Entry level carbon road bike?

kmcd21

Been mountain biking for while now, never considered road biking. Its a no brainer though when it comes to maintaining bike fitness, when I cant get out on the hills. So time to get rapid on tarmac!!

I have looked at Raleigh U6 pro and boardman carbon.. how do these way up on the grand scale of things?

Anonymous

Does it have to be carbon?

If so, why?

You can get a much better bike for the same money made out of aluminium, a cannondale CAAD9...

hopper1

NapoleonD wrote:

Does it have to be carbon?

If so, why?

You can get a much better bike for the same money made out of aluminium, a cannondale CAAD9...

'much better'...? :?

Anonymous

Yes.

daveydave43

if you're preparing to spend £1000, buy a cannondale caad9
of the carbon bikes, boardman or planet x

kmcd21

I figured carbon much lighter and faster.

Will definitely have a look at the cannondale. Open to other ideas maybe I dont need to spend as much to get a good entry level setup, perhaps second hand or 09 bikes.

rake

have you looked at the reviews. nothing is much better in the price range.

hopper1

NapoleonD wrote:

Yes.

Oh, ok then...

kingrollo

kmcd21 wrote:

Been mountain biking for while now, never considered road biking. Its a no brainer though when it comes to maintaining bike fitness, when I cant get out on the hills. So time to get rapid on tarmac!!

I have looked at Raleigh U6 pro and boardman carbon.. how do these way up on the grand scale of things?

Depends on what your priorities are - the boardman is a good fast bike - plus you can get it locally - that we be the choice to buy with your 'Head'

But bike purchases are in part - made for the wow factor - which IMO - the Boardman lacks

Check out Ribble , Planet X , Dolan - at this price point

friso

Hi, Been through the same dilema

The Boardman is the only one to buy for the money, just check out the reviews

Sram Rival groupset is great with stiff carbon frame and full carbon forks you cannot build one yourself for anyway near the money

I know what the others are saying about the Cannondale and they are quite right, it is very good but you will always think that prehaps you should of bought a carbon framed bike

The Boardman is prehaps not the most exotic brand but try to knock it and you cant, people would like to but it really is that good

Just maybe a wheel upgrade is worth while though and the obvious Halfords quality issues are a concern but these are easy to set up yourself with a basic knowledge od bike maintenance

cooper.michael1

'but you will always think that prehaps you should of bought a carbon framed bike'

Why becuase all the professionals are paid to use them? All the likes of Napolean are continually outlining on here is that the frame material does not equate to a good bike. If you carbon lovers don't want to listen to us, listen to the magazine review.

On this website regarding the Raleigh U6 that the original poster was thinking of buying

'The frame and fork is no lighter, stiffer or stronger than a top-quality full aluminium frame such as the Specialized Allez Sport’s'
'One long ride is usually enough to dispel the myth that a full carbon back end necessarily brings a softer, more compliant ride than a full aluminium frame'

...and with regard to the wheels

'Their weight makes tackling steep and rolling uphill gradients more of a challenge than the lighter hoops fitted to bike like the b’Twin Sport 4 and Merida Road 903-27'

Add to all of this if you buy a cannondale, (or Specialized etc..) and in 3 years time you fall in love with cycling want to upgrade you'll get 50%+ the bikes purchase price back. A 10 year old CAAD3 is going for over £300 on ebay now. Its a proven brand, and you are buying the best of years worth of manufacturing Aluminium frames.

If the Raleigh is still in one piece you'll be luck in 10 years time. If you want to spend £2000+ buy a carbon bike for sure (well actually i'd buy Ti) but at this price bracket i'd avoid the cheapo carbon and buy something of great quality that is tried and tested.

guilliano

For under 1K I'd always go alloy personally. Cannondale CaaD9 is a good option, as is Trek 2.1. It uses the same frame that got a glowing write up in last year's C+ BOTY test and has 105 gearing rather than Tiagra.

The Boardman is OK, but has really naff brake calipers which lack power and a wheel upgrade would be a must, bumping the cost up to £1300+

converse2020

What would be the consensus on the Planet X SL Pro Carbon with SRAM Rival. Currently £999 with Planet X model B wheels ?

Does this also fall in the same category of not a massive difference over £1000 allloy frame / bike from the likes of Specialized ?

kmcd21

the planet x sl pro carbon is very appealing. Definitely on the mark with this one!

STEFANOS4784

hopper1 wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

Yes.

Oh, ok then...

Exactly.

cooper.michael1

kmcd21 wrote:

the planet x sl pro carbon is very appealing. Definitely on the mark with this one!

I've got a planet x, nice bikes. However I would add this, they are cheaper because you buy direct from the manufacturer, you dont get to try before you buy. Therefore i'd say as this is your first road bike i'd avoid buying online and go to the local bike shop who will spend time with you trying out the sizing and make adjustments etc...

The planet x might seem like great value, I thought that when I bought my first road bike, going back 10 years, a pinarello, which I did not ride before buying, until i realised after riding it for a couple of months that it was one size too big and completely the wrong geometry for my usage.

When you have to sell that, then go buy another bike, suddenly its not such great value.

Again though if you look at all the edvidence at this price point, carbon is simply no 'better' (faster, lighter, stronger, more comfortable) than Alloy. It is more fragile to impacts, and difficult to detect damage....but if you want to buy into the marketing dept, buy whatever you like the look of best.

pure-james

get a fit done, then buy the bike that fits you best

symo

cooper.michael1 wrote:

kmcd21 wrote:

the planet x sl pro carbon is very appealing. Definitely on the mark with this one!

I've got a planet x, nice bikes. However I would add this, they are cheaper because you buy direct from the manufacturer, you dont get to try before you buy. Therefore i'd say as this is your first road bike i'd avoid buying online and go to the local bike shop who will spend time with you trying out the sizing and make adjustments etc...

The planet x might seem like great value, I thought that when I bought my first road bike, going back 10 years, a pinarello, which I did not ride before buying, until i realised after riding it for a couple of months that it was one size too big and completely the wrong geometry for my usage.

When you have to sell that, then go buy another bike, suddenly its not such great value.

Again though if you look at all the edvidence at this price point, carbon is simply no 'better' (faster, lighter, stronger, more comfortable) than Alloy. It is more fragile to impacts, and difficult to detect damage....but if you want to buy into the marketing dept, buy whatever you like the look of best.

Not my experience. My first road bike was a Kiron Scandium from Wiggle. Bought online after much consultation and advice from wiggle who requested my measurements to ensure that it was the right bike (S btw) and I am loving that bike to this day.

My second bike is a Planet X Ti Road pro. Again I spoke to PLanet X on the phone and gave them some measurements. I had it built at my LBS and its great.

My next bike will be from the LBS as I want a R3.

As for "Pros ride what they are paid to ride" argument lets look at what a former Tour de France rider I am lucky enough to cycle with rides. Mr Colin Lewis rides a Colnago C-50. Now this guy can afford a bike or two and can choose from high end steel, Ti and Aluminium. But he rides carbon, now I appreciate everyone on this forum had more experience of bikes than Mr Lewis so if you want to tell me how I can persuade him not to trust his years of cycling feel then please let me know.

Go for the carbon if you want, talk to Planet X about what measurements they need to size the bike for you, then get your LBS to build to cut the steerer tube to a fit for you.

cooper.michael1

Symo, i think you have misunderstood me.

Colin Lewis rides a Colnago C-50, indeed its a Colnago, its a £3000+ bike. And yes its made of carbon, but its top notch carbon....not bottom grade.

Think about bottom of the pile Aluminium, say a £150 apollo from halfords, do you compare that to the ride of a CAAD9, no. So why compare the ride of a bottom end carbon frame with the ride of a top end boutique carbon frame? Within this argument we are not talking about the likes of Colnago, Cervelo etc etc...the bottom line is at this price point (£1000) carbon is no better than a good alu frame.

My cynical nature suggests to me that this carbon trend is enacted by bicycle marketing departments, so people feel the necessity to upgrade. Both my bikes now have outboard bottom brackets, wow they are so much stiffer (yeah right)...i fell for the marketing on that occasion. It is almost seen now that if your bike is not carbon it is not a proper race worthy bike.

As for my advice of advocating going to get properly fit...that is just common sense, you'll ride more on a bike which fits you.

Above all its the person more than the bike. I think im right in saying that despite all the tech advances the quickest time up d'huez is still held by this bike??

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/r ... o-xl-24877