WALLET-FRIENDLY ROAD WARRIORS
IN A WORLD OF RISING COSTS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND A ROAD BIKE THAT WON’T LEAVE A HUGE HOLE IN YOUR FINANCES? SIMON WITHERS TESTS TWO TO FIND OUT
IN these inflationary, potentially cashstrapped times, it’s good to see that you can buy a quality road bike without bankrupting yourself. A grand? Neither of these steeds reach even three quarters of that price, but both promise to offer a much better riding experience than you’ll get from the notorious ‘bike-shaped object’ (a low-price, poor-quality bicycle).
Boardman’s SLR 8.6 is the little brother of the brand’s award-winning 8.9 carbon bike, but it shares a lot of the DNA and looks like a lot of bike for just £550. Its triple-butted aluminium frame has the same endurance geometry and its full range of fixtures and fittings makes it a great entry-level all-rounder.
Triban’s RC500 ups the all-rounder ante further by allowing 700c tyres up to 36mm wide. Tubeless-ready rims are good to see at this price, and Shimano Sora and Promax cable disc brakes look like a promising combination.
But is either of these wallet-friendly bikes suitable for leisurely rides, training on your commute or racing your first triathlon? We saddle up and get the miles in to find out…
Boardman SLR 8.6
Boardman bikes need little introduction. The brainchild of ex-pro rider and worldrecord holder Chris Boardman MBE (surely he should be a ‘Sir’, by now?), the brand has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2007.
The SLR 8.6 sits at the bottom of Boardman’s extensive road-bike range, but it still manages a well-appointed, triple-butted aluminium frame and a full-carbon fork – both the blades and steerer are carbon – though the steerer is not tapered. Meanwhile, the frame is semi-compact with a gently sloping top tube, it has dropped, keyhole-profile seat stays for rear-end comfort, front and rear mudguard fittings, as well as fittings for a rear rack. It’s also a similar price as it was a couple of years ago without any reduction in component quality which, as supply issues and inflation take hold in the cycling word, is both increasingly rare and very welcome.
Unlike the Triban, which has a ninespeed set-up, the Boardman uses eightspeed Shimano Claris with a slight downspec to an FSA compact chainset and Tektro deep-drop calliper brakes. There were no issues with the chainset, even if it’s not quite as smooth and slick as Sora and above, and the SLR 8.6 even has one advantage over the 8.9 – and over the 2020 SLR 8.6 – in that it has a wider-range 11-32 cassette rather than 11-30.
“Boardman’s SLR 8.6 is one of the best you can buy at this price”
Yes, this inevitably means bigger jumps between gears – especially as there are only eight sprockets – but that lower bailout gear is always welcome on our local hills, many of which are over 10 per cent, and it will be a real boon to newbie cyclists or returning older riders. Braking is okay without being inspiring, and we’d certainly recommend upgrading to cartridge brake blocks when the non-cartridge blocks go the way of all things.
Boardman claims a maximum tyre size of 28mm or 25mm with mudguards, though we reckon you might be able to fit wider tyres than 25mm with guards as the clearance is pretty generous. The Boardman SLR rims are the same as on the 8.9 and they’re tubeless-ready, which is good to see on such a modestly priced bike. The downside of that tubeless compatibility is that tyres are a very tight fit – even removing tyres from these rims requires strong hands.
Vittoria’s Zaffiro tyres are training tyres that maximise durability over suppleness, but even in their 25mm size they proved both comfortable and grippy enough, so no immediate upgrades are required. The stem, handlebar and seatpost are the usual standard aluminium ownbrand stuff you’ll find on pretty much all bikes at this price, and we got on very well with the Boardman SLR saddle, which has a long pressure-relieving groove.
ALSO CONSIDER
The Boardman SLR 8.8 Disc (£850) is another value-packed option from the Boardman brand. Its triple-butted aluminium SLR 8.8 comes with 10-speed Tiagra, including an 11-32 cassette, and Tektro mechanical disc.
Boardman’s SLR 8.9 (£1,150) is one of your least-expensive routes into the world of carbon. The carbon frame with aero tube profiles is paired with a carbon fork and the respected Shimano 105 groupset adds to a great-value package.
Boardman describes the geometry as ‘endurance’ and we think that’s about right. It’s not sit-up-and-beg upright, but the length of the top tube, wheelbase, head tube and the head angle will all slow down the handling and increase the stability, making the Boardman a good commuter and long-distance ride. The ability to fit full-length mudguards and a rear rack maximises its versatility, with the limit on tyre size the main drawback, confining it to tarmac and only the least challenging unsurfaced tracks.
If you’re looking for a well-priced bike for training on the commute, leisure riding or entering your first few triathlon races, Boardman’s SLR 8.6 is one of the best you can buy at this price. Claris may be an entry-level groupset but it shifts well, braking is good enough if not exceptional, and the slightly-upright endurance geometry and comfort are ideal for daylong rides.
We’d upgrade both the tyres and the brake blocks when they wear out, but the frame and the other components are all fine as they are – and modest tyres and brake blocks are the norm and not the exception at this price. Finally, Boardman has to be congratulated on keeping the price so low for the last three years.
Boardman SLR 8.6 £575
boardmanbikes.com
SPECS
Weight 10.41kg (M)
Frame Triple-butted X7 aluminium
Fork Full carbon, straight steerer
Gears Shimano Claris, FSA Tempo, 50/34, 11-32
Brakes Tektro R315 deep-drop callipers
Wheels Boardman SLR tubeless ready
Finishing kit Boardman stem, bar, 27.2mm seatpost, Boardman SLR saddle, Vittoria Zaffiro 25mm tyres
HIGHS All round ride; good gearing; balanced comfort and handling
LOWS Average calliper brakes
BUY IF… You want a very good bike for road riding without spending a fortune
81%
VERDICT: A fine entry-level road bike with a great ride for the modest price.
Triban RC500
The newest incarnation of the RC500 looks like it’ll keep up Decathlon’s reputation for producing very good bikes at prices few companies can match, even if it has gained over £100 from the 2019 and 2020 models.
And, despite being just £75 more than the Boardman, the Triban has the higher-grade groupset. It also has cable disc brakes, larger tyre clearance and the carbon fork even has fittings for a front rack and a 9kg carrying capacity, upping the versatility factor further still.
While the Boardman is overtly a road bike, Triban’s RC500 is less racy and a bit more all-roady. For a start it has the widest tyres here, 28mm Protect+ tyres that measure a shade over 29mm on the tubeless-ready rims. It’s still unusual to see tubeless-compatible rims at the budget end of the market. If you don’t want to go tubeless you’re no worse off, but it’s good to have the option. This tester’s own road bike is tubeless and has had just one puncture in three years, though your mileage may vary.
We tend to be big fans of wider tyres, which are not only more comfortable but usually just as fast. The Resist+ tyres seemed tough and grippy, and while they’re not tubeless-ready, there are numerous choices available. Plus, with the RC500 having clearance for 700c tyres up to 36mm wide and 650b tyres up to 40mm, gravelriding and bikepacking come within reach, if that tickles your fancy. The wheel and tyre combo is pretty heavy, though, weighing in at 2,200g, which will hamper acceleration, but they smooth out potholes and poor road surfaces excellently.
The Triban’s geometry is also the least aggressive here, with a slack 71.5-degree head angle, a long wheelbase and a shorter top tube all pointing to more leisurely riding ambitions. The handlebar is also well suited to this style of riding, with t he tops very slightly swept back and flattened, making an ideal handhold for long days out where comfort and big mileage are more important to you than full-on speed. Though when you do crank it up to full speed, it holds its pace well.
ALSO CONSIDER
The Triban RC120 Microshift Disc (£499.99) uses the same frame, fork and Promax disc brakes. However, the gearing is from MicroShift’s 8-speed set-up with a Shimano compact chainset and a wide-ranging 11-34 cassette to give you plenty of gears.
Our test bike’s big brother, the Triban RC520 (£849.99), has the same 6061 aluminium frame but its notable component upgrades include a Shimano 105 groupset and TRP HY/RD mechanical/hydraulic disc brakes.
We got on fine with the bike’s own-brand saddle, too, which has a slight pressurerelieving groove.
The RC500 has the highest-level groupset of the two bikes on test here and, admittedly, probably the best brakes as well. Whereas the Boardman has eightspeed Shimano Claris, Triban has managed a near-complete Sora groupset, with the MicroShift cassette the only deviation. Sora is an excellent groupset and a long-time favourite of this tester, with smooth and accurate shifting, and the wide-range cassette seemed to prove its equal. And while the Promax cable-actuated discs are never going to equal the power of hydraulics, or better the best rim brakes, they proved smooth, consistent and quiet and they won’t wear your rims out, an often-overlooked advantage of discs.
“When you do crank it up to speed, it holds its pace well”
Triban’s offering for this test is also easy to set up, with a couple of nice touches for the novice or more ham-fisted home mechanic: the seatpost has measurements on it to make it easy to set and adjust the saddle height, and the RC500 also has Triban’s new ‘No Gap’ stem. The top of the stem’s face plate tightens flush against the stem body, with the lower two bolts tightened in the usual way, ideally with a torque wrench, making it virtually impossible to overtighten. It might be a small thing, but it’s a nice touch.
If you’re looking for a sharp-handling, point-and-shoot road bike, you’re probably best off looking elsewhere. But if you want a high-quality bike that’ll be a workhorse and handle big days out, riding to work, and see you over the line in your first race, then Decathlon’s well-appointed RC500 offers you a hell of a lot of bike for quite a modest amount of cash.
Triban RC500 £649.99
decathlon.co.uk
SPECS
Weight 10.7kg (M)
Frame 6061 aluminium
Fork Carbon, straight alloy steerer
Gears Shimano Sora 50/34, 11-32
Brakes Promax cable-actuated disc
Wheels Triban tubeless ready
Finishing kit Triban stem, bar, 27.2mm seatpost, Triban Ergofit saddle, Triban Resist+ 28mm tyres
HIGHS Sora groupset; good brakes; comprehensive fixtures and fittings; versatility
LOWS Slightly weighty
BUY IF… You want one bike for all types of non-aggressive riding or are new to triathlon
89%
VERDICT: A Great-value all-rounder with quality kit and a comfortable ride.