Hi all, I hope my post doesn’t violate any rules, because of the links, if yes, please let me know.

I am a beginner with road bikes, I was always a MTB person, but I decided to get a road bike for my cardio exercise as I turned 40 and I have less option in my area for MTB rides.

Since Im a beginner with road bikes I would need some advice to not mess up my purchase. Of course I done some research as well, but never know what I missed.

Im in the EU and my budget is 700-750 EUR, so yes, it will be a budget bike. I will ride 3-4 times a week for 50-70 km distances. Some hills, but nothing serious.

I found two possible candidates:

Triban RC500 The obvious choice, many reviews calling it the best budget bike under 1000 EUR, some compromises, but I think it would be perfect for me. Price: 750 EUR where I live.

Sava Vegur 1.2 A bit of a wild card, its currently on half off sale with a reputable online retailer for 680 EUR, but cant decide if its the deal of the year or I should be cautious. I know, I dont need a carbon bike for my needs, but still, Im curious if anyone ever had experience with the brand? I found reviews, opinions, etc but nothing which would tell me to buy or not buy it specifically. Its a Chinese brand, but thats about it from what I can see.

Thanks for the time and I would prefer constructive feedback if possible :)

  • @br3dEnglish
    2•10 months ago

    Got to say, I’d be tempted by the carbon of the two. It’s going to be an open mould Chinese frame, but there are lots of good ones of those around. The big consideration at this point is getting a good frame and wheels - you’ll slowly upgrade other components over time anyway. Both bikes are 9 speed (one is definitely Sora and the other sounds like Sora too). The Triban is heavier and, although the wheel weight isn’t given for the other bike, I suspect they’ll be a bit lighter.

    Ultimately, the right bike is the one that would put the biggest smile on your face, and without testing both it’ll be hard to know which that is. But do have a good look at the carbon bike, and consider upgrading the brakes to Spyre hydro calipers before long

    • @Macaroni_ninjaOPEnglish
      1•10 months ago

      Thank you for taking the time to reply, its a great help. I can not test them both (well I could the Decathlon one, but the closest shop is 90 minutes drive away), but I will have the option to return any of the two within 30 days if something is not right.