Decathlon - Triban RC 520 Road Bike review - the ultimate commuter?

[@peterpieren4855]

Freddy, thanks for the review and it's absolutely right. Why do I know that, I also have an RC520 since April. I don't mind the weight, I'm 1.93 cm and 98 kg, XL frame. So what does a kg weight matter. If you don't really care about a brand then this is simply the best road bike for the money and the frame has a lifetime warranty. If parts are worn out, I will upgrade for Shimano 105. And finally, the brakes are just fine and easy to maintain, also with the cables that run outside the frame. Only easier for the hobby mechanic.

[@gregempz4505]

Ive had this bike an entry level for the past 2 years and still no complaints as its the best bang for your buck in this range for features. The brakes have held up extremely well ffor a daily rider as well as long commutes and sub racing. Easy upgrades to make better are lighter wheels, convert to tubeless and an upgraded bar and stem. This bike is a no brainer as a winner for the price!

[@TOShorts]

Other than the brake cables being exposed, this bike is pure class.

[@Toretto16]

Exposed is exactly what I like about this bike. Easy to work on, function OVER form for a change....

[@Flix-f6q]

fast enough bike that Rides well and is cheap enough to lock it up at the Train station and Not get it Stolen. This makes it useful. Get some mudguards for the Winter, perhaps.

[@TheEK228]

I am a complete NOVICE to cycling but I'm trying to find an alternative to running so I'm looking for a bike for fitness mainly. Probably put some KM's on the bike on weekends and MAYBE do some commuting. I went to decathlon today and they recommended this to me as an entry level bike that will last a fair amount of time. However when I went to Evans they recommended the Domane AL2 Disc which I reckon I can find online for around £650 new. What would your recommendation be out of these two bikes. I'm a marathoner and like I said I need an alternative to running so that's the main use

[@TheEK228]

Please and thanks. Where are my manners

[@Flix-f6q]

A fast enough bike that Rider Sell and is cheap enough to lock it up at the Train station and Not get it Stolen. This makes it useful. Get some mudguards for the Winter, perhaps.

[@carlosvan21]

Im a bit like yourself ....im looking for a new bike to do cycle commute that i can put my paniers and mug guards on.... i have a carbon road bike that i use in summer and a aluminum 105 bike that ive had since 2017 .... My cycle commute bike is a flat bar that im still happy with ....so question is...... is 4 bikes to many

[@arthurariesen]

Do you think this bike is a good choice for a beginner who wants to do their first Triathlon? What upgrades would you recommend?

[@Dustmadeout]

What is the rear hub width for Triban RC500/520? I can't find this info anywhere and I was in Decathlon today they didn't know either.

[@ChristopherLee-o5b]

I find heavy bikes helps with some rough roads

[@zeeshawnali4078]

How is this for a beginner cycler looking to do 100km road rides?

[@freddiecycles]

Could do 100k on this no problem 🙌

[@mastacrx]

What would be the next bike after that?

[@anandkrishnan7997]

Bought the bike and waiting for it to ship! I was worried about the external cabling compared to the internal cabling for all the competitors you mentioned, have you faced any issues due to dirt and so on?

[@freddiecycles]

No issues so far 👌 Hope you enjoy the bike!

[@lazylonewolf]

External cabling is a lot easier to replace though, and it seems even the GCN folks don't like internal cabling too

[@zurielsss]

I wipe my rc520 down with a large wet wipe every time I use it. No issue with external wires so far

[@Toretto16]

Don't worry about external cables. It is actually advantage since you can see the condition of the cables when doing inspection and if needs to be changed, it is so much easier. Exposed cables are Function over Form.

[@markandar5194]

How do you find the size, does it run smaller or larger, for reference im 5ft9, sat on a large rc 120 and felt a bit comfier than the Medium. Thanks for your input :)

[@freddiecycles]

The size feels ok for me. Obviously it can be slightly subjective depending on how you want the bike to feel. I’m 5 ft 10 - normally if you want more comfort a larger size would suit, I go smaller when I can as I like the feeling of a smaller bike for handling etc. At 5 ft9 I think I would aim for the medium but just sit on both and consult with the sales assistants in Decathlon they are usually pretty helpful.

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Brilliant bike you cant beat 105 no need to upgrade the gears i have electronic gears and still love 105!. Unless you are racing pointless upgrading to a more expensive bike you can loose most of the weight by investing in carbon wheels seat post etc. Oh and brakes are more than good enough just upgrade the pads!.

[@PhilipDenys]

you should cut off the stem

[@kjvidyesh]

The biggest issue with the bike is it's poor quality brakes. They don't bite as hard as you want. Hydraulic brakes are the way to go. That's why it's a skippable bike.

[@freddiecycles]

They aren’t bad at all but point taken. You would struggle getting hydraulic brakes on a brand new bike at this price point though.

[@adventure-bikeislife1976]

Trp hy rd are decent brakes, they seat nicely between mechanical and hydraulic brakes. My Marin Gestald came with mechanical discs brakes, and they were scary. I then invested a money into Trp hy rd and they are game changers.

[@jochenkraus7016]

I have a different bike with hy rd brakes and they are ok so far.

[@neelanand8034]

Not at all a good bike. I am using it since 3 months, doesn't offer value for money

[@koersken]

how so?