Btwin Riverside 500 (2018) - Review

The Btwin Riverside 5 has been made using a 661 series aluminium alloy frame. Alloy frames are lightweight, stable and durable. The frame has been ergonomically designed with a lowered, sloping top-tube, enabling easier mounting and dismounting. Btwin has classified this bicycle as a unisex hybrid bicycle. The ergonomically designed bicycle frame allows for an upright, open-chested, comfortable riding position. The bicycle has an OS Suspension Fork with 63mm travel. Additionally, the fork has been designed to be compatible with disc brakes. The Btwin Riverside 5 is available in three sizes - Small, Medium and Large. The Small bicycle weighs 13 kgs, the medium is 13.2 kgs and the large is 13.3kgs.

The Btwin Riverside 5 is a nine-speed bicycle that has 9 Indexed Speeds controlled by Microshift SL759 Grip Shifters. The Rear Derailleur is Btwin by Microshift ‘ RD M46’. The shifting wasn’t as expected from a bicycle at the given price point. I felt a lag in both upshifting and downshifting, especially towards the higher gears. It is adequate for city commutes and for short rides. Being classified as a hybrid bicycle, I feel that the absence of a front derailleur makes a difference, and takes a toll on the overall performance of the bicycle, as a part of the said category. Given its price point, a front derailleur is a component that is expected. In today's competitive market, this could make a huge difference.

The Btwin Riverside 5 has been designed keeping simplicity and clean aesthetics a centric idea. The bicycle's primary color is jet black, with bold red decals and branding in white. The overall look of the bicycle is simple and neat. It is available in a single color option. It would have been great to see more color variants available.

The Btwin Riverside 5 comes equipped with Disc Brakes at the front and back. The Brake levers are well placed on the handlebar to ensure comfortable reach to use them. The stopping power is adequate, and is sufficient to bring the bicycle to a complete stop without requiring extra effort. The braking was effective in both dry and wet riding conditions. The semi-raised, 62mm wide handlebar on this bicycle ensures supreme control when on the saddle. Additionally, a wide handlebar allows for an ‘open-chested’, comfortable riding position.It also allows for easy maneuvering in crowded riding conditions as well as superior control and stability.

The Btwin Riverside 5 is equipped with Btwin Versatile tires for roads and trails with their dimensions being 7x38c. The tires are fast rolling and lightly threaded. They are slightly broader than traditional tires on hybrids, but this is considerably helpful on rugged, bumpy roads and on flat trails. These tires allow one to shift from road riding to flat trails and rugged paths effortlessly. Additionally, both the front and rear wheels have a quick release option which makes detaching them from the frame quick and easy. The Btwin Sport 5 Ergofit saddle is made using foam. The saddle is soft ensuring a comfortable ride. The saddle will be comfortable for city commuting as well as leisure riding on a regular basis. Longer duration rides, over an hour long, might have the one feel slight discomfort on the sit bones. Additionally, the seat post comes equipped with a quick release option, which makes it easy to adjust the seat height within seconds, and at any point of time, without the hassle of requiring additional tools.