Hi all, I hope my post doesn’t violate any rules, because of the links, if yes, please let me know.
I am a beginner with road bikes, I was always a MTB person, but I decided to get a road bike for my cardio exercise as I turned 40 and I have less option in my area for MTB rides.
Since Im a beginner with road bikes I would need some advice to not mess up my purchase. Of course I done some research as well, but never know what I missed.
Im in the EU and my budget is 700-750 EUR, so yes, it will be a budget bike. I will ride 3-4 times a week for 50-70 km distances. Some hills, but nothing serious.
I found two possible candidates:
Triban RC500 The obvious choice, many reviews calling it the best budget bike under 1000 EUR, some compromises, but I think it would be perfect for me. Price: 750 EUR where I live.
Sava Vegur 1.2 A bit of a wild card, its currently on half off sale with a reputable online retailer for 680 EUR, but cant decide if its the deal of the year or I should be cautious. I know, I dont need a carbon bike for my needs, but still, Im curious if anyone ever had experience with the brand? I found reviews, opinions, etc but nothing which would tell me to buy or not buy it specifically. Its a Chinese brand, but thats about it from what I can see.
Thanks for the time and I would prefer constructive feedback if possible :)
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You’re looking to exercise. That means expending energy. The carbon bike’s reason for existence is to reduce energy expenditure. It’s lighter and more aerodynamic. A side effect is that it’s also a bit easier to carry although 2-3kg difference isn’t a lot for that purpose. Unless you’re looking for setting times against others, there’s not much point to it for you. Then comes the ease of living with it. The alu frame will likely last till you’re in your 60s without any special care from the elements. It’ll likely need no treatment after crashes either. Paint scraped? No problem. The carbon on the other hand is much more difficult to live with. You can’t ignore dings and chips in the paint. You have to inspect it for safety (ultrasound, etc) after significant crashes. Alu is much more usable in comparison and I’d take it any day over carbon, even if I had a high budget.
On a side note, don’t be afraid to change the bike from its typical “road” shape. Different handlebar styles (go flat if you prefer it) and heights, tires, saddles, suspension seat posts (oh yeah 🫠), tweak it however it feels comfortable. Attach a rack for storage if you have to. Going 70k on a bike that is comfortable feels much nicer than arriving bent into a shrimp.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Thats some awesome advice. I was not familiar with this type of handlebar. I will save it in case I need it later.
You may look in to gravel bikes, they have more clearance for wider tires, usually some attachment points for racks and fenders and you can get them with flat bars.
Decathlon has some good options like GRV 120 triban.
No idea about the bikes (I have only ever owned one). I would suggest that buying from decathlon means you have a shop to go to for warranty repairs if something goes wrong.
… I also have a distrust of carbon bikes having seen a front fork snap on someone before.
Thanks. The carbon bike also has a service centre in my country based on their website, but I will consider what you said.
Might not be an issue then. Hopefully you will enjoy either 🙂
I don’t have any experience with those brands and I’m still pretty new to road cycling, so I can only give my general thoughts.
You’re right that you don’t need a carbon frame, but I recently switched from aluminum to carbon and the difference was eye opening. Just the amount of vibration that it dampens on pavement has made a massive, immediate, change in how biking feels to me.
One thing I would consider before making a purchase is the possibility of upgrades/changes that you might want to make in the future. I haven’t looked at the bikes you linked but, as an example, if you were to buy a bike that couldn’t accept a standard round seatpost and stem, then you wouldn’t be able to buy replacements like the redshift shockstop system, which are fantastic.
But other than that I wish you good luck =-)
Edit: oh, also, this: https://youtu.be/sO6TONX4BN8
Thanks, great points to consider. The linked model is outside my budget but it has the same frame/geometry as the RC500 and also has good reviews.
Got to say, I’d be tempted by the carbon of the two. It’s going to be an open mould Chinese frame, but there are lots of good ones of those around. The big consideration at this point is getting a good frame and wheels - you’ll slowly upgrade other components over time anyway. Both bikes are 9 speed (one is definitely Sora and the other sounds like Sora too). The Triban is heavier and, although the wheel weight isn’t given for the other bike, I suspect they’ll be a bit lighter.
Ultimately, the right bike is the one that would put the biggest smile on your face, and without testing both it’ll be hard to know which that is. But do have a good look at the carbon bike, and consider upgrading the brakes to Spyre hydro calipers before long
Thank you for taking the time to reply, its a great help. I can not test them both (well I could the Decathlon one, but the closest shop is 90 minutes drive away), but I will have the option to return any of the two within 30 days if something is not right.
I have a Triban 120, Id say go for them, they’re very good entry level bikes.
You could get a Triban 520 under 1000 euros as well, you get a Shimano 105 groupset which is kinda the gold standard for value.
I wouldn’t go for a carbon bike that cheap, those thing tend to crack if they’re not properly made. Maybe check out something like a used Orbea Orca
