Triban RC500 Review after 2000 miles

Got to 2000 miles on my Triban RC500, after a chain change and clean I thought I would do a quick review and show and tell of how I have it set up for commuting to and from work

[@gnooy13mdfk]

I added 40mm tan wall tires, matching bar tape, reversed the stem to a more comfortable position (neck and shoulder pain gone) and bombed 1 fork with some vinyl stickers. It rides like a demon. I would like to find a comfy brown seat as well. Bikepacking setup includes Blackburn handlebar drybag and couple of decathlon's standard strap-on bags.

[@joaobrito1801]

40mm tires fit without problems? When riding in wheat gravel or mud it doesn't scrub the frame?

[@omicron942]

great review with practical info, thanks dangly.

[@DanGleebowls]

Glad to have been helpful!

[@Adam__U]

Just waiting for this to come back into stock and getting Decathlon to switch out the handlebars for flared ones and thicker tyres for turning this into a tourer. Can't wait

[@Bassmunchkin1]

Massive big thumbs up from me for both your excellent in-depth review and also as I've had mine 10 weeks now. Totally agree 100 percent with many pointers you make, especially the gears as I found that getting up a relatively steep incline (which I shouldn't of done (read on further) in 2nd gear was just like slicing through butter. I got this bike as I have heart failure and my cardio nurse suggested getting a bike and yep, what a fantastic choice. Im finding though with my 500, it's only about 45 minutes of riding before the front breaks start squealing again, after I've used disc cleaner using latex gloves so as not to get my finger oils on them and lightly sanded the pads down and cleaned them also with disc cleaner to make sure I've cleaned all of the sanded dust away. I find there's loads of break dust even though I try and be as gentle on the breaks as I can. I was going to ask would you recommend upgrading the discs and if so to which ones, but as you've not mentioned having the same issue, I wouldn't expect you to comment on this question. Either way many thanks once again for sharing.

[@DanGleebowls]

Thank you Terry! With the brakes you seem to be a lot more careful than me, I'm a bit cavalier with them myself, I try to avoid spraying them with cleaning products and that's about it, they get rinsed with the hose when I rinse the whole thing off and unless it's nice enough out for them to dry in the sun I'll give them a wipe with a clean(ish) dry rag, what part of the UK (guessing you're UK based on how you type 😂) are you from? I'd be happy to chuck it up on the workstand and take a nosey if the distance makes sense.

[@Bassmunchkin1]

@@DanGleebowls Good evening Dan and that's really kind of you. I do have a "BIKE HAND" work stand myself and the wheel spins very freely, no binding and I've even replaced the discs now with the same brand just to see what happens, but still have the same issues. Yer your spot on, I’m from SE London Abbeywood and I bought the bike from Decathlon in Greenwich. It is due it’s first free service in two weeks time, so hopefully they will diagnose the cause, I'll definitely update you. Also my new Wahoo KICKR indoor trainer arrived yesterday, so at least my front break will get a rest until it's service. The technician that PDI’d my bike was absolutely brilliant and I’m totally confident in he’s bike skills and he even gave me some great pointers for my heart issues and he’s customers comments are 5 stars all the way. I even bought him a bunch of SIS goodies for fuelling him out on he’s rides. I was just trying to narrow the front break squeal down sooner and see if I’m the only one. I can take it back to them now before my service, but I’m only doing short rides at the moment as my cardio nurse says I mustn’t let my heart rate go above 102bpm at the moment until they’re happy about my stats. I can take it on the train, but with such a fantastic beginners bike, that would tease me so much not riding all that way instead. It’s also really frustrating at the moment that I can’t join any ride groups as I’d hold everyone back, but saying that I’ll have to Google heart patient cycle clubs or something like that as there must be thousands of people in the same position. I have googled disc break squeal Dan but only find cleaning the discs whilst wearing gloves and rubbing the pads over with fine glass paper or emery paper as i’ve mentioned. Maybe i just have a duff set of pads. BTW where are you, you’re not spookily in my next turning

[@Bassmunchkin1]

​@@DanGleebowls Good evening Dan and that's really kind of you. I do have a "BIKE HAND" work stand myself and the wheel spins very freely, no binding and I've even replaced the discs now with the same brand just to see what happens, but still have the same issues. Yer your spot on, I’m from SE London Abbeywood and I bought the bike from Decathlon in Greenwich. It is due it’s first free service in two weeks time, so hopefully they will diagnose the cause, I'll definitely update you. Also my new Wahoo KICKR indoor trainer arrived yesterday, so at least my front break will get a rest until it's service. The technician that PDI’d my bike was absolutely brilliant and I’m totally confident in he’s bike skills and he even gave me some great pointers for my heart issues and he’s customers comments are 5 stars all the way. I even bought him a bunch of SIS goodies for fuelling him out on he’s rides. I was just trying to narrow the front break squeal down sooner and see if I’m the only one. I can take it back to them now before my service, but I’m only doing short rides at the moment as my cardio nurse says I mustn’t let my heart rate go above 102bpm at the moment until they’re happy about my stats. I can take it on the train, but with such a fantastic beginners bike, that would tease me so much not riding all that way instead. It’s also really frustrating at the moment that I can’t join any ride groups as I’d hold everyone back, but saying that I’ll have to Google heart patient cycle clubs or something like that as there must be thousands of people in the same position. I have googled disc break squeal Dan but only find cleaning the discs whilst wearing gloves and rubbing the pads over with fine glass paper or emery paper as i’ve mentioned. Maybe i just have a duff set of pads. BTW where are you, you’re not spookily in my next turning

[@DanGleebowls]

Ah, sounds like you've covered all bases then, could just be the pads are a little iffy, I'm leicester based at the moment, I would imagine there's some more easy paced groups that focus more on the social aspect, if not maybe pop a post on your local cycling page and see if anyone wants to start one, I don't really do group rides, I tend to just commute and run errands by myself!

[@Bassmunchkin1]

@@DanGleebowls Cheers Dan, I've just booked my service for next Monday, I'll let you know how I get on with the breaks 👍

[@firestarterman6889]

I wanted to get RC500 or RC520 but they didnt have it in my size so Ive got the RC120, which is fine for me even though its 1 kilo heavier. But id rather put my good old trusty Schwalbe Puncture proof marathon plus tires if they exist for these wheels. Instead of taking extra weight in tools and spare tubes and worry about flats.

[@sashapiski8263]

Default Promax brakes, what is your experience with them ? Noisy, need often services and settings, or problematic brake calipers ? Or it's ok

[@KaranDabas-em8vz]

i have tried M but found it way too small too close to knees, help plz

[@atticus6572]

Hey Dan, what do you think of this RC500 against the RC520? Probably an eyeroll question at this point. Are those 105 components on the RC520 worth the additional cost?

[@DanGleebowls]

Having never ridden 105 to compare I honestly couldn't say, Atticus. I've not found the 2x9 Sora to be lacking for my use, which is basically commuting and going to the pub.

[@Toretto16]

The difference between Sora and 105 is that 105 :had to additional Gears. In the middle of the cassete. Lowest and highest gear are the same at both groupsets, only with 105 you have a amaller jump between gears because of these 2 extra gears. The thing why rc520 is better is actually brakes because at this model 520 they are semi hydraulic, and on rc500 mechanical. Go with rc520 if the monet is not a Problem, but nothing is wrong with rc500 and it is not quicker or slower than 520, only less soffisticated.

[@AQUPAS]

Are the stock tires OK for long duration rides on loose gravel

[@DanGleebowls]

Loose gravel, I would say not at any reasonable speed, I'd say hard packed dirt in the dry and roads would be my limit on the stock tyres

[@AQUPAS]

@@DanGleebowls OK thanks

[@antonskundrotspravieniskis1188]

Is it worth getting this bike with microshift configuration?

[@manojh2770]

What's the good descent average speed that can be attained with this ?

[@DanGleebowls]

On that I'm not sure, I don't measure my speed

[@simonskristel8005]

Nice bike, Do you also have problems changing the tires? A lot of people apparently have problems with that. At the Decathlon store they need two people to change a tire. Not normal

[@DanGleebowls]

Yes! I put some Continental Grand prix 4 seasons on and it was a pain, got them on by myself but it was a real struggle

[@DanGleebowls]

Update for the tyre situation, I recently reviewed a tool called the Tyre Glider, it made the process so much easier

[@atticus6572]

@@DanGleebowls Thanks!

[@AmanSingh-us7bc]

Hello, Im considering this bike. I just wanted to ask if you can get in an aero position on this bike? Many people said it's more like an endurance bike and how loud is the rear hub?

[@DanGleebowls]

You can get fairly aero on it but it is definitely more endurance geometry, the hubs aren't the loudest, but that suits me because I prefer a quieter ride

[@AmanSingh-us7bc]

​@@DanGleebowls Can I lower the handlebar to make it more aero?

[@DanGleebowls]

@@AmanSingh-us7bc you can, the stem has about 20mm worth of spacers so can be dropped by that much, and you could also use a more angled stem as well, but if race geometry is what you're after a race frame would likely be more effective

[@joaobrito1801]

The bike is enough strong to do gravel with no problem? Even some hard gravel sectors sometimes? I saw some reviews that said the wheels are fragile and the spokes break easily and the brakes are bad...

[@DanGleebowls]

not sure, I use it to commute to work and ride to the pub, worst surface I ride on is dirt paths alongside the Canal, sorry!

[@joaobrito1801]

@@DanGleebowls and you had any issues during that miles you did?

[@stanisawb3646]

Is tyre steong?

[@DanGleebowls]

They're not bad, but I replaced them with continental grand prix 4 seasons because the originals don't have the best grip in the wet

[@andrebaronigg3846]

What is the average speed +/-

[@DanGleebowls]

I'm not sure, I don't measure my speed but fast enough to get me to work quicker than the bus!

[@andrebaronigg3846]

@@DanGleebowls ok it's alright if you Don't Know Thanks for the fast answer continue the good work 😁

[@captaincake4331]

If only you can find and buy them. Buying a different bike now because this shit is impossible to find.

[@DanGleebowls]

Yeah there are shortages everywhere with a lot of bikes in this price range, I set a stock alert on this bike and ordered the moment I got the email, the demand over the last 18 months has seen increases of something like 300%, the supply chain is reeling from that and the cost of shipping containers from China is compounding matters

[@piotrp7525]

Model of front light?

[@DanGleebowls]

It's the Lumintop B01, it has broken since this video so I replaced it with a different light from Rockbros that's doing the job great

[@CarletonJohnson]

This so confused me that you changed the channel name

[@DanGleebowls]

Yeah, I changed my twitch username as a joke, started streaming and it stuck 😂 so changed my KZbin and IG to match

[@New-ye2fl]

Blue or black is the big dilemma

[@fabiobae]

Black

[@signordon1987]

they even steal decathlon bikes?

[@DanGleebowls]

People will steal anything if they can

[@KaranDabas-em8vz]

i am 178 should i buy L sizer o M

[@howkeat87]

What’s the size?

[@DanGleebowls]

This one is a size Small from Decathlons sizing

[@Ogelit]

@@DanGleebowls how tall are you in cm? I am 175cm and size chart says M but I think S is better since I’d like to have a more sporty position.

[@DanGleebowls]

I was sized just at the cusp between small and medium, so I sized down, fits me just great, need to adjust my saddle height today though as I just fitted SPD pedals which are everso slightly taller

[@Ogelit]

@@DanGleebowls do you think i will be fine with s even though i am 2cm taller than the limit?

[@DanGleebowls]

I'm not sure, my recommendation would be to go into a decathlon and try them out, the sizing based on height isn't the most accurate because it doesn't take into account how that height is proportioned, different ratios of leg and torso length for example could mean you end up stretching to reach the hoods or having your knees too close to the bars