POUND STRETCHERS
It’s not unusual for test wheels, even those at an entry-level price point (see p51), to cost much more than the bikes featured on test, which are priced at around the £750 mark. And yet, with a carbon frame, improved aesthetics and celebrated groupsets in the mix, buying cheap isn’t always a false economy, and the three bikes here all have training and racing appeal to triathlon beginners as well as more experienced athletes on a budget.
The least expensive bike on test is the Merlin PR7, a racy entry-level road bike of £650 that features Mavic CXP 22 rims and one of the most wallet-friendly routes into the Shimano Sora groupset.
Up next is GT, which has a celebrated mountain biking history, but have long produced high-end road bikes and even a revolutionary track bike for the 1996 Olympics. Its 2020 GTR Sport (£750) is an all-rounder, with thru-axles, mechanical disc brakes and GT’s distinctive triple triangle.
Our final entry is an £800 road bike with, if you can believe it, a carbon frame and fork and Shimano Sora. The Virago is from Halfords’ Carrera brand, but can a carbon bike at that price really be any good? We put all three bikes to the test to see how much bang you can get for your buck with these entry-level bikes.
MERLIN PR7 DISC £650 MERLINCYCLES.COM
We’ve listed the Merlin PR7 at £650, but it presently has 27% off and could
