New bike for Under £600

[tunde10]

Hi, i am hoping for a bit of help

I current own a Triban RC 500 which i bought from Decathlon 3 years ago. There are issues with the bike with the chain regularly skipping. I was given a quote of £150 at Halfords to get it sorted. Thy didn't feel just changing one component will work. I have decided to get a new bike with Cyclescheme at work instead (https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/).

Now here is my problem. In my haste, i picked a bike at Halfords (Boardman SLR 8.6) which was on sale for £585. Including £50 accessories, i applied for Cyclescheme voucher for £635. However to my surprise, Halford is not part of that particular scheme.

However it seems almost every other bike retailer is on the scheme. I have found this same bike at same price at Tredz which does accept the scheme so this is no longer an issue. However i got thinking if i could get a better bike for my needs at the £600 range?

My main requirement are that it weighs a bit less than Triban bike. I don't mind the brake types and i hate tubeless tires due to puncture repair.

Apart from that, i just want a good road bike as i do a 12 mile each way commute to work on it pretty much every weekly. Any advice will be useful. Note that it has to be less than the voucher value as they don't let you make up the difference.

[nosmarbaj]

Is "weekly" a typo for weekday? If so, you have presumably done something over 12,000 miles on the Triban. What maintenance has it had in that time? If little or none it's not surprising the chain is skipping. Even if you do mean weekly, that's likely still enough use to wear out a chain and perhaps cassette. My point is that if you don't look after the new bike, it too won't last very long before something fails. Apologies if you have looked after the Triban and something on it has just broken.

The Boadman looks OK for the money. If I wanted a commuting bike I'd check that it can take mudguards and a rack, and preferably that it can take tyres bigger than the 25mm ones it comes with. But if you've been cycle commuting for 3 years I guess you know what features you want/need.

Slightly surprising that Tredz (owned by Halfords) has a different Cyclescheme policy from Halfords.

I'm sure you're aware that Halfords doesn't have the best reputation for setting up or servicing bikes, though this will depend on the staff at each individual branch. They do sell some half-decent machines e.g. Boardman range, as well as some rubbish.

Sorry I haven't actually answered your question. Maybe check out the current Triban range, and Evans's Pinnacle range.

[tunde10]

Thanks for your reply.

I did mean weekday. I cycle to work minimum 4 days a week.

I replaced the chain and cassette a year ago when the same thing was happening. But i admit, my maintenance has been poor. I generally only clean and oil it when i noticed a deteriation in performance. I will improve on this with the new bike.

Glad to know that bike seems okay. Tredz takes both the Cyclesheme by Halfords plus the more common one which my employer is part of.

Halford is just the easiest to get to for me & i've found them more helpful than decathlon. Where would you recommend to go for servicing bikes? I'm happy to pay an annual subs for a reasonable price.

[Jupestar]

That sort of milage i would learn to inpsect and change the cassette, chain, chainrings and brake pads yourself. Its a relative low outlay for tools.

In terms of bike, id say the Triban RC500 in the current specs, is better than the Boardman. (appreciate 3 years ago your Triban may have older specs)

Boardman is 8x2 Claris Groupset with Rim Brake, 50/34 crankset and space for 28mm tires. (25 with guards)
Triban RC500 is 9x2 Sora with Disc Brakes. 50/34 crank with space for 36mm Tires.

Sora is in theory superior to Claris.

Boardman has tubeless ready wheels. Triban does not.

Weights are the roughly the same.

If i was choosing i'd buy the Triban tire clearance alone would be enough to pursuade me. and if i already had the Triban i'd rather spend the £350-£450 the new bike would cost fixing it up and upgrading it. You'll end up with a better bike.

[tunde10]

Thanks for your advice.

I don't really want to keep my Triban. I know its just cosmetic but there are quite a few scratches on it as well so i would like a new bike & I will sell the Triban. Also my application has already been approved by suppliers so i can't change my mind now.

In terms of specs, i agree the Triban is better, however i'm not a fan of tubeless ready wheels as it is very difficult to change the tire. Not fussed about brakes and i only really use the middle 4 in my 9 Triban chainset. So i don't see the benefit on that end.

But the main reason is that i couldn't pay for those repairs and upgrades suggested under the cyclescheme. With the scheme, the new bike works out at only £324 / £27 p/m (higher rate tax deduction) which is technically half price. It just makes sense to me to pay this off monthly and sell my bike for £150+.

I'm just wondering if there is any other recommendations than a Triban or Boardman i missed for that price range. Basically something that weighs less will be useful as i carry it up a few flights of stairs to 1st flr flat daily

I will deffo look into learning to change cassette and chain rings. I did learn to do the breakpads.

[Nearholmer]

The bike I always recommend in this price bracket is the Pinnacle Lithium 3. It’s exceedingly good value for money when you look at the components it comes with, and the frame is well made. My only caveat is that it comes with horribly cheap and plasticky tyres and pedals, so budget for replacing those fairly quickly.

[tunde10]

Pinnacle Lithium 3 is a good recommendation. Fit the bill except in one of my main requirement. It is approx 2kg heavier than the Triban which i already find quite heavy carrying up. Board is slightly lighter.

Tyres wouldn't be an issue as i can replace them with my Continental Gatorskin i fitted on my Triban.

[Jupestar]

Are you keen to keep drop bars? If you go flat bars you can open up a few more options. I don't think lighter will be possible and suggest you probably have the 2 main contenders.

[Nearholmer]

Drop bars gets really difficult in this price range, finding something that’s truly solid enough for prolonged commuting racking up high mileages. I know it can’t work with voucher schemes, but I think I’d go for a Genesis Croix de Fer secondhand.

If you can push the boat out, you can find the lowest spec model in sales new for c£1000, the virtue of that being that you get a “frame for life”, and can progressively upgrade components as they wear out (which they will in this duty).

Not a super-light bike, but as I say, very robust.

[tunde10]

Thanks both.

Drop bars is not compulsory. But i do think the weight is important only because i live in a flat and carry it up and down daily.

Unfortunately as i already applied for a specific amount i cant really buy a second hand or more expensive bike. Workplace wouldn't even let me cancel it when i told them Halfords is not part of the scheme.

It's looking like the Boardman, although i'm seriously considering the Pinnacle. The saving will allow me to upgrade the pedals and a few other items such as spare inner tubes.

[Jupestar]

Do you need gears, a single speed would be cheap, reliable and easy to get up and down the stairs, you could have enough left on the voucher to get the parts you need to fix up the Triban.

[tunde10]

Yes , i do need the gears as there are a few hilly parts on my journey and the area i live is very hilly.

Most of the time, i walk this part of the journey as its a small road and i don't like holding up cars. But i like the option of cycling up it.

I would not know how to fit any parts i purchase on the Triban except maybe a chain so no point buying anything. I'll let the new owner sort that out.

[gxaustin]

Thanks for your advice.

I don't really want to keep my Triban. I know its just cosmetic but there are quite a few scratches on it as well so i would like a new bike & I will sell the Triban. Also my application has already been approved by suppliers so i can't change my mind now.

In terms of specs, i agree the Triban is better, however i'm not a fan of tubeless ready wheels as it is very difficult to change the tire. Not fussed about brakes and i only really use the middle 4 in my 9 Triban chainset. So i don't see the benefit on that end.

But the main reason is that i couldn't pay for those repairs and upgrades suggested under the cyclescheme. With the scheme, the new bike works out at only £324 / £27 p/m (higher rate tax deduction) which is technically half price. It just makes sense to me to pay this off monthly and sell my bike for £150+.

I'm just wondering if there is any other recommendations than a Triban or Boardman i missed for that price range. Basically something that weighs less will be useful as i carry it up a few flights of stairs to 1st flr flat daily

I will deffo look into learning to change cassette and chain rings. I did learn to do the breakpads.

Tubeless ready wheels accept tubed tyres, or are 'ready' to accept tubeless.
I find chains last about 2,800 to 3,000 miles tops. But my chainwheels lasted 23,000 miles and the cassette rather longer. This does of course apply to chains that have been cleaned every 300 miles or so and have been lubed properly. I find that wet wipes are very good for this. Or run the chain through a rag dampened with degreaser. I like to remove the chain and give it a proper clean in turps every so often, too.

[tunde10]

Thanks for the advise, yes i realise now the maintenance of chain and cassette is important. I will improve on this but it cant be helped at times. I have worked out through Google maps, i have riden just under 80,000 miles on my Triban over the last 3 years.

Anyway, i have decided to go for the Boardman Hybrid 8.6. Its pretty light for an Hybrid and in same ball part as my Triban. It has got better features than the Boardman 8.6 Road bike such as Hydraulic brakes, better speed options and its pretty much same price.

I also think Hybrid is more ideal for me for a longish commute (1hr each way), as i pace the ride and don't generally hit the top speed i could on shorter commutes.

[tunde10]

Tubeless ready wheels accept tubed tyres, or are 'ready' to accept tubeless.
I find chains last about 2,800 to 3,000 miles tops. But my chainwheels lasted 23,000 miles and the cassette rather longer. This does of course apply to chains that have been cleaned every 300 miles or so and have been lubed properly.

Is this really true about chains only lasting 3000 miles? I average that distance on a monthly basis in the last two years and only changed my chain twice within that period.

Seems crazy that i'd have to change the chain on a monthly basis.