I Rode A Triban 1000km Across Malaysia

Thanks Decathlon, Tailfin and Kask Helmets for making this trip possible.

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Update: Decathlon UK have confirmed this bike will remain at £999 until July.

[evrimkaya]

I'm currently over 26000 KM on my Triban RC520. these bikes are incredible value and everything on them are made to widely available standards. easy and cheap to replace, upgrade. I can see myself doing at least 15000 more on this frame easily. Priced as a entry level bike, but in fact it can easily be a lifetime bike. Thank you Cade crew for working against the bias towards bling cycling.

[boy]

Would be great to see a Decathlon bicycle R&D and factory tour to see what goes into designing and building a mass produced bike.

[w.]

It's good that you use and review stuff that people can actually afford! And in this case it has been intensively used, meaning this is actually a good product.

[hugoalmeida]

I own the GRVL 520 with 105 and two chainrings at front. It's just a great bike: reliable and tough. I traveled the entire lenght of Portugal and i crossed the pyrinees from Hendaye to Cap Creus on it. My latest "upgrade" was a 11-36 cassete in order to have a easier gear when loaded or in offroad . Decathlon makes great bikes in every price tag they are in, they just lack the "premium" sticker at the front. i'm fine with that as I prefer a nice build bike with nice equipment to ride than a posh name on the frame and pay more for a lesser bike

[thecycleworker]

I hope @Decathalonuk are happy I think you have allayed my fears over the brakes, and looks like I will order the 105 model, thanks for the review these brakes genuinely don’t get many reviews.

[valmorell]

Thanks Francis. Really found the info on the brakes interesting. Clearly a great option for home mechanics who don't want the issue of full hydraulic, or already have a set of full mechanical shifters.

[trevorkirk]

The Panaracer Gravel Kings are amazing tyres, however, you had the lightest version with no puncture protection. I had these and shredded them in 3 months (4000 km) on UK roads (tubeless set up). Changed to the + version, they are a little heavier but far superior on puncture protection.
Enjoying the videos, keep 'em coming.

[worryingcyclist]

The Malaysia trip looked epic. Great videos. I’m biased but I highly recommend coming here to Norway for a trip. So many road and/or gravel routes!

[lg.studio]

My wife has the 520 GRVL with the 105 groupset in XS size... The original 42mm handlebars were too wide for her, changed to 38mm, the casette was a cheap and strange ratio 11-30 microshift one. changed that to 105 11-32. So far running the original 36mm Hutchinson's set up tubeless. She is loving it. Great value and performance for a weekend rider. 100% recommendation from us. (bought exactly 1 year ago, barely used 2nd hand for almost half the price, with papers and warranty).

[alexhernandez]

I'm riding a btwin forme 1 I bought in 2009. Most parts got upgraded over time but it still is a solid bike and still enjoy riding it. As a 7x it is a great commuter and winter bike

[thewillyfamily]

I followed this trip like my life depnded on it! LOL. Great visuals and great entertainment. Next trip.... Maybe visit Nick's homeland and ride from Cape Town to Knysna around 550km along the East Coast? Thanks for the videos.

[eugenem.]

I found the OEM seat on the 520 to be fine. Just swapped it out after 3 years because the rails got bent

[ales_krejci]

User tip: this derailleur with long cage can take 11-46 cassette easily. Then its a very different story with 40t chain ring.

[christophenglert]

i started biking again in 2019 on an e-mtb and got an triban gravel 120 in mai 2021 vor 629€ wich is now 799 (what a price jump) its a 1x10 setup with a pretty decent spread and mechanical disc brakes. i like it pretty much because its pretty sturdy and it traveld 5.500km so far with no issues! ok, i got some different drop bar bikes very soon after so that explains the low mileage on the triban bike. i only swapped the brake pads once!
the only thing i had to complain are the stupid mechanical brakes and adjusting the brake pads and the very high weight. i got an xl frame with a weight of approx 14kg.
it came equipped with the hutchinson override tires which have run the mileage with nearly no sign of wear so far - wonder how the do it. but they are not worth to be taken out on a ride in the wet. on the other hand they perfom really well on an indoor home trainer *lol*.
really love that triban bike a lot :)

[platypushatstand]

The decathlon bike does the job, nothing fancy needed, the brakes seem a decent upgrade for any disc-braked bike.

Next trip: Japan with Ben & James as well as you & Loz.

[lisabradley]

Really enjoyed your bike packing trip guys!! You need to do a bike packing trip in Scandinavia next 💛🚵🏻🚵🏻🚵🏻🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰

[jamesmckenzie]

One suggestion: Get the Gravelking + series. They have way higher puncture resistance and weigh about 100 grams more per tire. I had two sets of SK tires and both had issues with punctures. Talked to the racer at the LBS where i bought my bike and he recommended heavier grade tires. I'm now on Maxxis Refuse 40mm tires fur gravel. They are file tread and ok for type 1 and 2 gravel. Forget type 3 and type 4 is "right out".
As to size, unless you are carrying your own spares, stick to 700C.

[lukesanders]

The only thing I would add to this bike is thru axles. The QR axles tend to make the disc rub the brake pad when you take the wheels off and on again.

[TheRich]

Hey everyone. I think Canada could be a great place to do a tour. There are lots of great paths from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Mostly flat here but you could also go to British Columbia if you want the mountains