replacement for triban 3?

[budgie smuggler]

Some arse wipe stole my Triban 3 along with the new saddle, stem, pedals and tyres i'd just put on it. Not to mention fking up £100 worth of locks etc.

I was going to buy another, but they don't seem to be available and the new model doesn't have the nice carbon fork and basically doesn't look as good.

So any ideas on a replacement? £600 absolute max, but honestly, I'd rather be spending closer to half that.

Thinking Speci Allez and Trek 1.1 C H2 look okay. There are lots of brands about I don't recognise (new to road biking, do a fair bit of mountain biking though). Merlin cycles also have an own brand bike which looks okay: http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...
Anyone seen any bargains about or ones to avoid?

ta

Edited by budgie smuggler on Sunday 23 June 08:47

[944fan]

Sorry to hear that. There really are some motherless fkers in this world.

Anyway. I have the Trek 1.1. Its pretty ok really. Not sure how it compared directly with the Triban but it doesn't have carbon forks. It also has base Shim 2300 groupset which is a little limiting but works perfectly well. It is light and comfy. I looked at the Spesh Allez as well but that is sold out in some of the smaller and largest sizes.

[littleandy0410]

A mate of mine was looking at buying a cheap road bike, and I recommended the Triban3 at the time. As you say, pretty much out of stock everywhere, so he ended up going for a Merlin S2200:

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...

He's pretty pleased with it, and it hasn't let him down yet!

Boardman's cheapest bike is currently £499, plus they often have 10% off codes available (Joining British Cycling will give you 10% off) plus cashback through Quidco, so could be had for £450ish.

[Gizmoish]

There's always the next model up... http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-road-bike-whit...

Not sure there's anything else (new) with a carbon fork under £500 and it makes a big difference.

[budgie smuggler]

Thanks chaps I'll check those out.

Gizmoish said:

There's always the next model up... http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-road-bike-whit...

Not sure there's anything else (new) with a carbon fork under £500 and it makes a big difference.

Alas, same as the 3, it's not in stock anywhere that I can find.

[Benmac]

Where are you based and how big are you. They have stock of the red Triban 3s in all the popular sizes in the Warrington branch of Decathlon.

[budgie smuggler]

Cheers Ben, but that's a bit far (I'm in Essex). I might ask again if the store can transfer one over, but I think they said a while back that they couldn't.

[Benmac]

No problem, cracking bikes, my mum has one and as you note the red ones at better specced than the newer white version.

[Gizmoish]

Benmac said:

No problem, cracking bikes, my mum has one and as you note the red ones at better specced than the newer white version.

They've changed the spec on the 3 recently - it's not carbon fork any more.

[JQ]

Triban 5a. Carbon forks and the 2013 Sora bits. I've just bought one and am liking it alot, although as my first road bike I have little to compare it to.

[pembo]

I noticed the other day that chain reaction have a sale on their Ridley road bikes, they have a few that are 50% off at £500 which I thought looked good.

I've never heard of Ridley before though, does anyone have any experience of them?

I bought my Commencal mountain bike from there last year and it's been great, they seem to get some lesser known brands in and have massive discounts on them.

[Gizmoish]

pembo said:

I noticed the other day that chain reaction have a sale on their Ridley road bikes, they have a few that are 50% off at £500 which I thought looked good.

I've never heard of Ridley before though, does anyone have any experience of them?

I bought my Commencal mountain bike from there last year and it's been great, they seem to get some lesser known brands in and have massive discounts on them.

Some good value options there for sure. Ridley are a 'proper' make from Belgium, they supply Lotto-Belisol.

[Roman]

pembo said:

I noticed the other day that chain reaction have a sale on their Ridley road bikes, they have a few that are 50% off at £500 which I thought looked good.

Decent brand but average for £500 and laughable at £1k.

Much better speced Ridleys at Merlin for £550 - £575:
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...

Merlin own brand great VFM too.