Raleigh Airlite 100 vs Triban3 vs Dawes Giro 200 Need Your Advice Please Help

[elegantsynergy]

Hi I'm David and I need Your help.

Had my fun robust Carrera hybrid stolen a few months ago then picked up an old racer from ebay... this was a bad move because the chain, spokes and wheels fell apart after a few outings. I loved that old racer but ... I also love life and I think that old racer will find new ways to make mine shorter.

Now I'm back in the market for a bike but want to stick to something new because I'm too poor to buy another second hand bike that lasts two weeks

After spending far too much time on research and on my girl friend's heavy Carrera hybrid, I've narrowed my list of options down to the following:
Raleigh Airlite 100
Triban3
Dawes Giro 200

Ok I know very little about these bikes, the only thing I know is that I can afford their price.

I had first thought of the Halfords Carrera TDF but it didn't feel nice to me, felt too rigid, even the old 90s racer from ebay felt lighter. Probably isn't lighter but just feels it.

Any way just wanted your advice on the above bikes, which would you go for and why?

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

By the way I live in a part of Sussex that has few if any hills.

 

[mcshroom]

I'd go for the Triban 3.

Carbon fork against steel on the dawes and aluminium on the raleigh, and from all the reports I've heard, well put together.

 

[elegantsynergy]

Hi Mcshroom, thanks for the fast response, I'm also open to any suggestions in the sub £350 range.

 

[Psyclist]

Triban 3 by all means, good specification for the money and light too, carbon fork. Sub £350 will get you bikes like Viking and the like which are poorly made/heavy IMO.

You pay for what you get.

 

[musa]

Triban 3 can only echo comments before mine and after mine

VFM 300 quid 50 on accessories get some bibs or what or bits for the bike ie mudguard, bottle comp the rest a good'un

 

[elegantsynergy]

Hey thanks for your feedback Kinetic

just looked at your sig can you recover my stolen bikes from ebay?

 

[elegantsynergy]

Hey Musa any oppinion on the Raleigh ?

 

[musa]

umm comments Ive had heard/read are that its a decent bike dont rule it off but if you wanting your moneys worth the triban3 hits the nail on the head I was tempted to get one but funds never reached the 300 mark then

 

[elegantsynergy]

how would this Claud Butler Echelon compare to the triban 3 ?

as it's got carbon forks and it's about the same price.

 

[Nearly there]

The raleigh gets good reviews http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-raleigh-airlite-road-bike-11-43790 as does the carrera http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-carrera-tdf-ltd-road-bike-11-44902 and the Triban 3 is probably the highest regarded of the 3.