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Beginners/entry level bike

wijccwijcc Posts: 21
edited June 2020 in Road buying advice
Hi I am looking for purchase a entry level road bike. I can get the Triban RC120 for £379 or the Carrera Vanquish 2020 with mechanical disc brakes which I can get through my work scheme so I would pay £270~ over the scheme (provided I don't leave the company). Is the RC120 worth the extra £100~.
I will use the bike to commute to work when the weather is not too bad (about 12 mile round trip) and also at weekends for leisure. I am finding it hard to choose, the reviews for the older Vanquish were not too great, but this is the new model (no reviews yet) but has mechanical disc reviews. Also I can get the RC120 now I may have to wait a few weeks for the Vanquish. What do you guys think, get the RC120 or potentially save £100~ and opt for the Vanquish?
Thank in advance

Posts

  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 10,452
    Personally I'd go with the rc120. Previous models have been bombproof.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoatN0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 4,860
    edited June 2020
    Must confess I like the looks of the new Vanquish, shame it comes with mechanical disc brakes, but then it wouldn't be £400.

    If it's flat mount, I'd almost be tempted to fit a new Shimano 7020 set on my Cube and put the 505s on the Vanquish (plus necessary drivetrain bits) to make it a hydraulic commuter.

    Worth checking the max rider/luggage weights, Decathlon bikes have a history of low limits compared to Carrera.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    edited June 2020
    Maximum load on the fork: 9 kg and max weight gross permitted weight must not exceed 120 Kgs (bike, rider & luggage) for the RC120
  • singletonsingleton Posts: 2,173
    Are you comparing the RC120 disc or the RC120 rim to the Vanquish?
    Mechanical discs may not be as good as hydros, but they're likely better than rim brakes when it's wet.
    Also, you can switch to some TRP Spyres in future if you want, and they are dual piston and like to be an improvement over the standard discs.
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    edited June 2020
    I was comparing the rim brake RC120.
    The RC120 Disc is £429 and there reviews of users having problems changing tyres on the RC120 disc with it's "Triban Tubeless ready wheel" and also is not in stock for several weeks.

    My main dilemma is whether -
    Triban RC120 is £100 better than the Carrera Vanquish.

    Checked online, the saving on the Vanquish is £128 through the cycletowork scheme through halfords. so effectively £272 as long as I stay with the company for the duration, but I have to pay £20~ at the end of scheme to buy the bike off the company.

    I did try to look up other bikes through Halfords and Tredz but they do not have stock and will not get stock of certain models till Sept/October.
    I can get the RC120 now or the Vanquish next week or the bike after hopefully.
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    The new Boardman SLR 8.6 Mens Road Bike 2021, is coming out soon. Is it worth the £100 extra than the Carrera Vanquish?
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 10,452
    All day long.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • mr_mojomr_mojo Posts: 199
    edited June 2020
    With a smaller budget I would look at second hand, you’ll get so much more for your money. There are plenty of bikes out there that have only been rode a couple of times going cheap.
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    oxoman said:

    All day long.

    The Boardman SLR 8.6 Will be better than the Triban RC120 too right?
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 10,452
    All the bikes you have looked at are ok bikes to ride, however each of them them has a downside.

    Boardman mechanical discs and 11/28 gearing
    Triban RC120 microshift gear change. Better gear range more beginner friendly.
    Vanquish same issues as Boardman
    Personally I'd be looking at a bike with rim brakes 11/32 rear cassette and ideally 2x10 tiagra. Planet x or merlin giant contend, cube attain something along those lines.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    The Boardman SLR 8.6 Mens Road Bike 2021 has a rim brakes and a 11-32T cassette
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 10,452
    I assumed you meant the current model, in which case get the 21 boardman as the better bike. The only thing i would do with it once they wear out is replace the brake cartridges with Swiss stop,s. Nothing wrong with rim brakes imho, id sooner have rim brakes than mech disc on a road bike.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • mpattsmpatts Posts: 1,010
    As with all advice relating to beginners bikes, buy the one you really like the look of. They are all in essence the same.
    Insert bike here:
  • wijccwijcc Posts: 21
    i got bored of waiting and managed to grab a Triban rc120
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 10,452
    Glad you got sorted, now get riding. Enjoy.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
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