Triban 3 Questions

[steveindenmark]

Jannie and I have the idea of riding Lejog.

Our starting problem is getting our bikes from Denmark to Cornwall and then back to Denmark is very expensive, and to be honest, a PIA. An idea we have come up with is buying a Triban 3 each and then either selling them on or donating them before coming home.

My questions are.

Where can I buy them? We both take 54 cm frames.

Will it take a rack on the back?

Will it take 25c tyres?

We intend to take it very easy and dont want to spend a fortune if were going to give them away at the end.

Steve

 

[SimonJKH]

You buy them from Decathlon. They certainly have mounting lugs for racks, though I never used them so more than that I can't say. 25c tyres would be fine.

 

[raleighnut]

Jannie and I have the idea of riding LEJOG next year.

Our starting problem is getting our bikes from Denmark to Cornwall and then back to Denmark is very expensive, and to be honest, a PIA. An idea we have come up with is buying a Triban 3 each and then either selling them on or donating them before coming home.

My questions are.

Where can I buy them? We both take 54 cm frames.

Will it take a rack on the back?

Will it take 25c tyres?

We intend to take it very easy and dont want to spend a fortune if were going to give them away at the end.

Steve

Be easier doing a JoGLE surely.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 3277533, member: 259"]There are no Decathlon shops anywhere near Cornwall.[/QUOTE]

Glasgow and Edinburgh are hardly local to John o' Groats

 

[steveindenmark]

Be easier doing a JoGLE surely.

Why do you think that would be easier?

 

[steveindenmark]

Vernon, what has Glasgow and Edinburgh got to do with it?

This is getting confusing.

Steve

 

[MarkF]

I have a Triban 3, it's my tourer and I have a Blackburn tourer rack fitted. Yes, it will take 25mm tyres but mine are still 23mm because they haven't popped yet. I intend to cross Spain on it next spring.

 

[mike chadwick]

There you go 1 t3 with rack panniers and bar bag somewhere in the French Pyrenees this July and marathon 25mm tyres and crud guards

 

[andym]

The B'Twin is Decathlon's own brand - so you'll only find the Triban in Decathlon stores. Decathlon are the IKEA of sports goods - not sure what they've got against Denmark but they are everywhere else. Except Cornwall.

The nearest store is Southampton although you might find the Reading store more convenient - it's not far from the station so you could pick up your bikes and then take a train to Cornwall.

They also do home delivery - but I don't know whether they do it for bikes. You could do click and collect.

Personally I doubt that buying is going to be less of a PITA than shipping your bikes over.

I don't know where you are planning to ride in Cornwall but I've just come back from a few days riding the NCN 3. This uses stretches of old railway line (the Tarka Trail and Camel Trail) as well as the Pentewen trail and other trails used by the old china-clay mines. These are really lovely rides and I'd thoroughly recommend them but there are stretches that are unsurfaced and get a bit rough. I did them with 25mm tyres and only got a couple of pinch flats (my stupidity for not checking my tyre pressure) but next time I'd take a bike with fatter tyres.

Cornwall is also very hilly. I was easily doing a 1,000 metres of climbing for every 50 kilometres - which puts it alongside the Alps/Dolomites/Apennines (and that was taking the easier inland option betrween Bude and Bodmin). So choice of gearing is going to be important: if you go too high you'll have lots, and lots, and lots, of opportunities to regret it.

 

[jefmcg]

I just spent a few minutes searching and came up with what Andym already posted. If I was doing this, I'd organise a click-and-collect from Reading decathlon, fly into Heathrow and get a bus to Reading. After picking up the bikes and everything else you need, hop on the train towards Cornwall, which I think with a change will get within 10 miles of lands end.

Selling would be harder. I guess it would be best to have a buyer arranged before you even purchased the bikes, with some renegotiation if they aren't in the expected condition at the end of the ride.

Edit: and of course there are other bike shops in Reading, so you could have an (expensive) fall back position if the bikes weren't available for some reason.

 

[raleighnut]

Why do you think that would be easier?

Its downhill innit

 

[bigjim]

Decathlon do free delivery within the UK. The problem is you need a uk billing address. One way round it I suppose, if you have a friend or relative close to your start point. Theycould order for you, once you have transferred funds to them.
How much is expensive by the way?

 

[Fubar]

Jannie and I have the idea of riding Lejog.

Our starting problem is getting our bikes from Denmark to Cornwall and then back to Denmark is very expensive, and to be honest, a PIA. An idea we have come up with is buying a Triban 3 each and then either selling them on or donating them before coming home.

My questions are.

Where can I buy them? We both take 54 cm frames.

Will it take a rack on the back?

Will it take 25c tyres?

We intend to take it very easy and dont want to spend a fortune if were going to give them away at the end.

Steve

Bound to be a few 2nd hand ones knocking around - could always advertise in the Wanted section??

 

[jefmcg]

Why don't you try this route instead. Looks like quite an adventure, and no bike shipping issues.

 

[steveindenmark]

Thanks for that Jef I have never heard of it before. It may be an interesting ride on my motorbike,

But it is not a UK end to end is it? They wont sell fish and chips and pints of bitter and thats what I miss.

The cost to get our bikes over would be €100 each return plus the train fare to Cornwall and then back from JOG to Stansted. Plus the hassle.

You can order the bikes online when they are in Stock and I am sure I can find an address in Cornwall to have them sent to. Even if its a bike shop close to Lands End where they can give the bike a service and the once over.

Steve