Hi all,

I have a fairly nice stable of MTB’s but am considering purchasing an entry-level road bike for evening training rides etc. Want to spend as little as possible, but am mindful of value /spec.; In the same way that I would recommend someone pay around £400 minimum for a decent entry MTB (Merlin Malt / Spesh Hardrock disc etc.) I’m ignorant as to equivalent type road bikes. I want to spend as little as possible, but want a minimum decent spec. This Decathlon Triban 3 seems to fit the bill perfectly at £300 (and with carbon forks!)….does anyone have any experience / opinion?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/triban-3-173178017/

My other option is to spend £600 odd on a Giant Rapid 3….lovely bike but surely not worth double the money?

Thanks in advance.

Personally I’d spend your money on a secondhand ‘steed. Even if its an older vintage road bike.

Thanks Hora….Have been thinking of that and have recommended friends to do the same with MTBs, but without any logic I fancy buying shiny new.

Road bikes are treated far differently to mountain bikes though. So you’d literally be buying brand new.

fit is more important with road bikes, so if you do go second hand… take your time and be prepared to change stems and possibly bars.

oh, and you could do a lot worse than check out the ribble bike builder for new bikes, or the focus bikes from wiggle.

Dave

“Road bikes are treated far differently to mountain bikes though. So you’d literally be buying brand new”

your kidding right ?

any used roadbikes ive been handed to repair usually look mint due to the way they are used except that roadies only sell when every componants completely shagged ! – usually the good bike becomes the training bike , the training bike the winter bike and the winter bike the commuter – commuter gets sold….they always look good but usually ****.

same caveat goes to mtbs – what you need is a little used bike from a tdf wanna be – those are bargains.

Ah yes I meant except winter bikes etc. They do alot of miles (in theory) so drivetrain age is key x

Thanks for that folks….food for thought.

But how does that Decathlon look to those of you who know your road bikes? Could it be likened to something like a £400-£500 Spesh/Trek/Giant etc. ie. good enough spec. to get a proper feel for road-riding

As said above you really would be better off with a Ribble bike builder OR buying a Boardman from Halfords.

consider a cyclocross machine ! beautiful bikes which you can take off road a lot too

Actually. I bought an old steel track bike and gave it decent new wheels. Manchester is almost flat quite far out and its ideal for evening rides.