Commuter and (maybe) tourer (£200-£300max)

kinioo

Mornig All,

As I was reading one post regarding hybrid bike for commuting and asked few questions there re what bike for up to £300, was told to better open new topic - so here I am.

Lets say I have a budget of up to £200-300max (the less the better) and I am after:

- commuter (mainly tarmac);
- would be nice if it also could be suitable for touring from time to time (rear rack plus panniers);
- probably, as been using 26" MTB for last few years and alwys wanted to have a road bike as well, looking for something along these lines (i.e. bigger wheels)
- not sure about road racing bar or flat bar - probably could be either.

What is my options?
What is the best bike I can get for that money (value for the money)??
Can be new or second hand (I understand 2nd hand might be better option)

So far been told about this:
- boardman race (I think its more than £300);
- specialised tricross (I like it);
- specialised allez (I also like it).
- also this: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat ... 06479.html


Many thanks

Chris

The Rookie

The fit 300 is the best value new bike you can buy bar none, in many other brands you would be spending over £500 to even get close to that spec.

As for second hand, well the Boardmans sell in most numbers so you are more likely to find what you want, but there are lots of other options.
Correct link to the fit 300 as your is truncated by a copy and paste from another post http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat ... 06479.html

Not all road bikes have rack mounts, most Hybrids do (the Fit does) for touring with a heavyish load they are more secure although P-clips can be made to work.

For a ropad bike the Triban 300 is good value and has rack mounts, or there is this http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-roa ... 07708.html if a 51cm fits which is fantastic value.

MichaelW

For touring you will need sufficient tyre clearance (28-32mm ?), rack and mudguard eyelets and lower gears
Touring bikes don't come in your price range. Consider used.

kinioo

I was thinking who would be the first to reply to my post and its you - Rookie !!
Thanks very much!
As always, spot on and very helpful !
Much apreciated.

Yes, Fit 300 looking very good and £250 -probably you cant beat this ?!

I am 178-180cm ish...

Initialised

A friend of mine has been touring the UK on a VooDoo Marasa: http://neroandme.com/news/page/3/

I put him up the night after the Disabled Toilet Incident.

He says the bike is very stable carrying him, his dog and all his gear, so yes a hybrid can make a good tourer. I believe he picked it up second hand for around £70 and has spent a fair bit adding racks.

If you want drop bars then the Merlin PR7 is excellent value: http://road.cc/content/review/134131-me ... e-road-pr7

kinioo

Waht aout this one guys ??

Is it worth it ??

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-300-r ... 39800.html

The Rookie

Is it worth it is subjective, but it's 8 speed and uses Microshift parts, so isn't as good a value as the other linked to Decathlon products.

kinioo

What about this ? : http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red ... 4036.html#

Have seen some positive reviews.

its currently unavaiable but can get it form ebay for £150-200 !!

apreading

kinioo wrote:

What about this ? : http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red ... 4036.html#

Have seen some positive reviews.

its currently unavaiable but can get it form ebay for £150-200 !!

If you can get a decent one on ebay, this is the best value by far. I got my son one that the previous owner must have done less than 5 miles on - it was literally as new, for £200. SUPERB

kinioo

apreading wrote:

kinioo wrote:

What about this ? : http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red ... 4036.html#

Have seen some positive reviews.

its currently unavaiable but can get it form ebay for £150-200 !!

If you can get a decent one on ebay, this is the best value by far. I got my son one that the previous owner must have done less than 5 miles on - it was literally as new, for £200. SUPERB

How tall is your son and waht size is the bike.

Been trying to find correct size for me.

apreading

He is 14 but tall, not out of the ordinary tall but just normal tall for his age. I dont know his height as havent measured for years, or his inside leg unfortunately and maybe more importantly for you. As I am 6' 2", I would guess he is not 6' yet but certainly in the higher fives.

I took him to Decathlon (there is one in our town) and he tried the new white Triban 3s for size - I think the frame geometry is the same/similar. He said 60cm was right and it looked OK in the shop but I was really nervous because that sounds way too big for his age. I think the Triban frames come up smaller than other manufacturers for the same quoted size. It actually does fit him perfectly.

kinioo

apreading wrote:

He is 14 but tall, not out of the ordinary tall but just normal tall for his age. I dont know his height as havent measured for years, or his inside leg unfortunately and maybe more importantly for you. As I am 6' 2", I would guess he is not 6' yet but certainly in the higher fives.

I took him to Decathlon (there is one in our town) and he tried the new white Triban 3s for size - I think the frame geometry is the same/similar. He said 60cm was right and it looked OK in the shop but I was really nervous because that sounds way too big for his age. I think the Triban frames come up smaller than other manufacturers for the same quoted size. It actually does fit him perfectly.

Thanks mate,

I am 5'10"....and not sure about 54 frame ??

apreading

I think at that height, a 54 would be too small. The smaller sizes also come with a 650b wheel size, rather than the more standard 700c - so more hassle if/when you replace or upgrade the tyres or wheels. I think the 54 is the first one with full size wheels, so should be OK if you decide to go that route.

I think the 57 would probably be better but dont blame me if not!

Is there a Decathlon where you can try the size on the white ones? Dont trust sizing from any other make of bike...

these might help:

viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12868341

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/triban-3.101036/

http://road.cc/content/forum/73034-trib ... guide-help

kinioo

apreading wrote:

I think at that height, a 54 would be too small. The smaller sizes also come with a 650b wheel size, rather than the more standard 700c - so more hassle if/when you replace or upgrade the tyres or wheels. I think the 54 is the first one with full size wheels, so should be OK if you decide to go that route.

I think the 57 would probably be better but dont blame me if not!

Is there a Decathlon where you can try the size on the white ones? Dont trust sizing from any other make of bike...

these might help:

viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12868341

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/triban-3.101036/

http://road.cc/content/forum/73034-trib ... guide-help

Thanks again,

This is good, copied for your first link:

"I am 5' 10" and a 32 inch inside leg, I got the size 57 Triban 3 a few days ago and honestly, the hoods were too far away for me. I put the seat as far forward as possible (to the max line) but ahem, I think I might have to either ride it and try to get used to it (I am so used to sitting upright on a MTB maybe I just need to reach a little) or take it back and swap it, if I even can do that, for the 54."

This is exactly waht I am 5'10" and 32inch leg....maybe 54 is my fit ???

apreading

Trouble is, I found as many people of that size saying that as were saying to go for the 60 when I was looking. That is why I thought the 57 might be better for my son as I think that must be around his size, but the 60 is not too long at all.

Its all a bit of a muddle on the interweb - I would really recommend trying - the 54 would be way too small for my son.

Of course, you dont have the same luxury that I did in that if I bought one slightly too bit for him, he would grow into it in time... Having bought the 60, I think he may never outgrow it.

desweller

The Triban 3 has no rack eyes, so you'll be using P-clips. The chainstays looks a bit short to me anyway; you might find your heels whacking the panniers if you fit a rack.

You're pretty much my size; I use a 540mm top tube with 100mm stem. 560mm is a bit long for me. It's worth noting that it's easier to make a small frame fit than a big one.

In your position I'd look exclusively 2nd hand; I don't think you can get a reliably built wheel and all the other features you want at a £300 price point. E.g. http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=91442

apreading

desweller wrote:

The Triban 3 has no rack eyes, so you'll be using P-clips.

Wrong - it does have rack eyes - both the red and white version have them.

desweller

apreading wrote:

desweller wrote:

The Triban 3 has no rack eyes, so you'll be using P-clips.

Wrong - it does have rack eyes - both the red and white version have them.

Fair enough. I guess the product picture on the website is wrong; I only see mudguard eyes.

apreading

eh? I can see them quite clearly there http://www.decathlon.co.uk/media/823/82 ... 11b1b1.jpg

desweller

I can't see 'em on the product page linked earlier in the thread?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-size-51-id_8274036.html#

ETA: Dodgy product page, I guess they're not on the size 51 frame

apreading

Ah - you are right on THAT page for the red one - loads of pictures if you search on google that you can see them though. And they are definately on my sons.

You might have hit the nail on the head - maybe the smallest sizes dont have them - they also have 650 wheels, so maybe a rack wouldnt work with those so well anyway? Or maybe the photo is from a pre-production model before they were specced?

kinioo

desweller wrote:

The Triban 3 has no rack eyes, so you'll be using P-clips. The chainstays looks a bit short to me anyway; you might find your heels whacking the panniers if you fit a rack.

You're pretty much my size; I use a 540mm top tube with 100mm stem. 560mm is a bit long for me. It's worth noting that it's easier to make a small frame fit than a big one.

In your position I'd look exclusively 2nd hand; I don't think you can get a reliably built wheel and all the other features you want at a £300 price point. E.g. http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=91442

Thanks for the info re frame size. Was thinking of 54 and maybe longer stem if necessary.

Regarding rack mounting ayes, have seen pictures of the bike with racks (bolted not clip-ons) so it mas have them.

Many thanks,

May wait till after X-mas for some 'unwanted gifts' bargains there.....