Buying!

brandonisbudd

Hello, i plan on buying a road bike because at 15 a road bike is the best form of transport.

Not got a massive budget but looking at the £200 - 300 range.

Wondering if these bikes are any good,

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-r ... 31913.html

(^ xl)

https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/nationa ... 7/59742921

(^zenith 59)

Thanks -

diamonddog

Welcome to the forum.
Out of those I would go for the Triban, they always seem to get a good review.

londoncommuter

Some others you might not have thought of are mentioned here (starting from a scary £60!):

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/143 ... ins-under-£500

Not as exciting as whether you can get carbon forks or not etc but it's worth thinking about if you're going to be using this in wet weather. Whether or not it can take "proper" mudguards may be important to you.

Similarly, think about how far you're riding and how hilly it is. That might influence your choice.

Sorry if any of this is basic!

lakesluddite

If you can get hold of the Triban 3, the older Decathlon/B'Twin model in red, then I'd recommend going second hand. It has carbon forks and the shifters/derailleurs are Shimano (Sora, I think) - far more value for money. It's a shame they stopped making them, an outstanding 'first bike'.
Check out Ebay, there may be a few out there in your size.

brandonisbudd

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BTWIN-TRIBAN- ... 4d3074eb73

This would probably be my best bet, I'm 15 but nearly 6 foot so finding a bike i can afford large enough is a struggle, this looks like it would be the best size for me and is also cheaper than the other two. So would this cheaper second hand older bike be better than the two i have listed.

sanspoof

brandonisbudd wrote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BTWIN-TRIBAN-3-LARGE-FRAME-ROAD-BIKE-/331525450611?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d3074eb73

This would probably be my best bet, I'm 15 but nearly 6 foot so finding a bike i can afford large enough is a struggle, this looks like it would be the best size for me and is also cheaper than the other two. So would this cheaper second hand older bike be better than the two i have listed.

I've had the 60cm frame of this since it was released and it was a great buy and it still serves me well as my second bike to this day, I am 6ft 3. It has a sora front mech and shimano 2300 gears. If you can get for under £200....bargain!!!

If you wanted new, the newer triban you mentioned has had great reviews.....for the price...prob nothing better.

brandonisbudd

would there be any benefits to the newer one?

arlowood

brandonisbudd wrote:

would there be any benefits to the newer one?

You'd get a warranty and also the back-up of the supplier to sort out any niggles in the first few weeks of ownership.

The Ebay listed Triban 3's seem to go for between £150 and £250 so you might be lucky and win the one you noted for a figure within your budget. However you are would be buying 2nd hand with all the caveats that go along with that.

southdownswolf

brandonisbudd wrote:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-r ... 31913.html

(^ xl)

-

XL is probably too big for you if you are just under 6ft, I would imagine that the L (out of stock currently) is the correct size for you. Don't buy a bike that is too big and think that it will be okay....

brandonisbudd

thank you

crescent

Out of your original two, the Triban is the one to get. Some of the Carrera bikes at Halfords are pretty decent too.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... nd=Carrera

I don't want to be too disparaging, or offend anyone who has one, but I would really avoid the Viking bikes at all costs. My mate was given one as a gift from his wife when he hinted that he wanted to take up road cycling again and it is very, very poor.

crannman

got a carrera virtuoso my 1st road bikr for years had it two years now cant fault it as a first bike got me fit