Diamondback Century 1 Road Bike 2015 Review

A solid road bike, at entry level prices.  But is it any good? The 2014 model was very popular, we loved it and now its been refreshed for 2015.

We review the 2015 Diamondback Century 1, the entry level bike in the Diamondback Century Range.  With a sub $800 price tag (increased over 2014 – however discounts will take it lower), and custom design aluminium frame, it does look good.  Diamondback have designed this bike with a large nod to comfort, so how does it fare on the road?

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Frame

The first thing you notice is the frame, it looks great with a stock, and only, colour of dark Red. The top tube has a purposeful tapered look that has trickled down from the higher end bikes. Diamondback have shorted the cockpit, which would normally make the rider closer to the road. To balance this the saddle is mounted on an angled stem that eases the rider into a more comfortable upright position.

Made from aluminum  this keeps the weight down, and provides a strong frame with minimum flexing.

Groupset

The key components are from the mid range Shimano Sora groupset, rear derailleur, brakes and shifters. This will give a good balance between long reliable life, and price. The other components are either from the lower tier of the Shimano range, and the crank is an “FSA Tempo Triple″ FSA are known for their reliable strong cranks even if this one is slightly heavy. Still it’s stiff enough to do the job, even if the Shimano 2300 might be a slightly better choice.

To summarise the groupset. There has to be a balance between price and quality especially challenging at this price level. Diamondback have done a good job here, with money being spent on the key components. The lesser parts like the crank can always be upgraded as they wear out.  The Shimano Sora rear mech is a good fit for the bike and performs well.

Wheels

The wheels are built on Shimano hubs, with Equation SE rims same as last year.  These are the house brand rims for Diamondback, and seem to perform well enough.  The tyres are good, Michelin Dynamic Sport’s.  This is a popular tyre, and performs well on a bike thats going to do a few miles.   It’s strong enough to cope with the odd pothole, yet performs well enough to get up some good speed.

Overall the wheels are good for the price of the bike, If you value your comfort over speed you should be happy with this set up.

Other Features of the Century 1

If you buy online, you will have to assemble the bike. If you take it to a local bike shop they will typically charge about $150. However there is not really much to go wrong, and if you are confidant about assembly then its easy enough to do at home. I prefer to do my own bike maintenance and learn more about my bike (hence this site!) Its basically a case of attaching the wheels, pedals and straighten the handlebars.

The pedals are included along with a mount for a water bottle.  The pedals come with toe clips, but if you have a favourite pair they are easy enough to change.

What are others saying about the Century 1?

This is a popular bike from a well regarded brand, for the price the components have been balanced to produce a comfortable commuting/ weekend bike.   Despite being so new it has picked up a couple of 5 star reviews,

The reviewers like the slick shifting, comfortable frame and the ease of riding.

If buying online, rest assured its well packaged and takes less than an hour to assemble.  If you struggle then there are some great videos on youtube.

Where to buy?

Of course its great to support your local bike shop, but if you are the type who prefers not to deal with sales people, or likes a deal and is able to stick the bike together then there are some great deals on line. The MRSP on this bike is $800, to save you a little leg work the best price I have found is Amazon at just under $750, including free delivery. Alternatively, and our preference for going to a ‘real’ bike shop is Jenson USA, one of the largest online bikeshops in the world, will match this price.

Our Verdict:

This is a great choice for someone looking for a bike thats going to become a proper workhorse. A comfortable mile cruncher, good for commuting or exploring the local roads of a weekend.  It looks good with its red colour scheme, and is well finished off.

At this price it’s a great deal of bike that will last for years.

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