I can't make up my mind which bike?

CRAIGO5000

I'd love to test both of them back to back but it's too difficult with one of them being Planet X.

So which would you pick and why from the Planet X RT-57 http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PBP ... _road_bike

or

Trek 2.5 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... %20compact

The Trek looks better on paper when it comes to groupset as it's full Ultegra including the chainset but it's an Aluminium frame. Which to be honest, I have no issues with. The Planet X is carbon but I've seen a few threads on here with cracks etc. Plus is Sram Force any good or on a par with Ultegra? Obviously the Planet X bike also lacks in the chainset department as that is not Force.

My final thoughts are that the Planet X looks great to the Trek but the Trek seems to be loaded with more goodies and both are compact chainsets which I want.

Thanks,
Craig

StorckSpeed

The spec of both bikes look brilliant.
I haven't seen a review of the planet x bike but here's one of the Trek:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 5-10-35693
The biggest deciding factor for me would be what type of riding am I wanting to do?
If you want to get a nice, comfortable bike to put in some long miles then it would appear that the TREK will be super comfortable.
If you want to do a bit of racing too and maybe the odd time-trial then I'd opt for the Planet-x.
Force is a very good groupset and is on a par with Ultegra. They've tried to save some money on the chainset to get it under the £1400 price bracket and the penalty for this will be weight (about 300g). It will still be a very good, strong chainset.

If you still can't decide -Try a little mind game.
Tell your other half the two bikes your after. Get her go out of the room and burst in, then tell you she's ordered one of the bikes (whichever she likes). See how you feel just at the moment she tells you, is it disappointment, relief, are you glad or what?
Failing that go for the one you think looks best, after all if you don't think it looks good it won't inspire you to get out and ride it.

CRAIGO5000

Haha, nice idea with the mind game. The same could be said for tossing a coin. While in the air, something should make me feel which one I don't want it to be.

It's confusing too as the Trek geo looks like I could crunch the miles on. The Planet X descriptions state it's quite relaxed too.

Another spanner in the works is a second hand full ultegra Focus Cayo at half the price. It's only done 200 miles too and is practically new but it's only Ultregra shifters with most of the chainset being FSA aswell as brakes.

Another option is the Ribble Carbon Stealth which comes in at £1200 for a full 105 groupset which isn't too shabby. Here is the rest of the spec: Bikebuilder Summary
Frame
Ribble Stealth Carbon Road Frame 48cm C to top
Groupset
Shimano 105 (5700) Black 10 Spd Double Groupset
Show Groupset Data
Wheels
Rodi Airline 4 Clinchers Wheels Pair Black 8/9/10 Shim
Handlebars
Deda RHM 02 Bars Black 42cm
Handlebar Stem
ITM Alutech 6061 (31.8) Stem Black 100mm
Headset Spacers
CSN Headset Spacer Alloy 1 1/8'' 10mm Black
Saddle
Ritchey Streem saddle Black
Seatpillar
CSN Superleggera Alloy Seatpillar Black 31.6 400mm
Tyres
Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre White/Black 700x23mm
Inner Tubes
Yaw Butyl Inner Tube 700x18/25 SV42mm
Handlebar Tape
Deda Traforato Soft Touch Handlebar Tape Black
Price excluding Pedals: £1,217.90

StorckSpeed

Whoa - too many choices. You need to whittle it down to two at the most otherwise the coin toss just won't work. :-)
Ribble and Planet X always offer great value for money so I'm not surprised you've spotted a couple of their offerings. Most people that opt away from them do so cause they like the support of the LBS. If your comfortable servicing your bike yourself then this may not be a concern for you.
I suspect your going to have to go with your heart otherwise your going to regret it in 6 months time, then you'll sell the one you bought and buy the one you really wanted all along.....I've done this with cyce clothing before.
So - do you really want to spend £1400 on bike? If not go second-hand this sounds like a bargain too. If you do, what's your heart telling you?

ShutUpLegs

Is this a thread about the ugliest bikes available?

nunowoolmez

If it helps I have a PX Nanolight (the old version of the RT57) & love it! I appreciate that it's frame is more akin to racing but i have done loads of 80 - 100 mile rides on it & have not suffered any discomfort or pain, in fact it really is a dream to ride! I wanted a best bike that would last me a long time so i specifically had it decked out with an entire Dura Ace groupset. Like a lot of bikes it came with a FSA Gossamer chainset but PX are very good and can replace any bits you want, in my case with the Dura chainset. My point is that companies like PX & Ribble allow quite a bit of flexibility.with thr bike build & will chop & change bits as you wish. Obviously there will be more to pay for the better bits you put on the bike. As you live not too far from PX i would seriously consider driving down & see how they fit you & after a quick ride round the block your mind might be made up! ;-) Incidentally, a mate of mine is seriously thinking of getting one & we are driving up to this exact thing. I doubt you will find many prople who own a PX who regret their choice

maddog 2

CAAD 10 and upgrade the wheels

CRAIGO5000

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Is this a thread about the ugliest bikes available?

Cool post bro!



I've got it down now to carbon (I think!?). I'm still undecided on the groupset though if I buy brand new.

I'm unlikely to competitively race the bike so do I really need Ultregra or Red/Force? Would 105 be enough in terms of quality/longevity? I really don't think that saving 100-200grams for Ultegra on a carbon frame with fast wheels would be noticeable. The shift quality must be extremely close comparing these two groups too?

What are the opinions of perhaps a 2nd hand 2011 Ultegra Cayo which would then also leave me a huge chunk of my budget for a wheelset upgrade such as Planet X carbon clinchers for £399 or Shimano RS80's?

I'm whittling it down fellas - honest!!!

CRAIGO5000

I think I've got the two now.

Ribble Stealth OR Planet X RT-57?

Both are black carbon with Sram Force but looking for reviews online is quite difficult? I can only find the BikeRadar reviews which seem to contradict themselves in the same paragraphs and come out with no real conclusion? The Ribble Stealth came out on top in terms of overall rating it seems, but it's around £200 more with a heavier wheelset too. :?

EarlyGo

Craig,

Have you decided what you want to do on this bike? Mega distances / all day rides or fast 30 milers? The Ribble Stealth is very upright (it has a mega long head tube) so in theory more comfortable for long distances. Whilst the Planet-X is much racier and again in theory better for fast thrashes. This would surely be one big factor that would help you make your mind up?

Regards, EarlyGo

doubleoseven

maddog 2 wrote:

CAAD 10 and upgrade the wheels

As mentioned elsewhere on this forum, my debate was between caad 10 and better wheels or supersix and get wheels next year....what wheelset would you recommend??(£500 ish range)for the caad

mfin

EarlyGo wrote:

Craig,

Have you decided what you want to do on this bike? Mega distances / all day rides or fast 30 milers? The Ribble Stealth is very upright (it has a mega long head tube) so in theory more comfortable for long distances. Whilst the Planet-X is much racier and again in theory better for fast thrashes. This would surely be one big factor that would help you make your mind up?

Regards, EarlyGo

No it doesnt?! ...in fact, Id say the opposite if anything, its relatively short, pretty much inline with what geometry was going on before all this 'high headtubes for people that like to sit upright' became the fashion.

(The RT57 also has similar headtube lengths per size... Stealth or RT57 sizing does mean one will fit better than the other though for most people, appears to me some of the sizes of each 'fall sort of halfway between each other').