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Triban 500 or ...?
Hi,
I'm an active gym rpm class attendee and am keen to extend fitness sessions by cycling on the road. I know I want drop handles, shimano sora shifters, and a sportive type geometry. However, I am not used to roads and am wondering how much road riding I actually will do. If I do a lot, an investment in Giant defy 3 would payoff and if I do little, it's second hand value might be ok. However, the smaller outlay for the triban 500 has the advantage of being a lower risk if I do little riding, but will come up short if I do a lot. I had originally thought of a cx bike in case I was chicken on the road and could then go on slightly rougher off-road paths/old railway lines etc.
Any advice please?!?
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7 comments
These Volants seem popular right now - was chatting about this in another forum on here about them. My brother has one and I thrashed it on a sportive in Wales in late April, handled well. Really well built. They have a really nice frame. Stiff and handles really well. However the wheels on the 2013 version are heavy. The bike climbs like a pig! However I think they fixed this for 2014 with a compact crankset (much wider gear spread).
http://road.cc/content/forum/120923-triban-500-or-genesis-volant-10-2014-£450#comment-263205
I have a Triban 3 gathering dust in my basement. It has a triple on it which makes hills a breeze if you are happy going slow. However, the components just won't last long IMO.
I have a Focus CX bike - the Rapha edition - so it is rather blingy with carbon shifters and what not. However they do more down to earth ones.
Consider Specialized CX bikes - the Crux was my other choice but it is a proper Cross machine so quite aggressive. The do the TriCross which is very versatile.
Also there is Genesis - British make and cracking bikes.
Kinesis too - but more geared to people who actually race Cyclocross...
I know that Pinnacle Arkose are getting good reviews, but I've never seen one.
Have a look around and see what is out there, but I recommend getting down to a good local bike shop and seeing what they have. Where are you based?
Edinburgh. I have tried the specialised tricross and revolution 2014 cx bike. Enjoyed the former but a bit too expensive for e until I know what I really will want. It seems the Volant at a discount of £300 on rrp is useful s I can try it out and sell it at little loss if it is not what I want? It buys me some time do you think?
Buy a CX bike (don't worry about discs). I would recommend SRAM to be fair - light and compatible with Shimano.
Within months of owning a Triban 300 the thing was showing wear and tear. I did maintain it, but they just can't hold up to riding in British weather.
Not being rude but I don't know anyone who would 'want' sora shifters - it's kind of what you are putting up with....
Anyhow, get a CX bike, probably with SRAM Apex or Rival for best bang for buck (SRAM apex cassette has a super low gear for those hills - you are coming from spinning right? Don't expect this to translate to amazing ability on the road!
The CX bike can take a few more knocks (expect to fall over with clip ins
), will offer you far more versatility, and the geometry is much more upright, a la sportive style. Of course, you can easily swap the tyres for some nice skinny ones and hey presto - you have a decent winter hack for when you inevitably get a fully Campagnolo equipped Italian racing dream machine 
thanks Mrmiik. Any suggestions about bikes with SRAM or Rival ?
I certainly expect to fall over in clips and have no fantasies about being brilliant on the road. ( I am not even brilliant in the gym!!).
Give me a recommended cx bike ( please ) and I will then imagine my £4,000 carbon roadster for the future!
I meant to say that my niece and her partner just completed the hightest UK sportive (104 miles) on a triban 3 and 7 respectively and they swear by the triban make! Who's right?