Triban RC520 - Any alternatives?

accountdeleted

I'm looking for an all-round beginner-ish road bike mainly for commute (and maybe some leisure rides, but unlikely to happen).

I had my eyes on Triban RC520 Disc:

For £850, the spec is:
10.6kg, Alluminum frame with carbon fork
Hydraulic-mechanical disc
Fittings for mudguards and racks
105 Groupset (mainly - R510 crankset, Microshift 11-32 cassette)
Allows wider tyres for gravel
tubeless "ready" wheels (not bothered)

Just realised that it's out of stock for my size (S); could go M but I prefer to go S. I signed up for a stock notice but I'm not holding breath and the price might bump up when re-stocked (happened on Elop 500 single speed).

So what else is out there that can compete with this price and spec?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

For a commuter, the spec of this Carrera folder is superb for £450 (or £405 with a discount card like British Cycling membership).

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/carrera-intercity-disc-9-speed-folding-bike-536878.html?

singleton

Boardman might be worth a look, maybe this:
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2340-slr-8.8-2021.html#technical

Or this might be a bit left field:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-energie-vr-cyclocross-bike-advent-2022

accountdeleted

Thanks @N0bodyOfTheGoat but not a folder. Though I forgot about Halfords' Carrera range so I'll check out which Carrera is closes to Triban's spec.

@singleton thanks for Boardman and Vitus. Can't see fittings for guards and rack on Boardman (or any of their bikes)? I don't mind 1x gear on Vitus but again no fittings.

@oxoman Yup, did look search for London Road but no stock?! I can only see Titanium variant for double the price!

Thanks to these suggestions I know my hierarchy of needs:

Fittings for mudguards and rack
Disc (no idea yet whether I want hydraulic or mechanical)
Groupset snob (can you really tell the difference between Microshift / Tiagra / 105?)
Carbon fork (quite happy with all aluminium)
Tubless ready wheels (not bothered)

Search continues...

DeVlaeminck

If it's just for a reasonably flat commute I'd just get a single speed - less faff keeping derailleurs clean. I've got an old tricross which I bought used for £80- something like that.

accountdeleted

DeVlaeminck said:

If it's just for a reasonably flat commute I'd just get a single speed - less faff keeping derailleurs clean. I've got an old tricross which I bought used for £80- something like that.

Yup, been on 80s roadie single speed conversion (69=74 gear inches) for 6 yrs now (11,500miles!). Time has come to replace it to more modern bike. Commute is hilly (1,000-1,200ft gain according to Strava) and long commute (ranged between 14-18miles a leg).

It's been great, and I did consider a modern SS (e.g., Langster, Elop 500, Flyer/Day One) but I'd like the new one to be a bit more "multi-functional" and realistic for a middle-aged man with gradual increase of blob and decline in fitness...

singleton

In the Boardman range, the ADV 8.9 would be the closest to your needs:
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2384-adv-8.9-2021.html

Or this from alpkit https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-colibri-al-mechanical

Do you want / need drop handlebars? If not then there are some options such as this:
https://vitusbikes.com/collections/city-bikes/products/vitus-mach-3-vrx-urban-bike-apex-2022
You want more gears than a single speed, how about hub gears with 3
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Boardman-URB-8-6-2022-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_228755.htm?sku=746965&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Hybrid bikes&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_c_Qseys-QIVSOR3Ch0lcAhUEAQYAiABEgLSWvD_BwE

Or 8 gears and belt drive for clean and low maintenance?
https://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/2022-cube-hyde-pro-hybrid-bike-in-blue__44895?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=54720054&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1vPewO-s-QIVgeF3Ch2fIwyQEAQYBCABEgLQyfD_BwE

Or, if it's mostly for commuting, how about a dedicated commuter bike?
https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/gravel-adventure-bikes/cube-nuroad-fe-gravel-commuting-bike-2022-in-black__28592

accountdeleted

Thanks @singleton, that's plenty to consider from now.

I'm on flat bar hybrid and I do miss the drop bar to change hand positions. It gets dull on flat bar after few miles. Internal gear hub is something I haven't thought about so I'll look into that. Gates belt is also cool but not high up on the hierarchy of needs.

Happy cycling everyone.