Triban 3 - worth upgrading?

Bunneh

I'm going to buying a Triban 3 from Decathlon in a few weeks, managing to squirrel away £300 (if all goes to plan). Is it worth upgrading over the long run? I'm not talking top end components, Sora stuff, maybe Tiagra as time goes on. Alloy frame with carbon forks seems a worthwhile frame to invest some upgrades. Already have Ultegra brakes from another bike.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

Comments and suggestions are welcome

Ta.

edhornby

they are a bargain those triban 3s - but I wouldn't upgrade anything other than the saddle if you don't get on with it... if something breaks, then replace with good quality if you are going to keep it

if you really want to, nice replacement wheels and tyres would give you the most bang for buck but you'd be looking at a sizeable proportion of the total bike value as upgrade cost - better to just get out there and ride it as it is

chris_bass

for the money the Triban 5 is much better in my opinion.

if you are already considering upgrading i'd hang on and get that one.

you get carbomn seat stays, sora mech and tiagra style shifters as well as other upgrades.

if you can i'd do that rather than rush and get the cheapest one looking to upgrade straight away.

Bunneh

Cheers for the replies.

I have seriously looked at the Triban 5 and would like that instead, so saving a few weeks longer might be the best bet. I wouldn't be upgrading instantly, it's just as thing die off, because I intend to keep this bike and not give it to an ex, heh. I would like to think it's worth getting better parts on it as the months/years roll by.

chris_bass

i think if there is only a few weeks in it then definitely worth the wait

arlowood

Triban 3 was voted best value out of 4 bikes in the current issue of Cycling Active. The other bikes cost £900, £700 and £500 respectively compared to the £300 Triban

Conclusions were that the frame was great for the price and would probably be worth some upgrades once parts started to wear.

On that basis it seems well worth considering as your entry level steed.

cooper.michael1

Chris Bass wrote:

for the money the Triban 5 is much better in my opinion.

if you are already considering upgrading i'd hang on and get that one.

you get carbomn seat stays, sora mech and tiagra style shifters as well as other upgrades.

if you can i'd do that rather than rush and get the cheapest one looking to upgrade straight away.

I disagree. The Triban 5 basically gets Sora over Shimano 2300, the wheels and finishing kit is all the same. The shifter style is the same, and you won't notice much difference in the shifts. My girlfriends bike has 2300, and it shifts very nicely (i'm used to Campagnolo, and i was very impressed). Carbon seatstays will make very little difference in my opinion.

If I were you i'd buy the Triban 3, and get out and ride, enjoy the summer whilst its here. If you carry on saving in a couple of months time you could say buy some Mavic Aksium wheels, and some good tyres which would be a much better upgrade that which rear mech you have.

The Triban 3 with some Aksiums on it (£140 from merlin) and say some Conti GP 4000s tyres (£60) has got to be the best value £500 combo out there at the moment.

finlayson99

cooper.michael1 wrote:

If I were you i'd buy the Triban 3, and get out and ride, enjoy the summer whilst its here.

Have a read of the review in the current Cycling Active.

Buy it

Ride it

Enjoy it.............you won't regret it.

Simples

bilsea159

I bought one of these back in March as a winter training bike, I have fitted sks mudguards. I have used it a fair amount this year due to the poor weather instead of my Ribble Sportive carbon bike and can vouch for it being an excellent bike and a real bargain as the Cycling Active review confirms. Gears are simple but work a little tricky changing down because of the posistion of the buttons requires using the drops but the range of gears and the triple chainset should suit a beginner. You should not need to upgrade straight away but the tyres are as with most bikes poor standard fit decathlon own brand.

Bunneh

Cheers for the info guys, will be getting the T3 next week Have a few upgradable parts here, including Ultegra brakes, but not in any rush just looking forward to riding with gears again!

snowjho

Pedals. That was/is first on my Triban 3 upgrade list. Then wheels.

Bunneh

I have a set of clipless which have been used on the single speed for a year now, so they'll go on't Triban and I'll whack flatties on't SS to do my shopping