B’TWIN TRIBAN 500

£349

Can you make a genuine full-on road bike at this price, and one with a carbon fork? Yes. It looks like a road bike and rides like one. It’s versatile too, with rear rack mounts, front and rear mudguard fittings and bags of clearance. The compact frame proved comfortable, contact points good, but the tyres were nearer 24mm than 25.

B’Twin has gone its own way by speccing a ProWheel 50/39/30 triple chainset and eight-speed Sunrace 12-25 cassette. The shifters from Taiwan’s Microshift feature a paddle each for up- and down-shifts. It takes a while to get used to and can require a bit of effort, while an 11-28 cassette would really have maximised the triple’s benefits.

On a tight budget and looking for a first road bike? Want to get your partner cycling? Need a backup bike for training or practical commuter/day-to-day machine? This Triban is a top choice and miles away from the ‘bike-shaped object’.

Out of the box, none. We’d fit better tyres and cartridge brake blocks – but only when the originals wear out – and we’d seriously consider a wider cassette if riding a lot of hills.