I am still thoroughly happy with my purchase. I was suffering from a bit of knee pain and so took the bike into the local bike shop for a full geometric bike fit and the guy couldn't believe how little the bike cost. He said that the nearest he had on offer was the Trek 1.1 which was inferior due to having a metal fork but is the best part of £200 more expensive.
Don't worry about the brand snobs, the bike is well made and has thoroughly useable kit on it. You'd have to spend a lot more to find anything better. Plus, as has been mentioned, the guys at the shop offer a decent service and you get a warranty if required.
Thanks for your reply it is certainly looking tempting!
I have spent most of my life riding mountain bikes how did you guys find the transition from mountain - road?
It's fine really. You will notice how efficient it feels (or more how sluggish it feels when you get back on the mountain bike!) I'd suggest making sure you have everything nice and comfortable early on as you will probably suffer from some neck and back ache as you will be sitting in the same position for long periods of time instead of dynamic moving about on the mountain bike. This gets better with time though. It took a few weeks to get comfortable riding on the drops but a bit at a time and now I can ride in them all the time pretty much.
They're both different and both have their positives and negatives I guess but having the right tool for the job is certainly key. I guess this is where it can escalate having your training road bike and your best bike, your hard tail, your full suss... be careful as bike buying is addictive!
They're both different and both have their positives and negatives I guess but having the right tool for the job is certainly key. I guess this is where it can escalate having your training road bike and your best bike, your hard tail, your full suss... be careful as bike buying is addictive!
Different to what's been mentioned, but I was impressed with the spec of this one for the money.
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/raleigh-airlite-200...
A mate has just ordered one so I'll find out if it's any good or not and report back.
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/raleigh-airlite-200...
A mate has just ordered one so I'll find out if it's any good or not and report back.
If the Triban 3 came in black I'd have one just like that ><.
See a lot of them about in London being used for commuting. They seem perfectly decent. Never been one one but they're not cheap looking at all. Even the ones that are left chained outside in all weathers don't end up looking rotten and shabby.
If it only lasted a year without something major going wrong they still seem to be pretty good value. Better than those bright coloured £250 fixies that deserve their own sub-category of BSO.
See a lot of them about in London being used for commuting. They seem perfectly decent. Never been one one but they're not cheap looking at all. Even the ones that are left chained outside in all weathers don't end up looking rotten and shabby.
If it only lasted a year without something major going wrong they still seem to be pretty good value. Better than those bright coloured £250 fixies that deserve their own sub-category of BSO.
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