First road bike Triban 7 or Trek 1.5

Anonymous

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

If you want sex on wheels with an affordable price tag look here-

I've seen it in the flesh & it's stunning!

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fc-3-road-bi ... 21749.html

What would you get if you wanted to ride long distances though

Inutero

Carbonator wrote:

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

If you want sex on wheels with an affordable price tag look here-

I've seen it in the flesh & it's stunning!

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fc-3-road-bi ... 21749.html

What would you get if you wanted to ride long distances though

Guess it falls to bits at that point

whitestar1

I was in the same position you are in. I own the Triban 7 and the RockRider 8.0. I have no regrets. You are sounding like a brand snob if you are worried about branding. I saved a lot and that went into better wheels and other upgrades. I love my T7 and the fact that I only know 1 other person with one makes it RARE!!!!! nice I am unique. The service provided by Decathlon is unmatched by any other brand.

merkin

I got a roadlite al 6 recently as my first road bike and so far I absolutely love it (and it comes with the aksiums as standard). I doubt you will regret it.
When are you due to get it delivered?

nickponty

I've had a 2013 Trek 1.5 since last summer, it's got me into road cycling, and it'll get me round the RideLondon 100 in August, but i've already got itchy feet looking to get something better. I'm not saying its bad, but don't expect to get one and that be the end of your bike fancying journey!

Anonymous

nickponty wrote:

I've had a 2013 Trek 1.5 since last summer, it's got me into road cycling, and it'll get me round the RideLondon 100 in August, but i've already got itchy feet looking to get something better. I'm not saying its bad, but don't expect to get one and that be the end of your bike fancying journey!

Out of interest, do you regret buying the Trek and wish you had got a better first bike, or happy that you tried that first and now want another?

I tend to think having a 'try' bike is a bit of a waste of time/money, but a lot of people seem to recommend doing it.

The up side is that you get to know more what you want I guess, and maybe even keep the old bike for winter use.

Given your time again, would you have got a better first bike do you think? Even if you may still then be wanting another?

Graydawg

I have a Triban 3 and absolutely love it. Being new to road cycling I didn't have a big budget to spend but this got the best reviews in its class and in some reviews outshone some bikes a couple of hundred quid dearer....

I haven't replaced anything on mine yet, but if the Triban 7 is anything like the 3, go for it, you wont be disappointed.

nickponty

Carbonator wrote:

nickponty wrote:

I've had a 2013 Trek 1.5 since last summer, it's got me into road cycling, and it'll get me round the RideLondon 100 in August, but i've already got itchy feet looking to get something better. I'm not saying its bad, but don't expect to get one and that be the end of your bike fancying journey!

Out of interest, do you regret buying the Trek and wish you had got a better first bike, or happy that you tried that first and now want another?

I tend to think having a 'try' bike is a bit of a waste of time/money, but a lot of people seem to recommend doing it.

The up side is that you get to know more what you want I guess, and maybe even keep the old bike for winter use.

Given your time again, would you have got a better first bike do you think? Even if you may still then be wanting another?

Hmmm good question. I'd probably have shopped around a bit more but I was using the Cycle to Work Scheme and wanted to get it from my LBS and the choice there was pretty limited. The big difference now, even in less than a year is that the £850 I spent on my Trek buys a lot more, i.e. carbon frame and/or 105 groupset, whereas the Trek is aluminium and Tiagra. That's not to say the Trek is a bad bike, and I have nothing to compare it to, I think its great, but I suspect there's even more fun to be had out there on other ones!

FWIW I'm now looking, about 7 month after getting the Trek, at upgrading to something around the £1500 mark, like the Mekk 3.0. I don't think this is uncommon though, if you get bitten by the bug, you'll always want more...!

Anonymous

Yes, completely agree its really common ;-) Guess its a good thing in many ways.

I tend to recommend people spend 50-100% more than their original budget to avoid having to buy a new bike 6 months later, but most on here bang on about buying a cheap bike to 'see if you like it'.

Have just found a really nice first bike for a friend. Had to get him to increase his budget, but he seems v pleased with the bike and is already planing new wheels, new shoes and a Garmin lol.

I feel that he will have a bike that will last him ages, and even if he wants a new one, he wil have good reasale options, or just a really good winter bike.

nickponty

I wish I'd had 50-100% larger budget, but was limited by the C2W Scheme, I'd defintiely have splashed out on a £2k bike! Now I'm planning what to do when I can get another bike on the scheme, basically top it up with an extra £500 to get a better bike now that I know I'm hooked. Also, lots of newbies (myself included) don't want to be seen pushing a Pinarello up a mild hill because they are only just getting into it, 'all the gear, no idea' as my LBS put it....!

Anonymous

They were just planning on selling two bikes rather than one lol.

That phrase is a bit over used IMO. Think it could be said of a guy with a 5 grand bike and full assos/Rapha/team kit, who cannot change a puncture, but if someone is genuinely interested in cycling with a half decent bike, the correct clothes etc. and a reasonable knowledge/attitude, then he is just doing the right things to get into the sport.

KevChallis

What did you choose in the end? Have you decided yet?

whitestar1

I would like to know too? I have a Triban 7 and love it!

edhornby

for a first road bike I would go for the triban 5 - especially if it will be a commuting plus weekend bike rather than summer weekends only job

the difference between the 5 and 7 doesn't justify the price jump IMO

volociroldster

Too many divergences from the original question can only serve to confuse further; clear question = clear answer. I had a look at the T7 the other day and have to say that i don't think there is a comparable bike at that price out there. Standard alu frame (barring design variance) is same as you would find on pretty much every 'big name' Tiagra equipped bike at around 899 - 1000 quid, carbon fork, Tiagra shifters and gearing make this a snip. Many views are pushing the price up whilst looking at alternative models and specs to those in the question. No nonsense riders will see this for what it is; a ruddy good bike at a ruddy good price. Others on more expensive bikes will look on in envy at your pragmatism and wish secretly that they too had saved 300/400 quid by putting substance above a pretty paint job.

markhewitt1978

pinchez wrote:

After much research I've decided I'd like a compact road bike with relaxed geometry lending more towards comfort than race, with at least carbon forks and tiagra. I'm 5ft 8" with 30" inside leg so I guess i should be looking at a 54cm frame. The bike and everything I need I.e. pedals, shoes, helmet and clothes will need to come from the £1000 budget. With some clever budget buying I'm hoping to have roughly £800 to spend on a road bike

(I haven't read the rest so don't know if this has been mentioned)

Domane 2.0, has a relaxed endurance geometry, and carbon fork. Listed as £1,000, but my LBS will do it for £900, you may be able to find better.

PS. Spending 50-100% more than your original budget is a good idea. I bought a Trek 2.1 but wish I'd gone something carbon now like a Trek 3.1 - but the thing I don't know is if I had bought the 3.1, would I be then looking at the 4 series and wishing I'd got that ?

volociroldster

Start with a spec as opposed to a budget. Know what the spec will give you out on the road, don't just spec-up for the sake of it. Do some research so you can talk on a par with the guy at the bike shop and don't be drawn by the "you're wasting your money on anything less than a grand" point of view. Also, when the guy starts talking up some manufacturers above other 'inferior' brands have a look around the shop at the stock bikes and see the obvious reasons why he's pushing you into a 1k bike that happens to look exactly like what you are standing next too. Get the 'fit' right, you may be tall enough for a 57cm frame but that's no good if your arms are locking out when hands are on the hoods or drops. A 54cm may be just right for your reach bearing in mind that seat posts can be adjusted up. It is though a good idea to think ahead, you may wish in 9 months time when you are pushing your ride outs to 50+ miles and wanting to take on more adventurous contours that you had spec-ed up. However, back to the original point, don't be fixated on budget being the primary means to source the right bike for you. Happy riding.