A Complete 2x Road Bike for £399 - What’s the catch?
00:17:33Trace Velo

A Complete 2x Road Bike for £399 - What’s the catch?

Trace Velo

April 04, 2026

Watch on YouTube
Description

Checking out one of the cheapest drop bar road bikes in the UK!

On this channel, I usually build bikes piece by piece, often using cheaper components from AliExpress and other direct to consumer Chinese brands, but this time, I wanted to try a different angle. What happens when you just buy a complete box bike for £399?

SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below):
https://srko.co/tracevelo

In this video, I take a closer look at one of the cheapest complete road bikes I’ve come across in the UK, and break down exactly what you’re getting for the money. From the aluminium frame and finishing kit, to the 2x drivetrain, Sensah groupset, and overall build quality, because at this price point, there are always compromises.

Why it’s interesting:
A £399 road bike undercuts pretty much everything you’ll find from the big brands, especially on the UK high street. But unlike a lot of the budget stuff I cover, this isn’t a pile of parts from AliExpress…Iit’s a ready-to-ride bike from a physical shop in London.

Disclosure:
I forgot to include it in the episode, but I did get this bike sent over for review, however I am not being paid by V-Ride or Sunpeed to make this content. If you end up buying a bike and use my discount code, this is how I make a small commission 🙂

Check out their bikes below, and if you use my code ‘Tracevelo5’ you’ll get 5% off.

Website:
https://vride.co.uk

Contact:
info@vride.co.uk

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:57 – Unboxing and setup
02:26 – Bike reveal and weight
03:21 – Specs
03:51 – Weight
05:23 – First ride impressions
06:49 – Fixing a shifting issue
09:16 – Good stuff & compromises
12:34 – What about Decathlon?
16:01 – Bonus clip

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tracevelo/

Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com

Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.

In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!

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Sunspeed Triton

Sunspeed Triton

Created: April 04, 2026

The reviewer discusses the Sunspeed Triton, a £400 complete drop bar road bike with an aluminum frame, rim brakes, and a Sensar Reflex 2x8 groupset. He notes initial shifting issues with the rear derailleur but resolves them by replacing the gear cable, after which the bike performs well. He highlights its good looks, tidy cabling, and decent components for the price, while acknowledging compromises like the basic groupset, heavy crankset, basic wheels, and cheap bar tape.

AI-Summary

Pros

  • Good-looking bike with vibrant colors and decals
  • Tidy cable management with full-length housing
  • Comfortable saddle from Zeus/Oz brand
  • Decent quality headset from Janeer
  • Solid rim brakes from Zstar with micro-adjustments
  • Nice welds smoothed out on visible areas
  • Good value for £400
  • Easy assembly out of the box

Cons

  • Initial shifting issues with rear derailleur (stiff, clunky, inaccurate in higher gears)
  • Basic Sensar Reflex 2x8 groupset
  • Heavy cast aluminum crankset with steel chainrings
  • Basic, heavy aluminum wheels with cup and cone bearings
  • Cheap bar tape with little cushioning, possibly wrapped incorrectly
  • Not super lightweight at 10.3 kg
  • Square taper bottom bracket (some may view as outdated)
  • Slight creak from one spoke under sprinting