BTwin bikes

[AmiableChimp]

Afternoon gents,

I am looking at getting a new road bike and popped into Decathlon at the weekend to see what they offer.

They have 2 different models I am considering:

The BTwin Triban3 - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.htm...

and the BTwin Triban5 - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-id_8167039.htm...

They both seem like a decent introductory road bike, but then I don't really know very much about it at all

Anyone got any experience? Opinions?

[GBDG]

I've heard that they're OK.

The Tiban 3 looks like great value, Sub £500 road bikes usually have some serious design flaws, like bar mounted shifters, aluminum forks or something else to put you off. That bike doesn't look like it has any obvious weaknesses. It's a budget bike, so overall component quality is at the budget end of the scale.

I wouldn't go for the Triban 5 in the £500 range. My number one priority would be to to get shifters that didn't require using the thumb to down shift (my current bike has Sora, and it winds me up). Something like thr Boardman road comp meets that spec, but it's obviously >£100.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Roman]

GBDG said:

I've heard that they're OK.

The Tiban 3 looks like great value, Sub £500 road bikes usually have some serious design flaws, like bar mounted shifters, aluminum forks or something else to put you off. That bike doesn't look like it has any obvious weaknesses. It's a budget bike, so overall component quality is at the budget end of the scale.

I wouldn't go for the Triban 5 in the £500 range. My number one priority would be to to get shifters that didn't require using the thumb to down shift (my current bike has Sora, and it winds me up). Something like thr Boardman road comp meets that spec, but it's obviously >£100.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I second that. The Triban 3 is unbeatable at £300 and the 5 isn't worth the extra £200 but it is well worth £630 for the Boardman.

[shouldbworking]

I've a friend with a triban 3. It's a remarkable piece of kit at the price. The only thing I would say is that it doesn't have rack mounts or if I remember correctly, mudguard mounts so you'd have to go for something like crudracers that don't require them and a beam mount rack if you wanted to use it for that.

[timnoyce]

See my post the other day:

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

I checked out the more expensive Triban 5 but didn't think it offered the same vfm, I plan to upgrade parts as they require replacement but to be honest so far so good!