TRIBAN RC 520 DISC £729

UNBELIEVABLE VALUE FROM DECATHLON’ S DISC" BRAKED DISTANCE MACHINE

How much bike can you get for £729? An unbelievable amount. If you want Shimano 105, very decent brakes and don’t want to stress your credit card, Triban’s 520 should be your first port of call.

Shimano’s 7000 series 105 is accompanied by TRP’s excellent HY/RD hydro-mechanical brakes, unheard of at this price. These pair mechanical shifters with hydraulic callipers for very effective, well-modulated all-weather braking.

The geometry is very much at the endurance/touring/commuting end of the spectrum, with a tall head tube and shortish top tube. It’s an upright riding position, which lacks the dynamism of the new Specialized Allez, and it’s also carrying a little weight. But those are minor quibbles on a practical day-to-day bike you can kit out for bigger riding adventures. It descends surefootedly, the discs allowing you to brake later, the relaxed geometry keeping you safely in control at all times. Climbing is slightly subdued, but low gears help drag you up even the steepest inclines.

The slightly ovalised bar tops are comfortable, the already plush 28mm tyres are tubeless-ready (again, unique at this price) and the frame can accommodate 36mm tyres for more comfort or tougher, broken surfaces.

There are quick-releases rather than thru-axles, the external cabling looks a little cluttered and its looks are somewhat unexciting – the £529 RC500 scoring more on that front – but at £729 this is the steal of the year.