Poverty pedalling
Discussion
I've been promising myself a winter snotter bike for a few years now but have never gotten round to pulling the trigger. Last week I decided to pull my finger out so naturally started my search by looking at the winter trainer sold by Ribble. However, once you factor in a few "essential" upgrades the price starts to rocket and the whole point of buying a snotter goes out the window...
On my way home from work on Friday I stopped by Decathlon to look at their bottom of the range Triban 3. The guy in the shop was a good lad and we started talking bikes. He told me that Decathlon had seriously under estimated the popularity of their models and they were out of stock (nationwide) for normal sizes in both the Triban 3 (£299) and the Triban 5 (£429). However, he offered to go into their stock room and have a root around to see what he could turn up.
10 mins later he came out wheeling a red 2012 Triban 3 in my size - I couldn't believe my luck. Apparently it had been reserved but the reservation had expired months ago. It was mine if I wanted it and I couldn't resist!
For the money it's an amazing bike. The frame is cracking, the welds are very neat. The carbon forks seem great so far and there is a certain appeal of the chunky 8 speed drivetrain (although I'll never love the thumb downshift). I've only done a handful of miles on the way home from the store today but perversely I really enjoy riding it. I liken it to hiring a poverty spec hatch with a small engine - you can really revel in the simplicity of the low-tech and thrash the nuts off it without any regard for the damage you might be doing.
I plan to commute in it through the winter in all weathers and see how it performs. So far I've only chucked a pair of old SPD's onto it, adjusted the seat/bars to suit me and ditched the crappy lights. I will buy a set of fixed mudguards (any recommendations?) and that's it. Hopefully it'll last to the spring and I'll resist the thoughts of upgrades (I've promised myself a new summer bike next year and I'll be able to refresh my main bike over the cold season).
On my way home from work on Friday I stopped by Decathlon to look at their bottom of the range Triban 3. The guy in the shop was a good lad and we started talking bikes. He told me that Decathlon had seriously under estimated the popularity of their models and they were out of stock (nationwide) for normal sizes in both the Triban 3 (£299) and the Triban 5 (£429). However, he offered to go into their stock room and have a root around to see what he could turn up.
10 mins later he came out wheeling a red 2012 Triban 3 in my size - I couldn't believe my luck. Apparently it had been reserved but the reservation had expired months ago. It was mine if I wanted it and I couldn't resist!
For the money it's an amazing bike. The frame is cracking, the welds are very neat. The carbon forks seem great so far and there is a certain appeal of the chunky 8 speed drivetrain (although I'll never love the thumb downshift). I've only done a handful of miles on the way home from the store today but perversely I really enjoy riding it. I liken it to hiring a poverty spec hatch with a small engine - you can really revel in the simplicity of the low-tech and thrash the nuts off it without any regard for the damage you might be doing.
I plan to commute in it through the winter in all weathers and see how it performs. So far I've only chucked a pair of old SPD's onto it, adjusted the seat/bars to suit me and ditched the crappy lights. I will buy a set of fixed mudguards (any recommendations?) and that's it. Hopefully it'll last to the spring and I'll resist the thoughts of upgrades (I've promised myself a new summer bike next year and I'll be able to refresh my main bike over the cold season).
Very lucky there to find that!
The shifters are sodding terrible, but are a direct swap for the new 2014 Shimano Claris 8 speed ones, which are basically an 8 speed version of Sora and have a proper paddle instead of the nasty thumb switch. I bought a Carrera TDF from Halfords with the new bits on, swapped them for the 2300s on my bike and then was going to sell the TDF, but decided to keep it as a London/pub bike.
Nice dancing donkey there too, but part of it seems to have fallen off
The shifters are sodding terrible, but are a direct swap for the new 2014 Shimano Claris 8 speed ones, which are basically an 8 speed version of Sora and have a proper paddle instead of the nasty thumb switch. I bought a Carrera TDF from Halfords with the new bits on, swapped them for the 2300s on my bike and then was going to sell the TDF, but decided to keep it as a London/pub bike.
Nice dancing donkey there too, but part of it seems to have fallen off
I knew this would sodding happen! Are these the shifters? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-st-2400-claris-8-s...
Re: the car. It's worse at the front: Clicky. I'm waiting for some spare time to strip it down for parts.
On a lighter note, I took the long way into the office this morning (12 miles) - the bike felt great all things considered. I'm looking forward to thrashing the nuts off it in all weathers without any consideration for it.
Re: the car. It's worse at the front: Clicky. I'm waiting for some spare time to strip it down for parts.
On a lighter note, I took the long way into the office this morning (12 miles) - the bike felt great all things considered. I'm looking forward to thrashing the nuts off it in all weathers without any consideration for it.
Edited by voicey on Monday 7th October 09:08
tigger1 said:
Careful not to scratch the bike leaning it against your car.
I'm tempted by the winter hack thing - but then I think that just spending more time cleaning the summer bike would be good anyway, and I can always upgrade components that wear through the wet season.
If you ride more than once a week, a winter bike is essential. You will not want to be cleaning a bike each day. I have a Boardman single speed for the winter. It's great, minimal maintenance and I'm not that fused about it. I'm tempted by the winter hack thing - but then I think that just spending more time cleaning the summer bike would be good anyway, and I can always upgrade components that wear through the wet season.
voicey said:
I knew this would sodding happen! Are these the shifters? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-st-2400-claris-8-s...
Re: the car. It's worse at the front: Clicky. I'm waiting for some spare time to strip it down for parts.
On a lighter note, I took the long way into the office this morning (12 miles) - the bike felt great all things considered. I'm looking forward to thrashing the nuts off it in all weathers without any consideration for it.
Yup, they're the shifters. You might find it's cheaper to buy a TDF, swap the shifters then sell it on than buy them new but that's more hassle to do. They do transform the bike though. Re: the car. It's worse at the front: Clicky. I'm waiting for some spare time to strip it down for parts.
On a lighter note, I took the long way into the office this morning (12 miles) - the bike felt great all things considered. I'm looking forward to thrashing the nuts off it in all weathers without any consideration for it.
Edited by voicey on Monday 7th October 09:08
Shame about the 360, looks a right mess there!
jamiebae said:
Yup, they're the shifters. You might find it's cheaper to buy a TDF, swap the shifters then sell it on than buy them new but that's more hassle to do. They do transform the bike though.
Shame about the 360, looks a right mess there!
Thanks - they'll go on the list of things to buy. I can't turn up with another bike or my wife will go spare. Trust me it'll be much cheaper to buy the shifters on their own!Shame about the 360, looks a right mess there!
In hindsight I wish I had done this. I have a Triban 5 white which I put a pair of Campag wheels on as a summer/fairweather bike. I had an old frame which I painted and stuck on new parts to use my winter hack, but this cost me £450 to build. I would have been cheaper buying a Triban 3 and changing tyres.
The 5 is a cracking bike and hopefully the 3 is just as good.
The 5 is a cracking bike and hopefully the 3 is just as good.
voicey said:
Re: the car. It's worse at the front: Clicky. I'm waiting for some spare time to strip it down for parts.
Ouch, even more ouch since I have recently signed up for the same policy but through the Porsche Club, doesn't make you feel good to read that, they were supposed to be good!Tyres are the stock Decathlon rubbish - seemed OK in the dry this morning but the first wet corner will be interesting. I will no doubt be wanting to switch them over when the weather kicks in.
I've just ordered some SKS Chromoplastic guards in black so they'll be going on this week.
I'm going to resist the upgrades as much as possible and see if I can live with the bike as is. I doubt it, I've got a spare pair of RS30 wheels in the shed somewhere and it'd be nice to get rid of the thumbshifter...
RE: Car insurance - it was a total nightmare but I suspect it could have been worse. At least Chubb coughed up without me resorting to suing them.
I've just ordered some SKS Chromoplastic guards in black so they'll be going on this week.
I'm going to resist the upgrades as much as possible and see if I can live with the bike as is. I doubt it, I've got a spare pair of RS30 wheels in the shed somewhere and it'd be nice to get rid of the thumbshifter...
RE: Car insurance - it was a total nightmare but I suspect it could have been worse. At least Chubb coughed up without me resorting to suing them.
I rather like the Sora thumbshifter. If the majority of your time is spent hands on hoods there's no reason to hate it.
The current budget road bike from Decathlon isn't anywhere near as good, it has lost the carbon fork which is a pity.
Those in the market for a budget road bike have never had it so good.
The current budget road bike from Decathlon isn't anywhere near as good, it has lost the carbon fork which is a pity.
Those in the market for a budget road bike have never had it so good.
voicey said:
Tyres are the stock Decathlon rubbish - seemed OK in the dry this morning but the first wet corner will be interesting. I will no doubt be wanting to switch them over when the weather kicks in.
I've just ordered some SKS Chromoplastic guards in black so they'll be going on this week.
I'm going to resist the upgrades as much as possible and see if I can live with the bike as is. I doubt it, I've got a spare pair of RS30 wheels in the shed somewhere and it'd be nice to get rid of the thumbshifter...
RE: Car insurance - it was a total nightmare but I suspect it could have been worse. At least Chubb coughed up without me resorting to suing them.
Just read the saga on your dancing donkey... Much sympathy! It sounds nightmarish... Hopefully it will all come good mate.I've just ordered some SKS Chromoplastic guards in black so they'll be going on this week.
I'm going to resist the upgrades as much as possible and see if I can live with the bike as is. I doubt it, I've got a spare pair of RS30 wheels in the shed somewhere and it'd be nice to get rid of the thumbshifter...
RE: Car insurance - it was a total nightmare but I suspect it could have been worse. At least Chubb coughed up without me resorting to suing them.
Ref tyres, the puncture protection on some decent tyres, let alone the ride and grip will pay for them in tubes in no time at all.
I went with conti gp4 seasons and went from a puncture or two a week to zero over the last six weeks since I've had them. Even with cheap tubes they soon make sense...
Halfords have a pair of ultra gatorskins for 36 at the moment which is a bit of a killer deal.
Barchettaman said:
I rather like the Sora thumbshifter. If the majority of your time is spent hands on hoods there's no reason to hate it.
The current budget road bike from Decathlon isn't anywhere near as good, it has lost the carbon fork which is a pity.
Those in the market for a budget road bike have never had it so good.
The thumbshifters aren't that bad - I just need to get into the habit of getting into the right gear before going down onto the drops. I test rode the current (white) Triban 3 - it is still a good bike for the money. If they had any in stock it would be a good buy which could be made better with some budget carbon forks (this was my plan when I first went into the store).The current budget road bike from Decathlon isn't anywhere near as good, it has lost the carbon fork which is a pity.
Those in the market for a budget road bike have never had it so good.
robsa said:
Lol, I read the title and was looking forward to reading about a frame recovered from the street, stripped and painted and a single-speed chainset etc.
I was expecting to see 30ish spend! 300 snotter! Your idea of 'poverty pedalling' is very diffferent to mine!
Nice bike though.
LoL - I wish I could get a bike rolling for 30!I was expecting to see 30ish spend! 300 snotter! Your idea of 'poverty pedalling' is very diffferent to mine!
Nice bike though.
TheLemming said:
Just read the saga on your dancing donkey... Much sympathy! It sounds nightmarish... Hopefully it will all come good mate.
Ref tyres, the puncture protection on some decent tyres, let alone the ride and grip will pay for them in tubes in no time at all.
I went with conti gp4 seasons and went from a puncture or two a week to zero over the last six weeks since I've had them. Even with cheap tubes they soon make sense...
Halfords have a pair of ultra gatorskins for 36 at the moment which is a bit of a killer deal.
Thanks. Do you have a link for the halfords offer? I can't see it on the website.Ref tyres, the puncture protection on some decent tyres, let alone the ride and grip will pay for them in tubes in no time at all.
I went with conti gp4 seasons and went from a puncture or two a week to zero over the last six weeks since I've had them. Even with cheap tubes they soon make sense...
Halfords have a pair of ultra gatorskins for 36 at the moment which is a bit of a killer deal.
voicey said:
Thanks. Do you have a link for the halfords offer? I can't see it on the website.
In the thread entitled: Continental Ultra Gatorskin deal.....47p2 said:
Choose Bundle deal on the right hand corner. This offer lasts till monday. 10% automatically applied at checkout
Click
.....it now being Tuesday, it may have expired.Click
So I've been riding the bike for two weeks now and have to say I'm very impressed. The only negative thing I can say is that the shifting isn't that precise and the rear derailleur is a little noisy (the top cog doesn't appear to have a bearing!).
The tyres seem fine, even when I was out in the rain.
I managed to get a pair of SKS chromoplastics on so I'm all set for the winter...
The tyres seem fine, even when I was out in the rain.
I managed to get a pair of SKS chromoplastics on so I'm all set for the winter...
I've had my Triban 3 for about 6 months now and its been great. I do about 80 miles a week on it. All I've upgraded are the brake blocks, bar tape, seat and the tyres. I have Michelin Pro Race 3's on mine and it transformed it. I also have some SKS Raceblades for when its wet.
For £300 quid they're bang on and its needed nothing other than cleaning and some grease in the hubs as its lacking from the factory.
For £300 quid they're bang on and its needed nothing other than cleaning and some grease in the hubs as its lacking from the factory.
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