Eeny meeny... which of these two bikes?

[MRMM_Hove]

Hi all,

After a number of perfectly happy years on a (now aged) MB, I have decided to go for one of these two bikes. It'll be used mainly for a short, 100% Tarmac-style road commute. Otherwise it'll be used for getting around Brighton and Hove, and, maybe once in a while, up and down the Downs. Both models feel fine to me, but I am wondering if the £379.00 model is worth the extra investment in the long-run? Main differences between the pair seem to be the 500's use of carbon forks, and its slightly superior gear system?

I have also checked out my LBS, but haven't found any bikes that feel as right as the two below models. Any pointers gratefully received.

Option 1
B'TWIN Fit 300
£249.00
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-..._8306479.html#anchor_ComponentProductFeatures

Option 2
B'TWIN Fit 500
£379.00
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-500-flat-bar-road-bike-id_8239798.html#anchor_ComponentProductFeatures

Thanks!

 

[jay clock]

They are different. One is a cheap road bike, one is flat barred and each has a corresponding cheaper/pricier version.

Even their pricey dropped bar bikes http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html are a bargain. Their website is rubbish but one of those would be worth a look

 

[MRMM_Hove]

Thanks for your reply, Jay Clock. Both links should go to flat bar models, just slightly different spec? And both, by all accounts, use the Triban frame, as found in the cheaper Triban dropped bar model. I did look at the dropped bar versions, but as I'm riding mainly through a city, I prefer a more upright position.

Any thoughts on the 'worthiness' of the additional spec offered by the £379 model as linked above. (And, yes, the website is indeed pretty rubbish! Clicking on the technical information icon (spanner) jumps to a bit more details.)

Thanks again.

 

[vickster]

The one with a carbon fork

 

[MRMM_Hove]

The one with a carbon fork

Thanks for that. I do like it when people recommend the most expensive thing on the menu...

 

[vickster]

Get what you pay for. It'll be lighter and more comfortable

Why post the link if you aren't considering it, you asked for people's opinions, that's mine. I wouldn't buy a bike with an aluminium fork, not enough dampening on the atrocious roads for me especially given my history of elbow surgery

That said all my bikes cost more than £379

Buy the cheaper one if you prefer

 

[John the Monkey]

Thanks for your reply, Jay Clock. Both links should go to flat bar models, just slightly different spec? And both, by all accounts, use the Triban frame, as found in the cheaper Triban dropped bar model. I did look at the dropped bar versions, but as I'm riding mainly through a city, I prefer a more upright position.

Drop bars don't have to equal head down racing position.

Ask the shop to set the bike up with more spacers under the stem - that way you get the benefit of drop bars (more hand positions, and one that gets you out of a headwind a little more) and an upright position on the hoods/tops if/when you want it.

 

[MRMM_Hove]

Get what you pay for. It'll be lighter and more comfortable

Why post the link if you aren't considering it, you asked for people's opinions, that's mine. I wouldn't buy a bike with an aluminium fork, not enough dampening on the atrocious roads for me especially given my history of elbow surgery

That said all my bikes cost more than £379

Buy the cheaper one if you prefer

But I am now, thanks to your advice, considering buying the more expensive one. And I always was considering buying it. Or the other. Hence my post. In fact, I kind of hoped people would recommend the dearer one as I really like it! So my 'thanks' to you was genuine; though maybe the attempt at humour was lost on you.

My experience, so far, of this Forum has been quite odd: from someone who insisted that one of the bikes wasn't a flat bar (both are) and suggested buying a different model, to now your latest reply. I'm not sure why you are telling me that all your bikes cost more than £379, though... that's great, terrific, but really I was just after some advice, not looking to feel as if I don't have a sufficiently expensive bike-buying-power to be let into the 'Forum Circle of Trust. Sheesh.

 

[MRMM_Hove]

Drop bars don't have to equal head down racing position.

Ask the shop to set the bike up with more spacers under the stem - that way you get the benefit of drop bars (more hand positions, and one that gets you out of a headiwnd a little more) and an upright position on the hoods/tops if/when you want it.

Many thanks for your suggestion, but I just don't like using drop bars in this town. I have tried a drop bar model, and totally agree with the benefits you list, but they unfortunately just don't work for me. Thanks, though.

 

[John the Monkey]

Many thanks for your suggestion, but I just don't like using drop bars in this town. I have tried a drop bar model, and totally agree with the benefits you list, but they unfortunately just don't work for me. Thanks, though.

Hey, no problem. I'd not ride anything else, personally (although my Brompton is flat barred), but we're not all the same.

There is a common misconception that drops are all about racing, and a head down riding position - they can be, but don't have to be - I wanted to make sure that you're not writing a possible option off because of that.

 

[Jenkins]

If you can afford it, and having it as an option suggests that you can, go for the 500. It seems to be lighter, the gearing will be of a much better quality and the carbon fork should add a bit of comfort.

I don't know if the 500 is £130 better than the 300, only you can make that decision, but if you get the 300 you'll always be wondering how much better the 500 would have been.

 

[MRMM_Hove]

If you can afford it, and having it as an option suggests that you can, go for the 500. It seems to be lighter, the gearing will be of a much better quality and the carbon fork should add a bit of comfort.

I don't know if the 500 is £130 better than the 300, only you can make that decision, but if you get the 300 you'll always be wondering how much better the 500 would have been.

Thanks - and I think that your comment about 'wondering how much better the 500 would have been' is spot on!

 

[vickster]

But I am now, thanks to your advice, considering buying the more expensive one. And I always was considering buying it. Or the other. Hence my post. In fact, I kind of hoped people would recommend the dearer one as I really like it! So my 'thanks' to you was genuine; though maybe the attempt at humour was lost on you.

My experience, so far, of this Forum has been quite odd: from someone who insisted that one of the bikes wasn't a flat bar (both are) and suggested buying a different model, to now your latest reply. I'm not sure why you are telling me that all your bikes cost more than £379, though... that's great, terrific, but really I was just after some advice, not looking to feel as if I don't have a sufficiently expensive bike-buying-power to be let into the 'Forum Circle of Trust. Sheesh.

I too started with a cheaper bike....buy the best specced and most appealing bike to you that you can or you'll soon be wanting to upgrade and you won't get back what you paid I haven't totted up how much I could have saved not upgrading every 6 months (that said i used to do it with cars so this is a much less costly forum of switcherooitis from which I suffer severely)!!

Enjoy your purchase

BTW smilies help convey forum humour ...you came across as extremely sarcastic...my bad

 

[MRMM_Hove]

I too started with a cheaper bike....buy the best specced and most appealing bike to you that you can or you'll soon be wanting to upgrade and you won't get back what you paid I haven't totted up how much I could have saved not upgrading every 6 months (that said i used to do it with cars so this is a much less costly forum of switcherooitis from which I suffer severely)!!

Enjoy your purchase

BTW smilies help convey forum humour ...you came across as extremely sarcastic...my bad

You're right, though; re-reading my reply, it could easily have been taken that way. Thanks again - I'm off to order the 500! The world is a happy place again!

 

[jay clock]

But I am now, thanks to your advice, considering buying the more expensive one. And I always was considering buying it. Or the other. Hence my post. In fact, I kind of hoped people would recommend the dearer one as I really like it! So my 'thanks' to you was genuine; though maybe the attempt at humour was lost on you.

My experience, so far, of this Forum has been quite odd: from someone who insisted that one of the bikes wasn't a flat bar (both are) and suggested buying a different model, to now your latest reply. I'm not sure why you are telling me that all your bikes cost more than £379, though... that's great, terrific, but really I was just after some advice, not looking to feel as if I don't have a sufficiently expensive bike-buying-power to be let into the 'Forum Circle of Trust. Sheesh.

Sorry it was me who misread the links.... I thought you were looking for a drop bar bike but had accidentally linked to one drop bar and one flat. Can now see both were flat bars

Back to the basic question. A) decathlon generally is a great place to buy b) whichever you buy you can always retain as a second bike in a year or two