First Bike - Triban vs The World

[Xipro]

Hello!

I'm looking to buy a road bike and have read very good things about the Triban 3 & 5 series, however, they are almost impossible to find and I need a bike within the next two weeks for work.

My question is, what is the next best thing to the Triban 3 and/or 5 for around £300 and/or £400?

Thank you =)

 

[Xipro]

I can't figure out how to edit my first post, so I'll add this here.

I may be willing to spend more, around £500, if the bike is THAT good.

I've found a few that seem decent, but the price is a bit high for my budget.

For example

Ribble 7005 Race (I really like the look of this one)
Trek 1.1
SPECIALIZED ALLEZ - ALLEZ
Defy 5 (Compact)

Alternatively, if anyone has or knows of a Triban 3 or 5 for sale I'd appreciate it =D

 

[cyberknight]

All good bikes and the ribble does offer the most bang for the buck, that and the spesh are two of a few that will offer a carbon fork at this price point.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I noticed this bike on Wiggle reduced to £499, never heard of Moser bikes but I am new to cycling. It is a higher spec than the Giant or Specialized as it has the 2013 9 speed Sora groupset fitted that has the paddles on the shifters that enable downshifting from the drops. It just looks like re-badged 9 speed Tiagra to me which works extremeley well. The Fulcrum 7 wheels are also possibly better than those fitted to the other bikes.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-speed-sora-2013/

 

[vickster]

I doubt the 2013 entry level models from Specialized, Trek, Giant have the carbon fork

The 2012 Defy 4 can be got for £500 with the carbon fork

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-4-compact-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods

Alu fork on the 2013 Defy 5 http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-5-2013

This looks a good spec for under £500 http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-bikes/merlin-road-bikes/merlin-maven-road-bike.html

Second hand? You'll get more bang for your buck.

 

[Cyclist33]

Hello!

I'm looking to buy a road bike and have read very good things about the Triban 3 & 5 series, however, they are almost impossible to find and I need a bike within the next two weeks for work.

My question is, what is the next best thing to the Triban 3 and/or 5 for around £300 and/or £400?

Thank you =)

for that money, get a fast hybrid instead.

 

[Xipro]

All good bikes and the ribble does offer the most bang for the buck, that and the spesh are two of a few that will offer a carbon fork at this price point.

It what regard does the Ribble offer the most for its price?

I doubt the 2013 entry level models from Specialized, Trek, Giant have the carbon fork

The 2012 Defy 4 can be got for £500 with the carbon fork

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-4-compact-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods

Alu fork on the 2013 Defy 5 http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-5-2013

This looks a good spec for under £500 http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-bikes/merlin-road-bikes/merlin-maven-road-bike.html

Second hand? You'll get more bang for your buck.

Those seem nice too, but what should I look for if I go for a second hand model? I honestly don't mind buying used, but I just need to know what to buy..

for that money, get a fast hybrid instead.

Such as? I was thinking of buying a hybrid at first, but was swayed by the Triban 3. What are some good hybrids?

Thank you everyone for helping =)

 

[AndyRM]

It what regard does the Ribble offer the most for its price?

Compared to the others you mentioned, it's got a carbon fork and the best groupset.

It's also, IMO, the best looking!

Delivery may be a bit tight on your deadline, however. I think it took about 20 days for mine to arrive. Worth checking though, as that's a great bike for the money.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Not sure you'll get a Ribble inside 2 weeks; might be wrong though.

 

[Xipro]

Not sure you'll get a Ribble inside 2 weeks; might be wrong though.

Compared to the others you mentioned, it's got a carbon fork and the best groupset.

It's also, IMO, the best looking!

Delivery may be a bit tight on your deadline, however. I think it took about 20 days for mine to arrive. Worth checking though, as that's a great bike for the money.

Hey, I'm probably going to end up with the Ribble. I gave them a call and they said 11 to 15 working days wait time... So not ideal, but I may be able to deal with public transport for a few days.

I do have one concern though, I did some research on bike theft and it seems awfully rampant in Central London... It seems as if all the locks on sale are also easily destroyed with no one batting an eyelid, according to the 'Gone in 60 Second' programme on bikes. How does everyone else deal with this? I was thinking bringing the bike into my actual place of work and leaving it there, rather than on the street - but that isn't always practical..

 

[AndyRM]

It'll be worth the wait! The build quality on my Ribble was superb as well. The company has their detractors on this board, but so does just about every mail order bike shop.

There will be a lot of Londoners who can give you good advice on locks to get.

I'm fortunate in that there's reasonable bike parking facilities where I work, and that it's not easy to wander on site. And that I don't live in London...

 

[MaxInc]

I was thinking bringing the bike into my actual place of work and leaving it there, rather than on the street - but that isn't always practical..

That's exactly what I do, even if I work from home in up upstairs office. Not exactly practical but it get a lot easier in time. I just love it too much to leave it in the shed.

If this is an option for you then go for it. Could be a lot more practical than having to carry 2 heavy locks with you and worrying all day long, not to mention the inconvenience if something should happen to your bike.

Alternatively best bet is to make the potential thief chose another bike. This means yours has to be better secured, less accessible and worth less than the bikes next to it.

 

[vickster]

Still lock it up inside with a solid lock, several stories in the stolen bikes forum where cheeky thieves have stolen bikes from inside. You can leave the lock at work. Or get a folder, keep it under the desk

Whatever you decide, make sure it's properly insured with not too big and excess. You may still need a particular level of lock to be covered

 

[puch]

I was looking at a red Triban 3 this morning, in the L size. I'm only 6ft but it looked so darn small... Road bikes are like that, are they?

 

[vickster]

They come in a cm frame size...or the red one did. Yes, roadframes are more compact