B'twin Triban 3 Junior

Shaun67

I'm going to take my 8 year old son down to our local Decathlon store to have a look at a Triban 3 Junior, he has
started riding with me on Sunday morning, but riding his Giant mountain bike is holding him back, am I looking at
the right bike ? Any advice welcome.

oxoman

Cracking little bike had same issue with my youngest, managed to get a nearly new one. Not quite in the same class as Felt, islabike Kona, Dawes etc but plenty adequate unless doing major cyclocross or road rides and half the price. Don't go near the Viking or Baracuda junior roadbikes as very heavy.

Shaun67

Thanks for your reply, we went down to Decathlon in Sheffield yesterday and had a look at a Triban 3 Junior and the fit was great, the twin break levers worked a treat but hell the bike had some weight to it. We also looked at a Triban 3, the red one, the one in store was a 48 and that was too large, I think a 45 may fit, does any one know what size the Triban 3 Junior frame is ?
After looking on the internet today I found a Moda Minor in Hull for £380 ish, a bit more than I wanted to pay but may be worth a look.

luv2ride

if you can get a lighter bike, like the Moda Minor I'd go for it. Managed to get a 3rd hand Trek KDR 1000 (24" wheel) for my daughter and she loves it. Bike is much lighter than her Hotrock, and she gets on better with the Sora shifters than the grip shifts on her Hotrock. She's managing some decent distances now, roll on summer...

gerroffandmilkit

The full sized Triban 3 is only a smidge over 10kgs.
The junior is a scaled down bike with smaller wheels. Decent equipment for the price and if the full sized model is anything to go buy, should be a modern classic before too long.
The original red full sized T3's are now becoming harder to obtain and stocks are rapidly diminishing. Just shows how popular they have become.

Shaun67

Collected a B'twin 3, the red one this lunch time for my son. I managed to get a 45cm so he's
a happy little chap, let hope for some sun this weekend.

c-mac

I picked up a Triban 3 a couple of weeks back. Great first road bike so far, cant imagine the junior version would be any worse. Feels so light and significantly quicker compared to my old Giant mountain bike!

Shaun67

c-mac, it's just the same as the bigger one's, just very small......

oxoman

My littlun loves his Junior Triban would have got the small frame adult one but he's only 7 1/2, hopefully get a couple of years out of it then he can have a small frame adult bike if he grows like his big brother.

Shaun67

Harry and his new B'twin Triban 3 (45cm).

swelsbyuk

I have the same dilemma. What height is your son?

Shaun67

Swelsbyuk,

My son is about 134/135cm, he is just about big enough for it, any smaller and I woundn't bother, the bike would be
too big. I had to cut around 40mm ish from the seatpost so I could get it right down.

swelsbyuk

I took my daughter with me to Decathlon on Thursday when I bought myself a Triban 3. She was whizzing around the store on the junior model but it seemed just right for her - not much room for the inevitable growth spurt! She is 128cm but, from what you say, she may be a little small for the 45 cm model?

bold seagull

Shaun67 wrote:

Swelsbyuk,

My son is about 134/135cm, he is just about big enough for it, any smaller and I woundn't bother, the bike would be
too big. I had to cut around 40mm ish from the seatpost so I could get it right down.

Hi Shaun, how is your son getting on with the 45 Triban 3 ?

My daughter is 139/140 cm tall with a 65 cm inside leg. I was looking at the Triban 3 jnr, but from what your saying with your son at 135cm tall, perhaps she'd be okay on the full model.

I've also got 2 younger sons, so it will be passed down so a bigger model now would mean more of a wait for them I suppose.

Anonymous

Hi Shaun, bike looks great in the small frame ;-)
That comes with 650c wheels right? I think its great that decathlon/B'Twin bikes do that.

Your son will soon grow a little so the seat can come up. I think 650c wheels are quite important as the bike is a lot more controllable and confidence inspiring.

My daughter has just started using her 650c Felt and loves it.

There will be loads of growing room in that, and resale will be high. Great bike.
Dont forget to mark a new minimum saddle insertion on the seat post now that you have shortened it.
You can get him a nice comfy carbon one when he is bigger ;-)

Shaun67

Good afternoon all,

The Triban is now used every day after school and yes it's not far of perfect for him.

Carbonator, carbon seat post.....

bold seagull, my son's inside leg is now 64cm and he fits on it fine. I would buy the Triban 3
over the Junior every time with your daughter being tall enough at 140cm. The Triban 3 &
Junior are very different bikes.

Anonymous

Shaun67 wrote:

Carbonator, carbon seat post.....

Only when he gets too big for the one you had to cut. Bargain upgrade :P

You wil be looking at bling 650c wheels soon I'll bet

bold seagull

Shaun67 wrote:

bold seagull, my son's inside leg is now 64cm and he fits on it fine. I would buy the Triban 3
over the Junior every time with your daughter being tall enough at 140cm. The Triban 3 &
Junior are very different bikes.

Hi Shaun, one more thing, is there the clearances for a thicker slightly more cycleX tyre? It's the one thing I'm undecided on given the Isla Luath is easily adaptable to X or touring.

I've got on the South Downs Way on my road bike on 25 tyres, so I know they are more capable than people think.

Shaun67

Sorry for late reply, yes lots of clearance for bigger tyre.

I went for the B'twin over the Islabike because it was cheaper, has better spec (carbon fork)
and Decathlon are only 25 miles away.

imposter2.0

Shaun67 wrote:

Sorry for late reply, yes lots of clearance for bigger tyre.

Worth bearing in mind that nobody actually makes CX tyres in 650c.