Triban 3 or 7 or none?

[freezeice]

Hi,

I'm a beginner cyclist looking for a road bike. I have a mountain bike that I cycle around with currently but I'm looking for a road bike.
I've looked around and the Triban range is reviewed as one of the best value bikes. The triban 3 seems to be the best bike for beginners but I can get the triban 7 for £100 more (second hand).
Or my other option is just keep the mountain bike and use that and keep the money that I would spend on a bike.

What do you guys think?

I'm a first year undergraduate so I'm on a tight budget which is why the triban is where I went to first!

 

[young Ed]

get a triban, you WON'T regret it!
even a 3 will be an incredible improvement
Cheers Ed

 

[freezeice]

get a triban, you WON'T regret it!
even a 3 will be an incredible improvement
Cheers Ed

The Triban does seem the way to go, I do really want one! The only thing that I'm thinking about now is how much would I use it if I went to uni..and would it be better spending my money elsewhere

 

[young Ed]

even when going to uni you will be out and about going places, be it shopping, cinema etc or just to keep fit and healthy
Cheers Ed

 

[vickster]

Just get a good lock for it, universities can be dens of thieves for bikes

What will you spend the money on otherwise? When I was a student, it was mostly beer and the odd book (but that was pretty much before the days of t'interweb)!

 

[freezeice]

Just get a good lock for it, universities can be dens of thieves for bikes

What will you spend the money on otherwise?

Yeah I've bought a new lock and the uni have told me that they have secure indoor parking for bikes which is good news.

To be fair I'd only spend the money on alcohol, food and textbooks but I should have enough left over from working to cover that.
I'm going to decathlon today just to confirm what size frame I am so I'll get back to you!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

@freezeice be careful with the in store sizing... my OH and I were both incorrectly advised on frame size at Decathlon. I was recommended the 54cm frame (at 5 foot 6) and am now much happier on a 50cm frame (non-decathlon)... my OH was recommended a 60cm frame (6 foot 0) and it is very clear to us now, that he would have been much better off with a 57cm frame. Shortening the stem is not always the correct answer.

let us know how you get on, what size you are (particularly leg length and if you are short in the body & arms) and what size they suggest and we can advise....
Also bear in mind (not knowing how tall you are) that decathlon do not do the 700c wheel size on anything smaller than a 54cm frame. The 51cm frame is a 650c wheel size which could cause issues in the future if you want to change the wheels. Both myself and my OH have had to replace the wheels on our Triban 3's after wearing them out - mine wore out very quickly but I do a lot of mileage....

 

[freezeice]

@freezeice be careful with the in store sizing...

Hi, I went in store and the guy immediately said I would be too small for a 51cm, 54cm seemed to fit me very nicely which meant that the Triban 7 would be too small for me. I'm going for a red Triban 3 now that I've found locally size 54cm
Sorry to hear you had problems with decathlon though

I also bought the £4.99 cycling shorts from there which fit nicely.

 

[themosquitoking]

A fiver is not enough to spend on cycling shorts.

 

[Garry A]

They're ok for short trips, under an hour. I've used the 500 shorts for up to 50 miles and they are about £17 iirc.

 

[fossyant]

You still need to keep fit. Join the Uni Cycling Club !

 

[SteCenturion]

@freezeice

there is a long standing Triban thread on CC called triban owners club I think.

 

[Saluki]

Well done on finding a red triban
Happy riding.

 

[Alsajosora]

Throwing a spanner in the works here, but have a quick look at this.......
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html