Off Topic Bike waynekerrs

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Yep, it's not just the bikes that cost an arm and a leg, all the gear such as accessories, clothing can run you hundreds for a single item as you say. If you want a new new bike it's always more economical to try and find a model that's going out of production or that's been replaced, the average rider isn't going to notice much of a difference at all and the new bike will still feel better than the outgoing one, or no bike at all, or if you're alright with getting a pre-owned one, ebay and facebook marketplace always have some sweet bikes, of course you're relying on the owner telling the truth about use, crashes etc here, especially if it's carbon. But prices in the industry have gone crazy, fuelled by hype, snobbery and exclusivity as you say.

Bike I'm replacing is around 7 years old and I got that new with a decent discount for around a grand when the models were being updated. The equivalent bike nowadays is near £3000

Planet X is the company I was on about, but I'm honestly tempted to just build one up from cheap Chinese carbon direct from the factories, you can get framesets, components etc all on ebay

Enjoy your Carrera, bikes are for riding, not posing <ok>

The showroom was just around the corner from my office, if you buy one from them it's just direct sales now and terrible customer service. Dont buy cheap carbon, but if you are then buy a frame from Aliexpress - one of the open mold type - thats what the planet X ones are.

Try - https://www.lightcarbon.com/lightcarbon-super-light-carbon-road-frameset-lcr007-v_p145.html

Open mould frame, very similar to the Cervelo S5 or S3, can't remember which and a good review. I have just ordered a gravel bike frame.
But if you are looking at spending £5-600 on a non branded carbon frame, why not just buy an Aluminium frame? Look for a CAAD12 frameset and build that up, if you can still get one, if not then a trek emonda.
 
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The showroom was just around the corner from my office, if you buy one from them it's just direct sales now and terrible customer service. Dont buy cheap carbon, but if you are then buy a frame from Aliexpress - one of the open mold type - thats what the planet X ones are.

Try - https://www.lightcarbon.com/lightcarbon-super-light-carbon-road-frameset-lcr007-v_p145.html

Open mould frame, very similar to the Cervelo S5 or S3, can't remember which and a good review. I have just ordered a gravel bike frame.
But if you are looking at spending £5-600 on a non branded carbon frame, why not just buy an Aluminium frame? Look for a CAAD12 frameset and build that up, if you can still get one, if not then a trek emonda.

You mean Planet X? I just had a pretty good experience with them tbf
 
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You mean Planet X? I just had a pretty good experience with them tbf

You do get good value(they market for cycle to work/direct sales), but the frames are budget and open mold.

Had an RT80 when I started to commute about 7 years ago, but wouldn't buy a bike from them again. paid £1k for it and sold a few weeks ago to fund gravel bike fro £750, so it paid for itself
 
You do get good value(they market for cycle to work/direct sales), but the frames are budget and open mold.

Had an RT80 when I started to commute about 7 years ago, but wouldn't buy a bike from them again. paid £1k for it and sold a few weeks ago to fund gravel bike fro £750, so it paid for itself

Hmm, I like their road frames, the geometry is nice and you can have a matte black option with minimal/blacked out logos. They'll be getting their frames from the same factories in China/Taiwan like all the other companies I suspect and either having them built up over there and shipped, or doing that when they get here. Thanks for the insight though, something to think on. As you say the direct sales approach keeps their price point down, also the fact they don't seem to be sponsoring any pro teams or pushing themselves as a big brand etc

Glad your RT80 held a bit of value for you
 
Yep, it's not just the bikes that cost an arm and a leg, all the gear such as accessories, clothing can run you hundreds for a single item as you say. If you want a new new bike it's always more economical to try and find a model that's going out of production or that's been replaced, the average rider isn't going to notice much of a difference at all and the new bike will still feel better than the outgoing one, or no bike at all, or if you're alright with getting a pre-owned one, ebay and facebook marketplace always have some sweet bikes, of course you're relying on the owner telling the truth about use, crashes etc here, especially if it's carbon. But prices in the industry have gone crazy, fuelled by hype, snobbery and exclusivity as you say.

Bike I'm replacing is around 7 years old and I got that new with a decent discount for around a grand when the models were being updated. The equivalent bike nowadays is near £3000

Planet X is the company I was on about, but I'm honestly tempted to just build one up from cheap Chinese carbon direct from the factories, you can get framesets, components etc all on ebay

Enjoy your Carrera, bikes are for riding, not posing <ok>



Planet X do some good stuff. Another good budget brand is On One.

The bike industry, like surf, snow, and just about every outdoor sport are part of the consumer society where they want folk to buy new kit every year. So they have 'new season' stuff come in and some people just have to have the latest kit, so there are bargains to be had both in the 2nd hand market and with places like Tredz, Chain Reaction etc who sell off last year's models with big discounts.
 
Probs lighter, smoother shifting and better brakes allowing you to go faster.
Doesn't it all depends on how much effort you put in?

Surely it doesn't matter unless your training for the Olympics or something....
 
Doesn't it all depends on how much effort you put in?

Surely it doesn't matter unless your training for the Olympics or something....

Yeah effort required, but weight on a bike makes all the difference.

A heavy old clunker is a pig to ride, because it takes more effort to get the thing moving and longer to slow it down. When you think about the variance in speed you do on a bike, stopping, starting, slowing down, going up hills etc, then you can see why weight saving is such a big issue.
 
Yeah effort required, but weight on a bike makes all the difference.

A heavy old clunker is a pig to ride, because it takes more effort to get the thing moving and longer to slow it down. When you think about the variance in speed you do on a bike, stopping, starting, slowing down, going up hills etc, then you can see why weight saving is such a big issue.
Not really, i thought you bike ****ers were doing it for fun?
 
Planet X do some good stuff. Another good budget brand is On One.

The bike industry, like surf, snow, and just about every outdoor sport are part of the consumer society where they want folk to buy new kit every year. So they have 'new season' stuff come in and some people just have to have the latest kit, so there are bargains to be had both in the 2nd hand market and with places like Tredz, Chain Reaction etc who sell off last year's models with big discounts.
I've got a Planet X carbon road bike.
Went a bit over the top and had Sram red groupset fitted.

I then took delivery and added £150 Look carbon pedals.

The bike is lovely but the pedals are ****e. They creak when I'm going uphill, probs also when going fast but can't hear it cos of the wind noise.
 
I've got a Planet X carbon road bike.
Went a bit over the top and had Sram red groupset fitted.

I then took delivery and added £150 Look carbon pedals.

The bike is lovely but the pedals are ****e. They creak when I'm going uphill, probs also when going fast but can't hear it cos of the wind noise.

Yeah I wouldn't put carbon anywhere there's going to be a lot of strain like pedals or seat posts.

I've got an older (2016) Ragley MTB. Alu frame. Then I've spent the last few years building it up with better components from ebay that folk are selling on. So Fox forks, XT chainset, XT brakes etc. To buy a bike like that new you'd be looking at £3k + I've probably done the whole lot for about £1200.