{"id":13964,"date":"2022-05-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=13964"},"modified":"2022-05-16T11:56:31","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T09:56:31","slug":"bike-test-low-cost-road-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/2022\/05\/12\/bike-test-low-cost-road-bikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike test: Low cost road bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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WALLET-FRIENDLY ROAD WARRIORS<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n

IN A WORLD OF RISING COSTS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND A ROAD BIKE THAT WON\u2019T LEAVE A HUGE HOLE IN YOUR FINANCES? SIMON WITHERS TESTS TWO TO FIND OUT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

WORDS <\/strong>Simon Withers IMAGES<\/strong> Russell Burton<\/p>\n\n

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IN these inflationary, potentially cashstrapped times, it\u2019s 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\u2019ll get from the notorious \u2018bike-shaped object\u2019 (a low-price, poor-quality bicycle).<\/p>\n\n

Boardman\u2019s SLR 8.6 is the little brother of the brand\u2019s award-winning 8.9 carbon bike, but it shares a lot of the DNA and looks like a lot of bike for just \u00a3550. 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.<\/p>\n\n

Triban\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n\n

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Boardman SLR 8.6 <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Boardman bikes need little introduction. The brainchild of ex-pro rider and worldrecord holder Chris Boardman MBE (surely he should be a \u2018Sir\u2019, by now?), the brand has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The SLR 8.6 sits at the bottom of Boardman\u2019s extensive road-bike range, but it still manages a well-appointed, triple-butted aluminium frame and a full-carbon fork \u2013 both the blades and steerer are carbon \u2013 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n

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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\u2019s not quite as smooth and slick as Sora and above, and the SLR 8.6 even has one advantage over the 8.9 \u2013 and over the 2020 SLR 8.6 \u2013 in that it has a wider-range 11-32 cassette rather than 11-30.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cBoardman\u2019s SLR 8.6 is one of the best you can buy at this price\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Yes, this inevitably means bigger jumps between gears \u2013 especially as there are only eight sprockets \u2013 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\u2019d certainly recommend upgrading to cartridge brake blocks when the non-cartridge blocks go the way of all things.<\/p>\n\n

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\u2019re 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 \u2013 even removing tyres from these rims requires strong hands.<\/span><\/p>\n\n