...a budget road bike

[mill4six]

Check out the Ribble Audax too, very good value for money.

[nez]

I agree with Nuke. I have a super Galaxy about five years old and I was amazed at the improvement a couple of new wheels (dT Swiss rims built up by hand on a dt swiss rear hub and a shimano dynamo hub) made. It really is like a new bike, whereas if you buy a new bike, are you really going buy with wheels that good?

[samsbike]

Shamelessly taken from cyclechat

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/btwin- ... od.107579/


(err you may need to paste the link into your browser but will give up an idea about the triban, I haven't read it all)

[iandriver]

I've always had very good service from Merlin cycles:

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... oad-bikes/

[karlt]

The new white Triban has a steel fork? Wonder why they've gone backwards on that. You sure?

[Brucey]

it certainly looks like a steel fork and there is no mention of carbon.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html#anchor_ComponentProductTechnicalInformation

probably a cost cutting measure.

Also has microshift STIs too.

cheers

[easyroller]

The new white Triban has a steel fork? Wonder why they've gone backwards on that. You sure?

Yep. The 2013 model is £20 cheaper at £279 and now comes with a steel fork rather than carbon. Either just cost cutting or a supply issue or both. My hybrid has the ally frame and steel fork combo and it's been fine.

I'll +1 the new wheels or second hand road bike notion.

As long as you don't mind adjusting your brakes when you want to swap wheels back to the old ones, a lightweight and racy set of wheels/tyres will do wonders to how your Galaxy rides compared to spending the same amount on a new Triban. Not knocking the Triban 3 though as apparently there are 1000's of very happy riders.

[karlt]

it certainly looks like a steel fork and there is no mention of carbon.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html#anchor_ComponentProductTechnicalInformation

probably a cost cutting measure.

Also has microshift STIs too.

cheers

Are the microshift STIs an upgrade or downgrade? I'm weak on bike parts.

[Mark1978]

£500 is too cheap for a road bike buying new. Not if you want reasonable components which aren't going to give you a headache and a ride which you won't like.

At minimum you'll want something like a Trek 1.2 which has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Of course that's over your budget so look for second hand. There's nearly always some kicking about on eBay but make sure you get the right frame size.

[karlt]

£500 is too cheap for a road bike buying new. Not if you want reasonable components which aren't going to give you a headache and a ride which you won't like.

At minimum you'll want something like a Trek 1.2 which has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Of course that's over your budget so look for second hand. There's nearly always some kicking about on eBay but make sure you get the right frame size.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/bik ... y-for.html don't agree with you there.

[pete75]

£500 is too cheap for a road bike buying new. Not if you want reasonable components which aren't going to give you a headache and a ride which you won't like.

At minimum you'll want something like a Trek 1.2 which has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Of course that's over your budget so look for second hand. There's nearly always some kicking about on eBay but make sure you get the right frame size.

An extremely poor value machine at getting on for 700 quid. Decathlon do the Triban 7 for 600 quid which has a Tiagra groupset unlike the Trek's Sora, and carbon stays as well as carbon forks. The Triban 5 at £429 has a very similar spec and componentry to the Trek.
Spend about £150 over the Trek price with Decathlon and you get a full carbon frame "This BTWIN FC carbon fibre 700 frame has been designed for professional racers. It will win stages of the Tour de France and was the Elite French Champion in 2007." and a Tiagra groupset.

[pete75]

it certainly looks like a steel fork and there is no mention of carbon.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html#anchor_ComponentProductTechnicalInformation

probably a cost cutting measure.

Also has microshift STIs too.

cheers

Some might regard the change to steel as an improvement , certainly where longevity is concerned. All the reviews I've read of Microshift products have praised them.

[Brucey]

Are the microshift STIs an upgrade or downgrade? I'm weak on bike parts.

I would say if anything they are a slight downgrade. Not sure about spares for them. Shimano will sell hoods and left or right shifters if you have a prang and wreck a shimano STI. The prices are not cheap but at least you can get them. They work OK but I'm not sure about microshift spares.

cheers

[Mark1978]

£500 is too cheap for a road bike buying new. Not if you want reasonable components which aren't going to give you a headache and a ride which you won't like.

At minimum you'll want something like a Trek 1.2 which has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Of course that's over your budget so look for second hand. There's nearly always some kicking about on eBay but make sure you get the right frame size.

An extremely poor value machine at getting on for 700 quid. Decathlon do the Triban 7 for 600 quid which has a Tiagra groupset unlike the Trek's Sora, and carbon stays as well as carbon forks. The Triban 5 at £429 has a very similar spec and componentry to the Trek.
Spend about £150 over the Trek price with Decathlon and you get a full carbon frame "This BTWIN FC carbon fibre 700 frame has been designed for professional racers. It will win stages of the Tour de France and was the Elite French Champion in 2007." and a Tiagra groupset.

You get me wrong sir. I was merely meaning that sort of spec not necessarily that price.

[pete75]

£500 is too cheap for a road bike buying new. Not if you want reasonable components which aren't going to give you a headache and a ride which you won't like.

At minimum you'll want something like a Trek 1.2 which has an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Of course that's over your budget so look for second hand. There's nearly always some kicking about on eBay but make sure you get the right frame size.

An extremely poor value machine at getting on for 700 quid. Decathlon do the Triban 7 for 600 quid which has a Tiagra groupset unlike the Trek's Sora, and carbon stays as well as carbon forks. The Triban 5 at £429 has a very similar spec and componentry to the Trek.
Spend about £150 over the Trek price with Decathlon and you get a full carbon frame "This BTWIN FC carbon fibre 700 frame has been designed for professional racers. It will win stages of the Tour de France and was the Elite French Champion in 2007." and a Tiagra groupset.

You get me wrong sir. I was merely meaning that sort of spec not necessarily that price.

Decathlon do that sort of spec for 70 quid less than the £500 you claim is too cheap for a new road bike.