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Triban 500 or …?

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  • June 10, 2014 at 7:22 pm #21654
    magslmac

    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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  • June 11, 2014 at 8:49 pm #798675
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    Mrmiik

    Mrmiik wrote:These Volants

    Mrmiik wrote:
    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

    June 11, 2014 at 8:46 pm #798673
    0
    Mrmiik

    These Volants seem popular
    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).

    June 11, 2014 at 8:39 pm #798671
    0
    magslmac

    Edinburgh. I have tried the
    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?

    June 11, 2014 at 7:48 pm #798669
    0
    Mrmiik

    I have a Triban 3 gathering
    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?

    June 11, 2014 at 7:14 pm #798667
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    magslmac

    I meant to say that my niece
    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?

    June 11, 2014 at 6:20 pm #798665
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    magslmac

    thanks Mrmiik. Any
    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!

    June 11, 2014 at 4:41 pm #798663
    0
    Mrmiik

    Buy a CX bike (don’t worry
    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 😉

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