Road Cycling Essentials

[oli collett]

review when you get them please! i'm considering the rims

The only thing you should worry about is the ordering - there's a reason they sell out in seconds! I don't think there's a quicker low profile wheel on the market unless you spend a small fortune

 

[rogan]

yeah, i saw that, im not looking to buy for a while anyway so gives me a chance to prep for a order day

 

[chanjy]

I'd wear that

also.. I've just got a payrise! I think I'll get my self a present heh..

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT6800/planet-x-pro-carbon-shimano-ultegra-6800-road-bike

I'm sure I won't find anything better for the price! just released by the looks of it too.. full 11spd 6800 ultegra + carbon frame and ok wheelset! can't go wrong?!

I'm a bit vary of carbon frames due to torque and so on limitations but I wonder how do you guys deal with? torque wrenches for everything ?

I used to have one of those. Pretty light and decent ride although not that stiff around BB area. Pretty good value for Ultegra 6800!

What bits do you torque to the frame? Isn't is more carbon posts, seats, bars that need torquing? Wouldn't worry abut it tbh.

edit: just seen this

Many manufacturers advertise bikes with a certain groupset, only to fit the bare minimum components to get away with using the right brand names in their adverts. That's not what we're about at Planet X

That's exactly what they used to do when they had Ultegra 6700 on there Brakes, chain, cassette, cranks were all non-matching. Good to see the full gruppo on it though.

 

[saddler]

Good to see the positive planet x pro carbon feedback. The frame was the bit I was unsure of but if you price up the groupset, wheels and finishing kit you basically get the frame for free at that price!

 

[grudas]

I used to have one of those. Pretty light and decent ride although not that stiff around BB area. Pretty good value for Ultegra 6800!

What bits do you torque to the frame? Isn't is more carbon posts, seats, bars that need torquing? Wouldn't worry abut it tbh.

edit: just seen this


That's exactly what they used to do when they had Ultegra 6700 on there Brakes, chain, cassette, cranks were all non-matching. Good to see the full gruppo on it though.

yeah I guess you're right! I was thinking more about the seatpost area but I guess as long as it isn't moving that's good haha.

and yeah that line was cringeworthy when I read it! I swear they still sell bikes with half-groupsets!

Good to see the positive planet x pro carbon feedback. The frame was the bit I was unsure of but if you price up the groupset, wheels and finishing kit you basically get the frame for free at that price!

yes! I just can't see where they're making the money from? frame is 400, groupo 500 at least.. ?!

frame of course is more around £100 for them but still

 

[FrenchTart]

Well, my XLS that was advertised as full 105 came with FSA on the front so..yeah :s

In other news, swapped out the brake inners/outers with the new jaGwire stuff I picked up from an LBS (Withington Cycles - seemed very down to earth compared to other local bike shops...) and the difference in brake performance is damn impressive.

 

[chanjy]

Well they used to sell the PX Pro Carbon for £999 with full Ultegra in about 2010. I imagine given how things have moved on, the frame, which hasn't changed, is now even cheaper than it was and the new Ultegra seems to be available for less than the old one for some bizarre reason.

 

[One More Solo]

That PX is a great deal with a full Ultegra groupset - a mate recently bought one and I'm sure he didn't get the Ultegra chainset. They are very good frames for the money though they are a little flexy around the BB and the geometry is quite aggressive so doesn't suit everyone.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Well, my XLS that was advertised as full 105 came with FSA on the front so..yeah :s

My new one from Planet-X is advertised as full Tiagra, but it has off series Shimano brakes and chainset. They're some kind of kit for use by OEM bike builders. The chainset is somewhere between Tiagra and 105, and I'm not sure about the brakes, though they seem pretty good.

In other news, 26 miles and a cat 3 this morning. Nice and sunny but very windy.

 

[One More Solo]

Spent Friday/Saturday up in North Yorks doing this: http://www.strava.com/activities/134600438

Good bit of prep for the Fred Whitton although 34x25 was not a low enough gear for tackling more than one 20% hill. I'll be going with a 34x32! Beautiful part of the country though and really enjoyed the ride.

 

[Andy Pandy]

Hi all. I'm looking at getting into cycling again after having not ridden a bike since I was 12. A guy from work has a 2011 Raleigh Oakland hybrid he's offered me for £70. I rode it round the park yesterday and it seems a good bike with easy to use gears and good brakes. For £70 it's good value I'm hoping?

Thanks

 

[touch]

I think you could probably do better for £70.
Having a quick look on ebay, there's quite a few older road bikes in the £70-100 range.

Having said that, you cant go far wrong for £70. Even if (when ) it falls apart after a couple of months, you wont have wasted a lot of money on it and it will give you an idea of what you want next.

 

[Berger]

Did a slow 20 miles with my dad yesterday. Was very windy and lots of crazy drivers out to kill us!

The guild wheel around Preston is pretty rubbish for cycling, we took in another section of it for 3 miles or so then went our own way.

Filled with cattle grids, lots of gates you have to dismount to go through, some unsurfaced sections which were dirt and covered in ****, poorly sighted corners and crests. Not really a proper cycle way, more like a footpath with a cycling sign stuck on it.

 

[grudas]

That PX is a great deal with a full Ultegra groupset - a mate recently bought one and I'm sure he didn't get the Ultegra chainset. They are very good frames for the money though they are a little flexy around the BB and the geometry is quite aggressive so doesn't suit everyone.

should I be worried about the flex around BB? if under power I manage to make my bike flex like hell.. so bad it's actually hard to get anything out of it!

Well, my XLS that was advertised as full 105 came with FSA on the front so..yeah :s

In other news, swapped out the brake inners/outers with the new jaGwire stuff I picked up from an LBS (Withington Cycles - seemed very down to earth compared to other local bike shops...) and the difference in brake performance is damn impressive.

am I missing something here? -;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLS105/planet-x-xls-shimano-105-cyclocross-bike

spec lists -;

Chainset: Chainset Shimano FC-CX50 10 Speed Chainset

so not a 105? they're selling it as 105 setup tho.. but spec lists doesn't say 105 chainset(one of the most expensive parts eh)

Well they used to sell the PX Pro Carbon for £999 with full Ultegra in about 2010. I imagine given how things have moved on, the frame, which hasn't changed, is now even cheaper than it was and the new Ultegra seems to be available for less than the old one for some bizarre reason.

it's bizarre but not bad by any means eh

My new one from Planet-X is advertised as full Tiagra, but it has off series Shimano brakes and chainset. They're some kind of kit for use by OEM bike builders. The chainset is somewhere between Tiagra and 105, and I'm not sure about the brakes, though they seem pretty good.

In other news, 26 miles and a cat 3 this morning. Nice and sunny but very windy.

same with this -;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

Chainset: FSA Gossamer Compact BB386 EVO Chainset

brakes were meant to be tiagra though, but looking at the pics they're not because tiagra is only made in silver/gray.

Eh PX lol, if I didn't get the advertised spec I'd return it!

how long did it take to get your bike from order-to-delivery?

 

[Vonhelmet]

Either/or question time: Do I buy either the speed/cadence sensor for my garmin or a heart rate monitor? I'll get both in due course, but which first?

 

[grudas]

Either/or question time: Do I buy either the speed/cadence sensor for my garmin or a heart rate monitor? I'll get both in due course, but which first?

IMO speed/cadence sensor is the thing to get, HR? meh.. as long as you feel good and know your speed and cadence.. haha.

 

[Vonhelmet]

how long did it take to get your bike from order-to-delivery?

Just over two weeks. Ordered 20/3, arrived 4/4.

 

[touch]

am I missing something here? -;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLS105/planet-x-xls-shimano-105-cyclocross-bike

spec lists -;

Chainset: Chainset Shimano FC-CX50 10 Speed Chainset

so not a 105? they're selling it as 105 setup tho.. but spec lists doesn't say 105 chainset(one of the most expensive parts eh)

AFAIK, the normal 105 crank doesnt come with cyclocross chainrings, so the 'FC-CX50' is used instead. It's the same level as 105.

 

[One More Solo]

should I be worried about the flex around BB? if under power I manage to make my bike flex like hell.. so bad it's actually hard to get anything out of it!

It's not flexy to the point where it will make a tangible difference to your riding, just flexy relative to some of the more expensive carbon frames (or indeed cheaper aluminum ones). The ride quality/weight is a cut above a cheap alu frame though.

Either/or question time: Do I buy either the speed/cadence sensor for my garmin or a heart rate monitor? I'll get both in due course, but which first?

Definitely speed/cadence, I very rarely use my HRM.

 

[Berger]

Speed/Cadence.

Speed not so important, cadence is good at first, but you quickly learn to ride without looking at it.

HR, when you're blowing out your arse and have sick in your mouth then you are at HR max.

Watching LBL online, pretty good race, pace has ramped right up, looks tough just to hang onto the group, nice weather though.