Planning a big big first time tour for next year as a challenge to myself after graduating uni but i need to get a bike for touring.
Im gonna be on a budget and im planning to buy the bike this summer despite not knowing which bike yet. My budget is basically from €300 to €1000(can go a little bit extra) and im aware decathlon can do bikes that price but ive been told not to go for decathlon bikes but are they really that bad for touring bikes? Ive seen some models and they look alright to me but ive been told to avoid them. Ive been to multiple bike shops in dublin but theres always something with them that puts me off whether it be the price, the type of bike, aesthetic, low speed, or any feature i dont prefer. These decathlon bikes have caught my eye but im not rlly sure about their quality.
Im a bit low on options here in dublin as im very specific on the type of bike im not too tech savy towards bikes so forgive me for not knowing some names and features but i prefer a bike thats:
•gravel (for rougher terrain incase of off road journeys along the tour)
•modern shifters (shifters that dont have the wires coming out of the side blocking the handlebars. This makes putting items infront easier)
•strong enough for the journey
•compatible with pannier racks
• wont slow me down too much
•looks cool.
I know some decathlon bikes that seemingly are okay but thats mainly due to their prices but idk about their quality really so If anyone wants to recommend a bike i can buy here or can get shipped here in ireland feel free
Thanks
by akhi_Anas
36 Comments
From what I understand, they’re pretty good quality for the price and much better than the general reputation might be.
Depending on how big your big tour is gonna be, usually fine. I did my first 1500km on something similar. It’s probably the equipment that’s gonna fail, because the chain and cogs after my trip were absolutely destroyed because they were cheap. And much more important is to do something like a bike fit.
Regarding those specific two bikes; you want some wider tires as that’s more comfortable (and not slower, but that’s another discussion) and you want 2 front blades so you have a wider range and I believe your drivetrain will last a little longer. I had a Kona rove, and it’s a great starter bike with a similar price.
In 2006 I bought a Decathlon bike in San Francisco from a French guy who flew it to Seattle for a ride down the coast.
I then rode it across the US with only two issues (rear spokes and axle) that gave the tour more flavor.
You don’t need the perfect bike. You need the bike that fits your ass and your budget.
Don’t buy anything you haven’t test ridden.
You’re going to be married to the thing after all.
Search decathlon bike on YouTube.
Most videos, the reviewer is very pleasantly surprised, and I’ve seen some steals myself.
If money is really important, I would not hesitate buying there.
It should hold but I think that the rear derailuer doesn’t rest on a separate hanger. I had those bend over time. I have replaced a few hangers.
No way would I buy a bike without a hanger.
GL ordering one
I bought the Triban 500 three years ago and have had many enjoyable tours with it. Main downside is that the rim is extremely tight and because of this, I don’t think it’d be possible for a single person to do a road side repair… So some people opt to change out the rims. That being said, luckily I never got a puncture during my touring (thanks to decent tyres) so I was never left stranded.
They do a touring bikes (riverside touring) that are really good, (all equipped, very good racks for heavy load, low gears, dynamo light and/or usb charger on some models) but you won’t have drop bars in this price range, and their drop bar touring bike has a weird look.
They are a lot of bike for the money, in France at least (not sure about the prices in Ireland).
I’ve got the RC520 for commuting. Bought it second hand, changed wheels. The og rims were a bit too tall and didn’t at all like the Tufo tires I bought. Shifting is good, rides smoothly, geometry is friendly enough even for a unfit noobie like me. There’s enough mounting points both for a rear rack and fenders. Brakes also got praised last time I went for a check up; local bike mechanic is “starting to like them”
Now for the complaints: it is an alu frame, so it is kind of stiff and the toe overlap makes me kick the front fender from time to time. It is also limited to 40mm wheels at most, but even with 36mms it barely took the fenders.
Going for the 10 speed might be a good idea if you’re not too picky about having the exact “correct” gear you should be riding. Chains for them are cheaper.
No, they are both very good and good value for money. The bikes would be like 1500€ to 1800€ for equivalent bikes in other brands.
Just FYI though, the 2 models you linked are more gravel bike / road bikes than touring bike. Of course they have mounts for racks but it’s not the same geometry, a little less sturdy, a bit more made for speed.
I have not owned a Decathalon bike for touring. But I had a city/hybrid for six years as my daily driver (kids to school, shopping, commuting, weekend stuff) and came along for week-long camping and biking trips (not touring, camping in one place and exploring daily). Six years as my only bike, doing everything I needed on a daily basis.
For the price it was excellent. Held up well. Required little maintenance and that which it required was standard and easy (i.e. nothing out of the ordinary to deal with, just standard parts and standard maintenance).
Was heavy as all heck. And when I moved continents I didn’t love it enough to bring it with me vs just selling it. But for the money it was a good deal. It did it’s job with no fuss whatsoever.
Frankly, I can say the same thing about just about anything I’ve ever bought from Decathalon, be it camping equipment (from tents on down), to backpacks, shoes and sports clothes. It does the job at a good price. You are unlikely to be disappointed, but you are unlikely to fall in love. And when you have the money, you are going to feel not bad at all about upgrading from a more specialist brand.
Last year I was on the market and I found out that I would have to spend at least $1500 to get a better bike than Grvl120. It’s definitely a good value for the money.
Bought a rc500 a few years ago and went on a 11 days trip! 1200 km without any troubles. Best value for the money.
Decent enough for department store bikes. But don’t expect anything of their after sales service.
Decent enough for department store bikes. But don’t expect anything of their after sales service.
While you could tour on any old clunker, DO NOT buy touring bikes from decathlon, decathlon is good for cheap low end bikes not for sturdy touring bikes.
you’ll be wanting some better quality and comfort for long days on the bike without the need for CONSTANT maintenance.
I would advice you to have a look for a decent Hybrid or Gravel bike, and look for at least mid range parts, if going for mainly shimano parts I suggest Deore drivetrain/ brakes/ hubs or equivalent.
https://i.stack.imgur.com/y6Srj.png (for a ranking of shimano MTB & Roadbike groupsets)
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=shimano+ranking&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fi.stack.imgur.com%2Fy6Srj.png
(some other brands ranked with shimano)
also for bags I highly recommend ortlieb, they are a bit pricey but very good quality that will last a good while.
Generally decathlon stuff is well made to the price point. That bike will likely serve you well. Another plus is that they’re are decathlon stores all over Europe and they’re pretty good at helping out their customers.
My only thinking would be smaller wheels with chunkier tyres if you’re loaded up whilst touring.
I have the GRVL120, pretty happy with it! I got it for €620 though. And I almost immediately switched out the brakes for HY/RDs, you should as well. Default brakes kinda suck, wouldn’t trust them while the bike is fully loaded.
I did Netherlands-Greece and back multiple times on a Triban 100, their entry level gravel, back then €360. In about 20-30kkm I had to change the tires and pads obviously, one time the freewheel and chain, and the bb. All that is standard wear. The hoods of the brake levers turned gummy, but for that we have to look at Tektro. The bike is still in minty condition and I don’t see it falling apart in my lifetime tbh. At home I used it as commuter bike doing ~50km daily.
*one of those tours was seriously heavy loaded. I didn’t bring the kitchen sink, but I did bring 6 buckets with hydroponic pepper plants, climbing gear, a few bottles of olive oil, and more. The front rack for this was diy, made with aluminium tubing, hose clamps and tie wraps and was even more stable than the store bought rear rack.
I can’t say how Decathlon’s ‘better’ bikes are. I always like entry level, as often those are built to be abused. At least Decathlon’s are.
I bought a 520 gravel in 2021 for around £900 which I use for both commuting and longer (150/200km) away weekends around central Scotland and it’s been fab. Still handles gravel well enough, and can be fun on most tracks providing you’re not throwing it down a mountain.
No tyre / puncture issues despite some neggy reviews when I bought it. Recently swapped out for riddler Wtb’s after approx 2500kms of use. Only grievances would be that mudguard mounting has been a bit of a pain and the tyre clearance is crap so I can’t get bigger than a 700x38c
Gear ratios out the shop have done me 90% of the way bar the odd mega steep climb. My rear cassette is starting to get to its last legs but again, not terrible after 2500+ kms and cognisant it’s an entry level bike.
Seat, frame and bars are all comfortable if mebs a little aggressive for longer days in the saddle.
I’ve got a rear pannier and a pair of outliebs – the bike remains pretty well balanced and comfy with them on.
Brakes and pads have been the only thing really to let me down recently with multiple issues with callipers and levers, though again this could be a number of things due to the wear and tear.
Happy to answer any other Q’s if I can?
I rode a Decathlon MTB for a couple of years, it was totally fine! As with anything, you get what you pay for, the hardware gets better when the price increases. Frames are fine, wheels are fine.
It’s not top of the line but for the enthusiast there’s nothing wrong with it.
I went into the decathlon in May of last year to buy a bike. They don’t sell display models. There is no concept of cash and carry at decathlon. I ordered a bike and waited a week. Then they sent me an email. It would be another three weeks. I canceled and bought elsewhere. Looking over the bike you highlighted, I see the same clothesline cables you say you don’t want. The gearing is not terrible. The brakes are mechanical disk. this will make you weep. you can get good ones. They cost 300 and up. I bought juintech before I settled on hydraulic.
https://www.decathlon.fr/p/velo-gravel-triban-grvl-520-homme-subcompact/_/R-p-313015?mc=8587697&c=marron_orange
This is a better deal. Test ride before you buy.
I have used my road RC120 on a 2 day, 4 day and a 10 day tour and it was ‘fine’.
I ended up buying a ‘proper’ steel frame touring bike for the following reasons:
* Better gear ratios to deal with hills (17 gear inches on new bike, 27 on RC120)
* More upright geometry
* More options for front of bike storage (I wanted cargo cages, not a rack)
I personally wouldn’t be an RC120 or RC5xx (or gravel equivalents) for touring. I’d absolutely buy from their ‘Riverside Touring’ range though (520 is 700 quid, 900 is 1300 quid and I would spring for this if you can afford it). Alternatively I’d get a second hand steel frame that has no suspension.
My tours on the RC120 were fine but in hindsight with a steel frame, the handling was pretty sketchy and I prefer being more upright.
To address one of your questions:
> shifters that dont have the wires coming out of the side blocking the handlebars
These bikes do have cables coming out of the sides (I think most do, to be fair) – I think you’d probably be better off with the flat-bar touring bike style, you have more space without trying to fit things between the drops.
I have a triban rc500 myself, and bought second hand even. It is a great bike for the price, but i haven’t done any loaded touring on it. It takes 37mm tires easily, and the sora group on mine does everything it needs to smoothly.
The 520 has the same frame, but a shimano 105 groupset if I’m not mistaken.
Don’t buy the grvl 120, you like the derailleur hanger to be apart from the frame. Also the brakes on the rc500 and the grvl120 are the same (i think) and mine are not that good. They’ll stop you safely enough, but I wouldn’t trust them for long descents.
If you’re a beginner, get the Riverside touring. You are not fast enough to benefit from the drop bars. And you lose a lot of comfort on long rides. Don’t go with the backpacking hype. It has a lot of downsides
I am French and own a Triban RC 500 that I turned into a gravel/bikepacking bike. Decathlon has been making bikes for as long as I can remember ( I am 40) so they know what they are doing. I just think they suck at marketing themselves overseas
I’ve heard great things about the Triban range. Great for the price.
I heard good things, but don’t own one. Generally be aware that the high end of your range can buy decent other brands as well, so you’re not bound to them. On most bikes you should also get a saddle that fits you. You can have your sitbones measured for free at many stores. Getting the right saddle helps. I own a WTB-Volt which starts at 30 Bucks for the steel-version. VERY comfy saddle.
As someone that works at the bike shop @ decabro do not go for any 120 always 500 and up. For example, the brakes we call’ em jokinhgly “slowers” because the don’t really stop you. If you want to tour my sugestion would be either the touring bikes or the gravel ones just remember 500 and up models tho 😹.
Awesome bike
Decathlon has somehow got media acclaim and brand recognition for the timeless idea that lower-end groupsets are just fine and any halfway decent steel frame is also just fine.
I’m not sure if they were just lucky that the cycling media woke up to these basic facts or if it was a genius marketing move by Decathlon. Either way, consumers being told that sub-€1000 bikes are perfectly OK for non-racers can only be good for cycling.
Can you stretch to this? https://www.decathlon.ie/p/313015-99644-gravel-bike-triban-grvl-520-subcompact-red.html
Much better parts; i would swap out the rear cassette for a 11/42t & a new chain. If you do it before u ride it you could sell the old ones……
Can you import from other EU countries without paying extra tax? Germany has heaps of mail order bike companies with good quality bikes bike24;discount bikes ; rose; etc
Their 100/120 series has a huge bump, which is the derailleur hanger: it’s not separated. If it breaks, the whole frame is toss. For this price the road bike 500 has a better frame, while most parts identical or better. The rc500 frame can also fit at most 700c*40 tires and is cheaper. Or for the same price, get the RC520, the TRP HY/RD disc brakes already justify the price difference, not to mention the upgrade to Shimano 105 groupsets.
They’re know for having the best bang-for-bucks value, and pretty good, solid bikes in general.
I have a carbon gravel bike from decathlon with a grx on it. It’s served me well!
Done many great tours (also fully packed with tent etc) on an RC500 with Sora 9 speed. Last models still on the (NL) website for cheap.
Change the cassette for a 32 speed and fit up to 44 mil tyres (schalbe marathon) and you’re very well off for the price.
If you’re over 85kg and fully packed, rear rim might not hold forever.
And watch out for toe overlap, if you have big feet, best try a frame in the store.
Also: imho avoid the wider handle bar on the gravel models. Those are bs and drag you down. RC500 has a normal race bar.
Have fun riding!