If you’re looking to get ‘long and low’ then this probably isn’t the bike for you. However, if you favour comfort and stability over speed and need a bike that can handle the trifecta mentioned above then the 520 is well worth further consideration. The Allez bike range from Specialized is one of the best selling bikes in the industry, and at last review we awarded this model a near perfect 4.5 stars. Huffmans started out producing about 12 bicycles per day but as the Depression worsened and more people turned to cycling for their transportation needs that figure rose to nearly 200 a day. At first Horace manufactured products for service stations and steel bicycle rims, but sensing an opportunity during the Depression in 1934, he switched to making bicycles. The design, product development and marketing (majority of all business functions) for Huffy is based in Dayton, Ohio.
With rim brakes, there’s a limit to how wide a tire will fit in the brake caliper. That means that rim brake bikes are often fitted with 25mm wide tires, although you may see a 28mm tire. Gearing comes from a 2×7-speed Shimano Tourney groupset with a 50/34t Prowheel chainset and 14-28t freewheel (rather than a more modern cassette). Although this gives limited high and low end gearing and quite large jumps between gears, it’s still great to see a Shimano groupset and combined brake/shifter levers on a bike at this price. As mentioned earlier the bike’s greatest asset might just be that 105 groupset. However it’s worth noting that this isn’t a full 105 set-up.
Most cassettes at the rear start with an 11-tooth sprocket, giving you a usefully high top gear. As you might expect, the Brand X road bike is fitted out with rim brakes rather than the more expensive disc brake calipers. Cables are also external rather than running through the frame or boasting full outers, so they may be more prone to contamination. This isn’t an unusual feature in a lower priced bike though. Rebranded and redesigned, the aluminium frame now comes with a carbon bladed fork. The Triban 520 has also switched to disc brakes in the form of TRP’s well regarded HY/RD mechanical offerings.
Late last year, Verso Corp. announced the Memphis-based company was moving its headquarters to that area as well in a move local officials would stabilize more than 200 jobs. The corporate headquarters, which had been in Centerville for about 10 years, is where the company does design, sales, marketing, product development and other corporate operations. The new facility will have amenities for employees like a new fitness center. The golden bike, the one millionth produced by the company on May 13, 1947, is made with a chrome frame plated with 14-karat gold. In 1953, these bikes were also the first to be branded as “Huffy” bikes. Employment went from 385 to between 800 and 1,000 workers within a year.
Don’t assume that alloy is an inferior choice though, as a well-made alloy frame can ride better than a budget carbon frame and may weigh less as well. With space for 40mm tires, it’s a bike that could be set up for gravel duties as well, with a simple change of huffy cruiser bike rubber. Being a gravel/adventure bike, the Haanjo will roll smoothly on the road but also comes with 38c tires which will cushion out the bumps for off-road gravel rides. The frame’s geometry places the 520 clearly in the endurance/commuter/light tourer camp.
The Boardman SLR 8.6 is the brand’s base model, but despite this its alloy frame has smoothed welds on the main tubes, almost giving it the look of carbon. Otherwise, the Laterite 2 is well specced for its price, with a carbon-bladed fork and alloy frame with mounts for mudguards and a rack, so it’s ripe for commuting duties. Pinnacle uses hex levers rather than quick releases for the wheels, so that it’s a little harder for a thief to steal them. Its credentials as a solid all-rounder are deepened by both the tire clearance and the rack and mudguard mounts. However there’s room for up to 36mm of rubber should you want to hit the bridleways or dirt roads or fancy attempting an audax ride or two when comfort is paramount. Add guards (fenders) and a pannier rack and the 520 is ready for daily commute duties or some multi-day touring.
The frameset, made from fully butted 6061 aluminium, features front and rear rack mounts as well as mudguard, (or fender) eyelets. This makes it well suited for light touring, commuting and winter training rides. This versatility is reflected in the generous stack height, the slack-ish headtube angle and the long chainstays, all of which point to huffy mountain bike a stable and comfortable ride. A recommendation from one of our trusted US testers, the Diamondback Haanjo offers something a little different when compared with the pure road bikes in this list. In 1966, Huffman introduced a new long-wheelbase bicycle frame called the Rail. The new frame was approximately 4″ to 5″ longer than previous models.
But we were impressed by the frame’s efficiency and the quite racy geometry, although there’s a bit of road buzz on less smooth surfaces. The Boardman own-brand components work well and are comfortable. Boardman’s wheels are tubeless ready if you want to upgrade the tires.
This means it’s not as stiff but rather more forgiving over long distances. If you’re planning on tackling a gruelling Gran Fondo or Sportive then comfort is of greater importance. Importantly though it still makes for a lightweight frameset – when we last reviewed it our size small tipped the scales at just over 8.6kgs.