Alright, I guess this is more of a question for the European folks.
I just came across the 2012 decathlon bike collection (here) and they seem to be an incredible value. For exemple, the Facet 5 comes with a carbon frame, full ultegra and Shimano R80 wheels for under 2000 euros.
I’m thinking about getting one. Does anyone has experience with decathlon bikes? Is the frame any good? Better alternatives?
My GF rode a steel Decathlon bike for about a year, the thing was heavy and had cheap low-end components, but then again it cost less than $500, new, for a complete road bike. She was quite happy with it, until it got stolen…
In general I think they have good quality for the value they offer.
Yes.
My first road bike was Decathon, 2200 components for about 120 quid, so it didn’t matter too much when it was stolen.
Its replacement is still going strong, it stays at my folk’s house in the sw of France. €400 i think, Campy 9-speed.
Their MTB line is also highly rated.
I replaced my ancient road shoes this spring with a pair from Decathlon on closeout for €19. They fit fine. I also get my winter training gear from them in the spring at stupid low prices.
I know nothing of their higher end offerings. Basic aluminium bikes with lower-end groupsets are now so bloody good that you have to be racing at a really high level to need anything else.
One of the UK mags recently reviewed a mid-spec Decathlon bike and loved it.
http://www.220triathlon.com/gear-review/b’twin-sport-2
Search ‘decathlon road bike review uk’ on Google.
If you’re in the UK also look at Boardman bikes. In Germany consider Canyon.
If their bikes are any similar to the rest of their gear…
Price/quality tends too be extremely good. This year I saw a trisuit, but was on the cheapo quality side
Thank you guys for all the useful feedbacks.
I tried to look for reviews, but what I saw was about their entry level bikes. Anyone has experience with their “higher” end products? Facet 5 or 7? (The 7 also looks too good to be true: Full SRAM red + Mavis R-SYS wheels… under 3000€)
2k is a price point where things get very interesting for a lot of brands.
Canyon Ultimate CF, with 11-speed Athena, for example.
Boardman SLR 9.0, Sram Force.
Planet X Pro, with full Sram Red, for under 1300quid.
Lots of others out there without a hideous B’TWIN decal on the downtube.
Best of luck in your search.