Cube Agree GTC SL 2012 + Others

DarrenGTi

My first post on the forum, and not especially experienced in the world of bikes so go easy.

My current 'Sunday Best' purchased from Cycle Surgery a month ago. Rides brilliantly, really glad of the 28t rear cassette on Dartmoor this weekend. Niggles, got the cable rattle in the frame, and the saddle is creasing under my 'weight', got a Fizik on the way now.








Spec:

Frame: GTC Monocoque Advanced Twin Mold Technology
Fork: CUBE CSL EVO Vollcarbon, 1_1/8"- 1_1/2"
Stem: Syntace F149 Oversized
Bars: Syntace Racelite 2014 Oversized
Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace RD-7900SS
Front Mech: Shimano Dura Ace FD-7900 double, clamp 34.9mm
Cassette: Shimano Dura Ace ST-7900, 10-speed
Brakes: FSA Energy
Gearset: FSA SL-K Light Megaexo Carbon Compact 50x34T, Press-fit BB
Wheels: DT Swiss CSW RA 2.0 Race
Tyres: Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Kevlar 23x622
Saddle: Selle Italia X1 Road
Pedals: Dura Ace 7900
Cube bottles cages

Weight: 7,6 kg

Also built myself a mount for my Garmin, can't warrant the £35 expenditure for a k-edge right now.




My old best bike, now trainer. Pinnacle Aeos Carbon Limited. 105/FSA components.



And finally, my Scott Peak Adventure cicra 1996. Bought it new with my pocket money aged 11. Left to rot over the last few years now everything is new bar the frame, forks and gearset. Upgrade to Mavic Crossrides and Gatorskins for commuting on. But is now on offroad tyres for blasting trails at Haldon Forest.



All opinions welcome.

Darren

sadlybiggins

The Cube looks very nice. I wasn't sure about the colour scheme when I originally saw it online but I saw it in the flesh in Cycle Surgery a few weeks ago and I think it looks great. I've got the 2011 version and love it.

Out of interest, what are you doing about the cable rattle?

DarrenGTi

SadlyBiggins wrote:

The Cube looks very nice. I wasn't sure about the colour scheme when I originally saw it online but I saw it in the flesh in Cycle Surgery a few weeks ago and I think it looks great. I've got the 2011 version and love it.

Out of interest, what are you doing about the cable rattle?

I was the same. Had only seen it online but the guy in the shop convinced me it looked better in the flesh, which thankfully it does! Had someone asking me where I got it from first ride out.

I took it back a week after buying and they sorted the rattle with Cube's netting type sleeve for the brake cable. I thought this had originally worked but now I have a more metallic noise from the same area. It's going in for it's free service on Thursday so will mention it again then.

sadlybiggins

OK, thanks. Not sure if mine is developing a similar rattle as it tends to come and go.

ads2k

Looks great, but you spend that much on the bike to then ruin the look by a really cheap looking mount!! Please fella just buy a decent mount...

DarrenGTi

ads2k wrote:

Looks great, but you spend that much on the bike to then ruin the look by a really cheap looking mount!! Please fella just buy a decent mount...

I take your point but I'm not made of money, the bikes financed so I haven't shelled out a load up front. I'm saving for an engagement ring so every penny counts. When I have the funds I may buy a k-edge, but for now its function over form I'm afraid.

lambpie

DarrenGTi wrote:

Niggles, got the cable rattle in the frame

I've got a GTC Race and had the same brake cable rattle - took it in for a service recently and asked the LBS to check it out. They told me that they had received some sleeves from Cube to solve this problem (lots of people mention this so they must have had some complaints). They simply took removed the brake cable & outer, inserted the sleeve into the frame and then re-installed. No rattle at all on my last ride so fully fixed. I'd suggest that you give them a ring and ask them to get it sorted.

DarrenGTi

They put a sleeve in when I first went back to them. Think my New rattle could have been a loose bolt in one of my cleats, doh!

DarrenGTi

So I've had this bike just over a year and 2,000 miles now so thought I'd post an update and my thoughts on the bike.

As it now stands:








Changes to standard spec:
Wheels - Chinese 40mm carbon clinchers
Tyres - Continental GP4000S
Brake Pads - Swisstop Yellows
Charge Spoon saddle
Bontrager bottle cages
Garmin 'out front' mount
Weight - + 0.3kg on standard, not bad considering the added depth of wheel plus cages, etc.

Firstly the Selle Italia standard saddle was rubbish for me. After trying numerous alternatives I settled on the Charge Spoon. Really comfortable over any distance. Once I was happy with the saddle I got a full bike fit from Ride in Plymouth. Can really recommend them as all my knee pains have vanished.

Rode around like this for a while then into this year I noticed the Ultremo's starting to crack. I went back to Cycle Surgery who at first thought it unusual until a few more customers complained too. Since then all tyres have been sent back to the importers of Cube to the UK who are waiting on a new batch before sending out replacements. They don't trust the current batch!

The out front mount got purchased just because I hated my old bodged affair!

More recently I'd started to notice the standard DT Swiss wheels flexing under sprints and climbs so had done a lot of research in to new wheels. I was originally going to bust my budget on a set of DA C24's however I don't think I could justify the money. As it happens I came across the 40mm carbons in the classifieds and I'm chuffed to bits. New tyres required, obviously wasn't going to buy Schwalbe so went for, in my opinion, the best in the business Conti GP4000S.

To go with the new stealth look I swapped out my lime green Charge Spoon for a more subtle number and changed the bottle cages to the all black Bontragers I had in the garage. I don't rate the Cube ones, one has broken and both rattle.

Overall though the frame and DA have been brilliant. Such a comfortable, fast and reliable ride. Would definitely consider another Cube when I fancy a change.

So much so that I've just got this for my fiance on C2W!




Now to get her fit so we can do a little cycling tour of Italy on the honeymoon next May.

johnnymcg259

First things first.........clean the chain and cassette on the Cube please.........
Those chinese wheels kinda just look 'heavy' but I do like the frame and kit.

supermurph09

johnnymcg259 wrote:

First things first.........clean the chain and cassette on the Cube please.........
Those chinese wheels kinda just look 'heavy' but I do like the frame and kit.

Interesting you say that the Contis are the best in the business, I've gone for those now my Schwalbes have expired but I much prefer the ZX's. Nice bike you have there, love the chain set.

DarrenGTi

johnnymcg259 wrote:

First things first.........clean the chain and cassette on the Cube please.........
Those chinese wheels kinda just look 'heavy' but I do like the frame and kit.

It gets cleaned every couple of weeks. It just wasn't it's week this week!

Not sure how they look heavy when at 40mm they aren't as deep as most aero wheels so therefore should look lighter maybe? And like I said, the bike has only gained 300g by swapping out the wheels, adding bottle cages, the Garmin and the mount. Must therefore be as light as what was fitted standard?

DarrenGTi

Supermurph09 wrote:

Interesting you say that the Contis are the best in the business, I've gone for those now my Schwalbes have expired but I much prefer the ZX's. Nice bike you have there, love the chain set.

Thanks. In terms of tyres I wanted and good all rounder rather than out and out quickest. I guess that was my reasoning for calling them best. I did love the ultremos just couldn't trust them.

RideOnTime

rather nice...