Decathlon/B'TWIN bikes (Sorry! It's a what bike?) thread...

[yellowjack]

So, I'm back in the market for a new road bike. Last one was killed to death by a van back in February last year.

I've started looking, and I'm building up some ideas and the beginnings of a vague (and not so short) shortlist.

But here's the thing. Much has been posted on here about the cheaper bikes, from (perhaps) less conventional outlets. Stuff like the Ventura CP50 from Argos springs to mind, but they turned out to be too big for this particular shortarse. Then there's the oft recommended B'Twin Triban from decathlon.

Now my budget is generous (damages payout) but self-restricted to the £2,000 - £2,500 mark. So I took a look at the Decathlon website, expecting the Tribans, Rockrider MTBs and a handfull of cycle path hybrids. Then I found some bikes I truly didn't expect. Full carbon fibre bikes hung with 105 and Ultegra groupsets, and one with Mavic Ksyrium Elite S wheels that weighs only 7.2kg (claimed).

So, the big question? I know that several posters here have bought Tribans, and are happy to recommend them. Does anyone have any experience of the higher end B'Twin/Decathlon road bike offerings which they wouldn't mind sharing?

The one I'm particularly looking at is the range-topping B'TWIN Ultra 920 at £2,000
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-carbon-road-b...


1170g carbon fibre frame/fork
Shimano Ultegra 6800 group (6810 direct mount brakes under the bottom bracket) with 11-25 cassette (chainring sizes not specified)
Deda Zero2 bars and stem
1520g Mavic Ksyrium Elite S wheels
FIZIK Arione saddle and carbon fibre seatpost
LOOK KEO 2 max pedals are (unusually) listed in the standard spec sheet, too!
Size medium weighs 7.2kg complete
Life Time Warranty: B'TWIN makes the life time warranty for the frames, brackets, stems and rigid forks.

There's a cheaper £1,600 B'TWIN Ultra 900, with Shimano 105 11-speed (52/36 rings, 11-28 cassette) with 'in-house' wheels weighing 7.85kg.

For comparison, I was already looking at...

Trek Émonda SL 6 at £2,300. Ultegra (50/34 x 11-28), basic in-house wheels and finishing kit, 7.4kg (no pedals) http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/performa...

Scott Addict 20 at £2,499. Ultegra (52/36 x 11-28 *105 cassette), in house wheels and finishing kit, 7.12kg (no pedals)

Scott Solace 15 at £2,599. Ultegra (50/34 x 11-32 *105 cassette) with Shimano BR-RS785 Hydraulic Disc brakes (160mm rotors f/r), in-house wheels and finishing kit, 7.66kg (no pedals)

The advantages of the B'TWIN stuff are that they're cheaper, and seem to be slightly better equipped with regard to finishing kit/wheels. While they aren't 'poverty spec' and I'd be unlikely to start lobbing upgrades at them immediately, the 'big brand' bikes seem to scrimp a bit on finishing kit, and in-house wheels are notoriously difficult to compare with branded wheels. The big advantage is brand perception (snobbery to you and me) and reputation, but is it that worth the premium? Like I say, I have the money to spend, but I don't want to spunk hundreds of pounds on a branded bike simply "because TdF teams ride those brands", although I don't want to buy a lemon, neither.

The disc equipped Solace 15 is the most expensive shortlisted bike so far, and the heaviest, but I'm slowly coming round to the idea of discs on a road bike, and I'm as far from needing a UCI competition compliant bike as it's possible to imagine If road discs are the way of the future, then I might as well at least consider jumping on the bandwagon while I need a new bike anyway.

Lightness is pretty high up my list of priorities...

Sub 8kg complete bike.
Shimano groupset (minimum 105) 11 Speed prefered, but willing to consider 5700/6700 10 speed for a bargain.
Traditional road frame and handlebars. No TT or flat bar bikes need apply.
Budget arbitrarily set at £2,500 but could be stretched a little for the right bike.

[richardxjr]

Build your own! You've got a fancy stand and a hammer?

Seriously, a carbon frameset and wheelset direct from the AliExpress manufacturers, Di2 from one of the UK webmonsters, some fancy finishing kit...

Pablo might be worth a pm

[Craivold]

I've not ridden one but I've been in the Southampton Decathlon store and seen that frame and I think it looks lovely. Seen a bloke out on one in the New Forest too and he was going well. They look as good as the other brands at that price level I think. The pics in this review don't do the frame justice (make it look a bit flakey?), the one I saw looked very well finished but sounds like the ride is enjoyed - http://road.cc/content/news/110322-first-ride-b%E2...

[TheLemming]

richardxjr said:

Seriously, a carbon frameset and wheelset direct from the AliExpress manufacturers,

Ah those guys without any noticeable quality control or warranty support?

You pays your money you takes your chance....

[richardxjr]

^ If you do the research, you can buy direct safely. From the same sources as fancy brands.

[blugnu]

richardxjr said:

^ If you do the research, you can buy direct safely. From the same sources as fancy brands.

And they come with a lifetime warranty and a shop you can drop the bike off at if a problem occurs?

[jamiebae]

For that money you could have a Genesis Zero 4

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/race/zero...

Or a BMC Teammachine

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/teammachin...

Both with Ultegra, and I think my cash would go on either of them before the Decathlon one personally, but maybe that's my inner brand snob talking...

[yellowjack]

jamiebae said:

For that money you could have a Genesis Zero 4

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/race/zero...

Or a BMC Teammachine

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/teammachin...

Both with Ultegra, and I think my cash would go on either of them before the Decathlon one personally, but maybe that's my inner brand snob talking...

Thanks for those!

This is what I wanted, really. Either experience of the B'TWIN or suggestions for bikes I would otherwise have overlooked...

That Genesis? Spaff! It's bloomin' lovely. A little heavier than I would ideally like, but close enough
I'm going to call on a couple of stockists in the next few days.

The BMC? Not available, according to Evans own website (at least in the size I need) until mid-March
Still. I can call in to Evans in Guildford while I'm out looking at Genesis stockists. It's let down a bit by the wheels, which Merlin are currently letting out the door at £125 a pair, but a swap for a Shimano Dura Ace 9000 C24 Tubeless Clincher Wheelset (£540 and sub-1500g) would sort that out, and the RS21s would cross-deck to my steel tourer.

I might have a look at the Boardman range in Halfords too, for balance. They have some nice bikes in their range, but I'm really in the market for something a bit less 'ubiquitous' I think. I want to know that when I stop at a cafe, I'm unlikely to have the exact same bike as the next customer through the doors.

[jamiebae]

A change of wheels and tyres on the Genesis should see it well below 8kg I'm sure, and still leave change from the top end of your budget. It's a bit new for any proper reviews but it certainly looks the part. It's a shame on the BMC availability as I really like the look of them, but maybe I'm slowly turning Swiss and beginning to adopt their patriotic purchasing tendencies...

[FUFPH]

Did you look at the Decathlon Mach 740?

[ALawson]

Have you considered a focus, I had a Izalco Max 3.0, ok it was a£4.3k bike, on hire in Tenerife. Good weight, build quality and worth a look.

Below budget

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/focus-road-...

Top budget.

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/focus-road-...

Overspend

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/focus-road-...

Budget +£500

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/focus-road-...

Review of above. http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/...

Disk version Cayo

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/focus-road-...

Edited by ALawson on Tuesday 13th January 22:10

[Justin S]

If I was starting out on a new bike, I would be looking at discs on a road bike.
If not, I would look at something like this and spend the difference on a few upgrades
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5167/CANNONDAL...

[yellowjack]

FUFPH said:

Did you look at the Decathlon Mach 740?

Yes. The 8kg weight and £1,400 price tag had me interested, but sadly I have never 'got along with' Campag groupsets. Maybe I ought to at least look at it, though. Keep an open mind and all that, eh?

[yellowjack]

ALawson said:

Have you considered a Focus...

I hadn't. But I am considering one now!

Those prices look good, the two that stood out were the Cayo 3.0 Disc (hydraulic brakes too!) at £2,299, and the Cayo 2.0 Ultegra Di2 at £2,699. No published weights for either bike, but I'll do a little research tomorrow. If they are as well built as you say, they certainly seem to be a LOT of bike for the money.

Thanks!

[mouseymousey]

There is also Rose Bikes. They have a carbon Ultegra Di2 for the under 2k which will probably be my next bike.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-team-cgf...

[ALawson]

yellowjack said:

I hadn't. But I am considering one now!

Those prices look good, the two that stood out were the Cayo 3.0 Disc (hydraulic brakes too!) at £2,299, and the Cayo 2.0 Ultegra Di2 at £2,699. No published weights for either bike, but I'll do a little research tomorrow. If they are as well built as you say, they certainly seem to be a LOT of bike for the money.

Thanks!

Well I may have crashed one at 43kmh and it was unscathed!

Must post my Tenerife write up at some point.

[Silver940]

Worth a visit?

http://www.boutiquecycles.co.uk/

[yellowjack]

Silver940 said:

Worth a visit?

http://www.boutiquecycles.co.uk/

Thanks for reminding me about this lot. They are on the list of places to visit, having been mentioned, by ALawson I believe, on his Strava feed recently.

I'm very keen to get the 'right bike' first time, this time. I can, after all, only spend the money once, and when it's gone I'm not sure when I'll be in a position to make such a purchase again.

[yellowjack]

mouseymousey said:

There is also Rose Bikes. They have a carbon Ultegra Di2 for the under 2k which will probably be my next bike.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-team-cgf...

I've had a look at their bike configurator, and up-specced that to just over £2,600 (inc. pedals, exc. shipping). It's an option, but to be honest, I'm preferring the idea of a bike I can see, touch, sit on, and hopefully test ride at a 'bricks and mortar' shop. I've not discounted the idea of mail-order, but, despite the obvious value in the bikes, the whole concept of buying 'blind' worries me a little.

[ALawson]

Pedal Heaven are also stocking these, good write up in one of the magazine I read last month.

http://www.orrobikes.com/bikes/orro-gold/buy?actio...