Decathlon is doing really good job at bringing new people into cycling, shame other brands are not offering bikes for the "average joe"

I commuted 3000km on this bike, got hit by a car, bought the same bike again, have cycled over 5000km on the new one, 2300km was touring on the North Sea cycle route with 35kg of luggage for two people. Hard as nails this bike is, I love it.

So glad Decathlon bikes are getting the coverage they deserve. Absolute value for money! Thanks Francis and Jimmy!

Props on you guys reviewing a bike that people can actually afford in this day and age. Especially for beginner riders who just don't want to commit $10,000+ or more straight away.

Decathlon gets really looked down on by elitists. But for those wanting to try different sports, or aren't made of money, they're a great store.

Watching a Cade Media review of a £400 bike is more entertaining than a £12,000 Specialized Tarmac SL8 👍👍👍

Decathlon puts a huge smile on my face. I haven't competed since 2005, and decathlon opened in my area in 2020. The timing was perfect and the budget was right. Thousands of KMs and a few charity events later, i was very happy with what I paid.

Thank you for reviewing normal bikes rather than £10000 ones which are simply out of reach for most people. And well done Decathlon.

The bike has been reviewed by several bike magazines and always gains 5*.

i've been riding my RC 120 rim brake all summer. i've really enjoyed it. its mostly flat here in the Canadian prairies so disc really isn't needed. Mine only came with a front reflector, and no light. I upgraded the bar tape from that sponge like stuff to a gortex. got myself actual lights & water bottle cage. I did start with flat pedals but soon upgraded to a clipless setup. I fell off twice but after tweaking the tension on the pedals i am now safe and confident. After about 600 km in my first summer of cycling i can say this bike has been an absolute pleasure, a great starting point and has allowed me to get into this wonderful sport with out breaking my wallet. i even got a KOM on Strava. I would like to upgrade the gear set, wheels and tires down the line but really unsure if that would be worth it or not. Perhaps theres a video in that. I do plan to have it for years to come before "upgrading" Where does one go from here in the bike ownership journey? WIll i be going to a Pinarello? i can't say enough good things about the RC 120 bike, great video.

Hey, guys! I bought this exact bike as my first road bike (early last year) and I've put something like 6000 km on it so far (including the Zwift trainer) and I have to say that even after all those miles, it's still a great bike. 🙏🏻 In that time I've upgraded the tyres on it (Pirelli P Zero - I think that's the best upgrade you can do), a new ZIPP stem, ZIPP handlebars, Rapha bar tape and also a Fizik saddle (I've got a new saddle coming soon from a Czech brand called "Posedla" - I think it would be great if you could get in touch with them and work something out). After all that... it's still a great bike for a beginner cyclist (like me). At the moment I'm looking for a new bike - carbon frame and also with at least a Shimano 105. Have a great day and thanks for your work (and the podcast)! 🎉

This is my commuter bike. I run it with a rack on the rear. It’s heavy, but it’s comfortable, the geometry is fantastic and the breaks are pretty good. Not sharp but very reliable in the rain etc. Wheels are heavy but extremely sturdy. All in all I find it to be fantastic.

Love my disc Triban RC120, which I bought after the last Cade Media recommendation. Threw on some Gravelking 38mm tyres and the bike just goes and goes. Only issue I had was the seat post, I’m only 167cm and the default seat post on the small RC120 was comically short. Replaced it when installing my preferred saddle and it’s perfect now.

Absolutely my favorite style of video from you boys. Love starting my day with a cup of coffee and a bit of Francis and Jimmy.

The fact that a shop like Decathlon exists makes me happy... Entry level stuff, grading system for all products and specialist stuff too. Very important store for cycling as a whole on every level.

I love these kind of videos, and share it all over. Great bike for the budget conscious, beginner, or both!

I bought this bike recently and absolutely love it. I've gone from not riding much to riding 70-80km a week. I've racked up about 300km already and it still feels great. Thabks for making these videos. Theyre informative and useful. I watched a bunch before buying the bike so I hope someone else does the same thing.

Ironically 2 weeks ago I found this channel and spotted your other triban review. From that I bought the RC120 as it had discs! Now to get out on it but i will be changing the pedals asap. My first road bike but this channel is my new life line. Thank you

Great video and love the fact you gave such a worthy cause a shout out and more. Subbed, really enjoy you guys and your refreshing outlook and honesty.

Love my Triban RC500, spent more than i like at the peak of Covid when bike prices were nuts, but still happy rides every time I go out. Thank you for the great reviews and vids guys!

Thank you very much team. For showing us the further possibilities of wider tyres and thus other terrain exploration.

I have a flat bar version of RC120, with stock tyres and I go everywhere my eyes see - woods, mud, gravel, sand, grass fields, and paved roads of course, and it just goes. 3000 kilometers already, nothing to replace so far. Just added aerobars, so I can get into aero position as well. What also gives me confidence riding on harsh conditions is that replacements parts are very cheap for this bike, but they do work well :)

I’ve ridden this bike for over 3 years and done over 16000km on it. I feel like I know this bike backwards! I’ve used it for bike packing, commuting, on a smart trainer, and many other adventures. I have had some issues over the years. My rear derailleur got caught in my wheel and was ripped out. I managed to save the frame by drilling out the hole and put in a new hollow threaded nut. After a quick realignment it has worked perfectly ever since. I’m a heavy guy so I’ve had to replace the rear wheel twice. And the rear shifter started to mess up so I replaced it (and the rear derailleur) with Claris. This thing is a beast! I love my bike and use it everyday. I sometimes feel a little embarrassed when I ride next to someone with a much more expensive bike. But that’s just in my head! I think one of the most undervalued aspects of this bike is how much it has taught me about maintenance. I do all my own work on it and I have learnt so much. Parts a generally cheap to replace and easy to install. This is arguably the perfect starter bike for anyone looking to get into road cycling. I was 33 when I got mine so it is never too late to start!

Love this sort of content guys. Getting people into the sport brings people to your channel. Win win! I am new to cycling and borrowing a bike from a friend. Once he sees how much fun I am having and takes the bike back I will be shooting down to Decthalon for test ride.

This bike was my first road bike, used it for 3 months... Did 500+km including one 175km ride. Absolute beast for the price. I've since sold it and bought an orbea though 😂

I bought a 2nd hand RC520 as a winter bike. I have used it more than I thought I would. Winter, wet rides during the summer and recently got a set of all road tyres and put some 38mm on and did some muddy off roading. For the price paid (if even I paid the new price) it's beyond expectations. Will be holding onto it for much longer than I thought and turn it into my winter / touring bike.

I've had the triban rc500 since June 2020 and it's been great. Minimal maintenance, lots of room to adjust parts to your own preference, comfortable and speedy enough to keep up with bikes way above the price of this. Three and a half years and still going strong, can't really fault it! Well done triban

A really good video and its good to see a cheap offering that works thank you for highlighting it

This is a really useful channel. Thanks you guys!

Love you guys for these videos. Well done!

Omg guys! I bought this bike about 3 weeks ago and I’ve been loving it! I started getting more and more into cycling and been watching your videos and was hoping you’d review this one since you reviews the other rim breaks Triban! It’s good to know your thoughts on this.

Hello from Canada! I followed your advice from the previous Triban video and bought a Triban RC 100, covered about 2k since May! It has a steel fork, which is downside (it corroded a bit), but it also has a removable mech hanger. M frame is a bit big for me but I managed to fit it more or less nicely. Will eventually switch it to 120. Cheers!

Really interesting and good to hear. I bought this bike 2 years ago (500 euros) as a start up to see if I would take to the sport. I did. Massively. Enjoyed it but felt the weight! Sold it 9 months later for 375 euros (happy with that deal as had crash damage from quite a few) and got myself my beloved Emonda SL6 pro. Much money on Cafe du Cycliste kit later, still loving it. Just back from Col de la Madone this morning with my Club, ouch. *carbon front forks.

Atlast a video for the triban series road bikes. Even though these bikes are been available for the last 3-4 years it's good to see your channel and GCN reviewing it this year. Please do review there gravel bike series. I had a hard time looking out for review and test videos for the triban series bikes, but I went ahead and got myself a Triban GRVL 120 2 years ago and I did not have any issues and since then I have been enjoying the ride (approx 4500km). You get a 1 year free inspection from Decathlon (Germany) and the frame has life time warranty and most of the components (Decathlon branded) with 2 years warranty.

The bike that got me back into road cycling in 2014 after the TDF paid a visit to Sheffield was the B’TWIN Triban 3 which I upgraded through the years, wheels etc. Done thousands miles on it and it’s still in use today. I bought their high end range Van Rysel EDR Ultegra a couple of years ago and that has been great also doing long rides on that.

This is my current bike, I was persuaded by your last video to get this one! I LOVE it! It’s easy to use, gears are great, comfortable and just looks really nice 👌 I would recommend it to anyone starting out!

Thanks to your first review, I bought the exact same bike 6 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. Thanks guys.

I had this bike for a few years, have ridden some 6000+ kms on it. Can't compare it to more pricey bikes as this was my first road/gravel bike, but it never let me down. It is good for long trips, bikepacking etc. The brakes are the worst part, otherwise everything on this bike works. I only changed the tyres for fatter gravel oriented ones, carbon seatpost. And also the brakes for some cheap semi-hydraulic ones, which didn't work any much better 🙂

Just got the RC120 disc break for my birthday and it is my first like real bike and it has been so incredible. Already taken it on a few 20 mile rides on the weekend and it just cruises. Took it in to get a professional tune up as I had never really set up a bike before. Ill look to upgrade the tires soon but seriously just in love.

Just bought this bike thanks to your positive review as well as many others out there. Very satisfied! At 62, I've been touring for just 4 years (3 x 3000-5000km) on a hybrid and otherwise have just been riding my MTB on 20-30km workouts near my home. So the RC120 is my first drop bar road bike. VERY GRATEFUL for your advice on the sizing, I'm 5'9" and the small fits me perfectly! Mine has the same slight rubbing on the front disc. You say that the wheel must have went in "wonky" - what does that mean? It's got a quick release skewer so I don't see how the wheel could be off-center or tilted. I'm a long way from nearest Decathlon so I'm wondering if I can't adjust it myself.

I have mtb’d for years. A few years ago my cycling buddy gave up and I thought road riding was more suited to riding alone and bought this bike to see if I can handle road riding. I was really impressed with it and couldn’t believe the price point I never expected it to ride so well.

triban has long been Waaaayyyyy ahead of the pack for value at this entry point. Add a set of hunt wheels and you've got a very very good bike at less than £1k

Have done 1100km on mine this year, it is my first ever road bike. I'm extremely happy with it.

Good work Decathlon! Bike review of the shop managers bike needed as well.

Not a bad word to say about Triban/ Decathlon as a brand. Own an RC520 which I bought for around £700 4 years ago with 105 and trp hy/rd discs. Brilliant bike and comes out more often than any of my other more expensive bikes. With two sets of wheels from elite, one for gravel and one for road it does it all.

Excellent video and also love the Podcast well done guys !

Amazing video - Thank you for checking out lower priced, entry level bikes! This is actually more interesting then the newest, hottest, high end, pro-end bikes (but they are of cause also fun to watch). I am currently thinking about getting the single speed / fixed gear Elops Speed 500 from Decathlon.

Great vid, I actually thought of getting a Triban (RC500/520) as my first bike a couple of years ago, but because of Covid related shortages, there weren't any in stock at the time. Ended up with a Cannondale Caad Optimo 3 with rim brakes. Loved it, and served me well for two years. Swapped it for a 2022 Orbea Avant H40-D a few months back, as it's the bike I really wanted at first and got a good deal on it because it was a 2022 model. Concerning tire clearance, I actually found that the front wheel was the limiting factor on my bike. Mine is rated for 35 mm max tire width, and since I regularly ride on rough / gravel roads, I wanted to try a gravel tire. So I purchased the Vittoria Terreno Dry in 35 mm. The rear fit perfectly, but the front rubbed on the fork at the top of the tire, and I couldnt fit the thru axle to secure the wheel. Ended up getting the 31 mm version of the same tire and have had no issues. So, next time you do a tire clearance test, you might want to consider checking the front tire clearance as well as the rear.

Refreshing to see affordable gear being reviewed properly!

I just recently got into cycling with the Triban Grvl 120. I really like the bike and for the budget it was a nobrainer to get this bike. Great value as well in my opinion

Great video and excellent to highlight bike recyclers. Lots of us have bikes we no longer use. I sometimes get offered bikes but I generally recommend recycling.

Good to see an affordable bike with decent group set. I have Microshift bar end shifters on my touring bike, they work really well. With the price of that bike it would be worth leaving my bike at home (USA) Fly to the UK. By a Decathlon bike, use it for a few weeks and donate it. Saves the hassle of shipping my bike for not much more money

I had a frame of a rim brake version from my friend and had built my daily driver on 105 groupset and Bontager Pradigm wheelset. Delighted with the outcome.

Guys you did it! This is exactly my first bike and it’s so so good. It got stolen last year, and I bought the exact same one again. Today, I’m about to buy it for the third time as I found one for 200£ on the used market. I recommended it to three friends do far and they’ve been nothing but happy. One thing to mention is that, in addition to replacing the factory tires, people can invest around 200£ and get hydromechanical disc brakes (something like the TRP HY/RD) and you’ll get a bike that would destroy +2000£ bikes. With another 200-300£ after a couple of years for a decent wheelset (I can’t recommend the Mavic Allroad enough, they can be found discounted for 250£) and you have a very, very respectable, almost pro-level gravel setup. Big W for triban for this masterpiece of a budget bike!

Dear Francis, Great video, as usual, thanks! I ride a Triban RC 520 myself since 2018 and am really happy with it. However one potentially critical point (at least with my bike) are the so called "tubeless ready" rims: I had an incredibly hard time with tubeless tires on these rims because the rim bed is very deep, meaning it's very hard to place the rim band (and as a result I had lots of leaking). I would be very interested if you would encounter similar problems. Maybe an idea for a follow up video? Cheers

I own the gravel version and it's great. Did a few updates, like semi hydrolic breaks, GRX cranks and a bigger cassette. I rode it on the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a topspeed of 85km/h overtaking some superbikes... But over here in Germany they just upped the prices. I bought it for 749€ and it's now 799€. But still a steal.

Recyke! I got my bike there and learned basic bike maintenance there and it's basically my favourite place. Great to see them in this video.

Picked up one of these as a frame for 80euro and built into a fun little thing with some 105 10 speed I had kicking around the workshop and some 20 euro wheels I picked up with a few broken spokes. Wacked on some 42s and had a blast, great bikes and just as fun as my topstone. Sold it to a neighbour for cheap and they still enjoy it. Great vid lads, will it be the rc520 next?

RC120 is down-to-earth value for money bike, in its stock configuration is bit heavy, both wheels with inflated tires are close to 3.5 kg, the tapered bottom axle is very old-fashioned made out of steel quite heavy, the microshift 8 speed front and read derailleur are about 300 grams more than Claris 8 speed, saddle and saddle tube can also be reduced in weight by lighter alu or carbon equivalents. The positives on the RC120 is its frame and fork, they are very stable and comfortable. RC120 is a exceptional good value bike for routine training sessions.

Got this bike during the covid shortage, made it into a gravel and had for a year. It was great and got me back to cycling.

In Brazil this bike comes with Claris 3x8, replaceble derailleur hanger and a Selle Italia saddle.

I have this bike! I put 38mm panaracar gravel kings on straight away, and recently I installed the L-twoo gr9/Z-race groupset along with a set of flared bars I got for under £10 in the Ribble sale 👍 It's a really capable bike - I think I'll upgrade the wheels shortly!

Awesome video, love the channel, and would love to see a review of Decathlon newer bikes that recently came out under their Van Rysel brand!

Great review lads ..👍

Fantastic bikes these. I started out on a Triban RC120 (rim brake) and did many happy km's. The Triban is now dedicated to my indoor trainer where it's racking up '000s more km's.

Been riding a decathlon single speed for the past 6ish months. Swapped a set of drops onto it and it's been great. It's one of my favourite bikes to ride. Plus it's bright orange

I have this Triban 120, it’s defo got me into Road bikes, I liked that it could take the wider tires, the discs are really good, I upgraded the drivetrain and found some nice 35’s for it, runs a lot smoother ride

I have been joining group rides after riding solo, 13,000km with my Triban RC120 (rim brake). At first, they will be concerned if I’m new of know anything about about road cycling, but they’ll be so so impressed once I can keep up or even pass them during the ride. Perhaps this is the greatest benefit of riding Triban.

Loving these videos, these bikes are my budget. I cycle every day in all weather, so the cost of replacing parts is something i keep in mind. Its good to know i dont have to spend £1000 to get sometying reasonable. But the big thing is that mech hanger, ive not replaced one yet, but theres always that thought. I also had ide alot of gravel, so to fit bibher tyres is a plus. Keep up these great vids guys!

I bought my first road bike (and bike in general) a month ago and it's Decathlon's 10-speed Microshift RC520. Now granted, I don't really have a point of reference, but I think it is perfect for someone like me who is looking to get into the sport in a semi-serious manner (say race some amateur races in the future) while also learning basic things like using clipless pedals or taking care of the bike. It's sturdy, it's reasonably fast and yes, you can even climb with it. Absolute bargain and I think I'll be keeping it even when I upgrade to a more race-oriented bike (which might actually be one from Decathlon's Van Rysel range).

That's good value for an entry level bike, liked what you did with them at the end.

I’ve got a Decathlon Rockrider with full suspension. Had it three years , it cost £500 and it’s brilliant!!!

My RC500 has the same saddle, it has very very durable surface!! I rode it in rain for two hours, when I get off, I found the saddle and my hips covered with sands, after I washed it, I found there is absolutely no scratch, unbelievable!

Managed to get the disc brake version 2nd hand for 150e, just needed to replace the cassette. Best buy of my life

If I didn't already have a steel tour bike I'd totally love to buy one of those, put 38mm tyres on, some full length fenders, a little rack and boom perfectly good daily commuter for under 600 including a good Ortlieb pannier

I love Decathlon. I find all the things I never knew I needed when I go there. 😂 Cracking bike there and it just shows what is possible. 👍

I like it! I'd concider one myself. I built my own bike last year, using a cheap frame and the built in rear hanger in my biggest worry.

When you install a quick release wheel you must close the qr with the wheel on the floor for proper installation.

Love this content guys

Absolutely loved the video as always. Inclusion of the tire clearance test is the best thing you could have done. However we don't get this colour over here in India.

I just came back from my first ever bike touring vacation and really discovered the joy of cycling. Eventually i wanna go into gravel cycling as I enjoyed the aspect of being alone with just your bike in the nature the most throughout my trip. As gravelbikes are quite expensive, especially suitable ones for bikepacking, I was wondering whether first starting to get into cycling in general, to get the habit of cycling, get around the region would be a good idea? For this get a cheaper roadbike like this triban bike which can also fit a bit bigger tires so and I'm not restricted to soley roads. And if I stick with the hobby upgrade later to a more backpacking friendly gravelbike? Does this seem advisable or wait for some time and hope for a good deal during black friday for a gravelbike?

Great video showing that you can get a great bike at this price point.

I just got this bike with my cyclescheme at work! Excited to pick it up in a few days.

Would love to see you guys do a video on this bike doing some upgrades you feel are worth it.

Great video, thank you for your objective review :)

I got one in 2020 and it's still going strong. I got a new cassette because the ratios are a bit wide for here in nl. And a new seatpost because I wanted it a bit higher than the max line. New brake pads but the tyres are still good after 7500 km.

Bought an RC120 as a way to get into cycling without going broke. Absolutely love the bike. Having the ability to add larger tires is a big positive if you want to ride on gravel paths which I have done with the original 28 tires without any issues. Good bang for the buck.

We have Recycled Bikes for Kids in Little Rock, Arkansas. I love what these organizations do for kids! Great job Cade and Jimmy!

Bought RC120 disc for commuter bike, did 850 km bike touring in 4 days and it was perfect! After cca 4000 km I still love this bike for easy rides and commuting 👍

I got this bike a few months ago as my first introduction to road bikes and am quite happy with it. Will buy a much more expensive one in the future now that I've become a cycling junkie :)

done 3 years of bikepacking with a triban 520, great bike

Well that's my winter bike sorted then. 38mm clearance 😮. Thanks guys

Another awesome video, thank you, guys. I am curious to see how Decathalon's gravel bike is. If you ever get your hands on one, I'd love to hear your opinion

Nice to see coverage from team valley. I'm currently looking for a road bike to do 3000km around europe next year and honestly dont want to spend too much most of my time riding is spent mountain biking but this is gonna be a road tour, any suggestions?

Aside from the lack of a mech hanger, this bike is leagues ahead of my first road bike I started on. And actually...I never needed to replace my hanger in the 3 years I rode it.

I have the Triban RC 520 and I love it!!!

One thing to know is since the rear brake calliper is on the seat stay, not the chain stay (like Shimano and Sram for example), it will get in the way of certain rear racks. The ones that come from Decathlon will fit of course, but if you already have one at home, that will probably not fit without a it of tweaking.

Bought my RC120 Disc in Belgrade, Serbia, rode it to Kosovo, brought it back with me to the US. Been riding it daily for years. Great bike.

Triban RC120 gives bang for the buck. However, cost of maintaining it will be expensive to its cost. In Singapore, Triban RC120 retails at S$570, and a full bike servicing (inclusive of wheelset) is S$200, which is 35% of the price. I am not sure of full bike servicing price in UK, but won’t be surprised if it constitute ~30% of Triban RC120’s price.

These are my favourite types of videos on the channel and were very helpful to know what to look for with the sizing of the Triban models. I see that Argos have some entry level road bikes that are currently £250 and I once saw them even reduced below 200. They're maybe on the same level as the Walmart bike but something else to possibly test.