How naff is B Twin?

sturmey
sturmey Posts: 964
edited July 2009 in Road buying advice
Bought some legwarmers from Decathlon the other day and they work fine. They are fairly lightweight material and they don't slip down on a ride.£9.95

I also bought a gilet for the same price with a zip up rear pocket which seemed a bit of a bargain.
Problem is it says B Twin on the front and back and and I would hate people to think I am not a'real' road cyclist.
Now that I have bought this stuff from Decathlon I feel like I should put a spoke protector back in my rear wheel, drop my saddle really low and pedal with a cadence of no more than 60rpm in some baggy shorts.

Comments

  • LeighB
    LeighB Posts: 326
    I would not worry about it, B Twin is quite acceptable. I wear ALDI Crane kit and feel no different to when I wear other branded items. If I were you I would feel very smug that you did not pay three times the price for a very small increase (if any) in quality.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21286698@N06/
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    sturmey wrote:
    Bought some legwarmers from Decathlon the other day and they work fine. They are fairly lightweight material and they don't slip down on a ride.£9.95

    I also bought a gilet for the same price with a zip up rear pocket which seemed a bit of a bargain.
    Problem is it says B Twin on the front and back and and I would hate people to think I am not a'real' road cyclist.
    Now that I have bought this stuff from Decathlon I feel like I should put a spoke protector back in my rear wheel, drop my saddle really low and pedal with a cadence of no more than 60rpm in some baggy shorts.

    with ron hills over your shorts
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    Never had a problem with any clothing from Decathlon, but never bought it in UK either. French stores seem to have a far better selection.

    As for the B-Twin brand, they used to sponsor one of the French ProTour teams (can't remember which), so I wouldn't worry about "people to think I am not a'real' road cyclist"
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • bikerZA
    bikerZA Posts: 314
    They used to sponsor AG2R

    ag2rjersey07.jpg
    cyclecomparison.com
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    fast as fupp wrote:
    sturmey wrote:
    Bought some legwarmers from Decathlon the other day and they work fine. They are fairly lightweight material and they don't slip down on a ride.£9.95

    I also bought a gilet for the same price with a zip up rear pocket which seemed a bit of a bargain.
    Problem is it says B Twin on the front and back and and I would hate people to think I am not a'real' road cyclist.
    Now that I have bought this stuff from Decathlon I feel like I should put a spoke protector back in my rear wheel, drop my saddle really low and pedal with a cadence of no more than 60rpm in some baggy shorts.

    with ron hills over your shorts

    In a high viz waterproof on a roasting hot sunny day :lol:
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    I would say Decathlon are a thinking man's Halfords.

    They still sell some tat but they also have some bits of useable kit which is good value.

    The B Twin road shoes looked pretty nasty. But their road helmet @ £35 fitted ok and was comfy.

    Anyway, am off to the garage now to put some reflectors and one of those hugely oversized seatpacks on my bike..
  • toshmund
    toshmund Posts: 390
    sturmey wrote:
    Bought some legwarmers from Decathlon the other day and they work fine. They are fairly lightweight material and they don't slip down on a ride.£9.95

    I also bought a gilet for the same price with a zip up rear pocket which seemed a bit of a bargain.
    Problem is it says B Twin on the front and back and and I would hate people to think I am not a'real' road cyclist.
    Now that I have bought this stuff from Decathlon I feel like I should put a spoke protector back in my rear wheel, drop my saddle really low and pedal with a cadence of no more than 60rpm in some baggy shorts.

    Comments/attitudes like this, even if it is meant in jest...that kind of put me off joining a club.
    It seems to peeve the people on their Taiwan built Colnago's, when you overtake with the work commuting gear (pannier rack...not welding safety boots/Balfour Beatty Hi-Viz) and Shimano suicide levers.

    Fat middle aged blokes in bright yellow Lycra/Discovery team gear...now they deserve the ridicule!!!
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    I like there stuff - I ride £250 decathlon road bike to work every day - and its more than paid for itself.
    There shorts for £16-£20 are great value - and there socks for £1.50 a pair , really are the Jewell in the crown.
  • Frank the tank
    Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
    I'm with Toshmund. This thread highlights perfectly the mentality of some who believe "you are what you ride" and are label orientated.
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I have some Btwin winter longs - they're fine - not brilliant quality - but cheap. I was away in Spain with work and had some time to kill and never been to a Decathlon before - clearly I had to buy some kit ! ;-)

    I also have some Assos kit (overpriced and over hyped) and some Rapha kit (v overpriced unless its on sale - but beautiful kit).

    Who cares about the labels - just ride it !
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    BTwin stuff is fine. Their kit is better than some I could mention and their bikes are good value.

    I also have some Assos kit (correctly priced and justifiably hyped) and of course it can't compete with the best but it does sit alongside Nalini etc. and better than Aldi.
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    I'm not even going to tell you what kit I ride in for fear of ridicule :lol:

    Wear whatever is comfortable and let your riding do the talking.
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    B'Twin used to sponsor AG2R and Cofidis with bikes etc.
    Most of the stuff is OK and everyone makes something which doesn't perform as it should.
    I have quite alot of Decathlon branded stuff as I work for them and have no issues with it to be honest.I find it very comparible to my team issue stuff and my Campag stuff.
    The lower end clothing is simply budget but you get what you pay for.
    The top end bikes from the competition range at least are all made in Europe rather than Taiwan like most other brands.
    As for the ranges in France they have exactly the same range as the UK it all comes down to the size of the store and what they have room to stock, normally if its not in stock it can be ordered in.

    If you wear Assos does it make you instantly faster??
  • dag_on_a_bike
    dag_on_a_bike Posts: 581
    sturmey wrote:
    The B Twin road shoes looked pretty nasty...
    I've had 2 pairs of Decathlon own-brand shoes and while they don't look too good they were comfortable and for the price did a good job.
    There's no such thing as too old.
  • aarw
    aarw Posts: 448
    Talk about all fur coat and no knickers!

    It's not what you ride..... :roll: :roll:

    Try golf. Buy Ping.

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