Build around Planet X RT58
My son has a Viking Peleton which, among other things, isn't the best size for him.
He's asked me to look out for a frame for him (I recently bought a secondhand Scott S30 frame which formed the basis of a good bike).
Planet X are currently doing RT58 alloy frames for £150. So, some questions...
1) How good (or bad) are the Planet X frames, weight, build quality, etc?
2) My son is around 5' 6 1/2" with an inside leg of 28 1/2" - does anybody here know what frame size would be suitable (this maybe something I'll have to check with Planet X but they have no contact number)
3) He is likely to upgrade components as time goes, but for now will parts fit from the Viking to the Planet X frame - the back wheel has, I believe, a 7speed freewheel, so will frame width at the rear axle be an issue?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
He's asked me to look out for a frame for him (I recently bought a secondhand Scott S30 frame which formed the basis of a good bike).
Planet X are currently doing RT58 alloy frames for £150. So, some questions...
1) How good (or bad) are the Planet X frames, weight, build quality, etc?
2) My son is around 5' 6 1/2" with an inside leg of 28 1/2" - does anybody here know what frame size would be suitable (this maybe something I'll have to check with Planet X but they have no contact number)
3) He is likely to upgrade components as time goes, but for now will parts fit from the Viking to the Planet X frame - the back wheel has, I believe, a 7speed freewheel, so will frame width at the rear axle be an issue?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
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SME wrote:My son has a Viking peloton which, among other things, isn't the best size for him.
He's asked me to look out for a frame for him (I recently bought a secondhand Scott S30 frame which formed the basis of a good bike).
Planet X are currently doing RT58 alloy frames for £150. So, some questions...
1) How good (or bad) are the Planet X frames, weight, build quality, etc?
2) My son is around 5' 6 1/2" with an inside leg of 28 1/2" - does anybody here know what frame size would be suitable (this maybe something I'll have to check with Planet X but they have no contact number)
3) He is likely to upgrade components as time goes, but for now will parts fit from the Viking to the Planet X frame - the back wheel has, I believe, a 7speed freewheel, so will frame width at the rear axle be an issue?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
One possible problem is that the 7-speed rear wheel might have an OLD (over locknut dimension) of 126mm whereas the RT58 frame will almost certainly be the standard 130mm OLD. In essence then you might need to consider upgrading the groupset to at least 8-speed or higher.
Alternatively it may be possible to "squeeze" the rear dropouts to accept the narrower wheel but it's not ideal.
I'd check the wheel if you can to see what the OLD is first.0 -
Planet X website has sizing advice and geometry on the RT 58 frame page also contact details here http://www.planetx.co.uk/contactus.
IMO the small would be the size to go for, as to quality IIRC one of their sponsored teams used them as training bikes - take from that what you will.0 -
Thanks guys.
The wheel axle width did concern me a bit. His current wheel has a solid axle, not a QR skewer, and has some thread outside of the wheelnuts -I may be able to use a spacer washer to take up the odd couple of mm's inside the frame.
I had noticed the size chart, but trying to judge what will be suitable for certain heights or limb lengths is not an exact science - it was a long shot but I just wondered if anyone here had these frames who were of similar size themselves.
I'll sit my son on one of my bikes and see how it fits - mine are 54cm, his Viking is around 56cm, and it's surprising how you do notice the difference.
Thanks chaps,
Steve0 -
I'm 5'5" and 30 inseam and comparing geo to my other bikes I would be on a small.
Remember inseam is measured in stockinged feet floor to crotch and not based on trouser length.0 -
diamonddog wrote:I'm 5'5" and 30 inseam and comparing geo to my other bikes I would be on a small.
Remember inseam is measured in stockinged feet floor to crotch and not based on trouser length.
Thanks for that DD.
Must admit he had his shoes on. So when Planet X said XS I'm guessing the seatpost length was the limiting factor (looking at their size chart).
Cheers all.0 -
Seriously, I would put the Viking in a skip and start again. The RT-58 is a good basis for a new build and very little of the kit on the Viking will be transferable anyway.0
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Sorry on second thoughts I would order the XS if buying for me, shorter top tube and head tube would suit me better so possibly a better option for your son.0
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Just a quick update...
My son is well pleased with the frame and it's sizing (XS in his case).
Most parts did transfer over from the old/donor bike, but (as Imposter pointed at) seatpost, clamp, and front deraileur had to be purchased due to the 34.9mm seat tube.
I'm now on the lookout (on his instruction) for a 10 speed groupset (Tiagra, or 5700 series 105), a decent pair of wheels, and he's also after carbon seatpost and handlebars!
I'm beginning to understand that bike buying and fettling never ends!
Steve
image uploading site 0 -
Keep an eye on the classifieds on this site. Rare to have a full groupset listed but you can usually pick up the individual components piecemeal. eg some 5700 shifters currently on offer
viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=13067618
The shifters are the most expensive part so if you can pick up some 2nd hand ones in good condition then your quids in. The 5700 front and rear derailleurs are relatively cheap to buy brand new (£15 and £22 respectively) so maybe not worth hassling about rooting out second hand examples. For the chainset you can mix and match so if you see a Sora or Tiagra compact at a good price then that would work fine with the 5700 components0 -
I have just built up a winter trainer/communter using the RT58 frameset for £150.
Just a few issues... overall quality of frame and forks - good vfm
No seat post clamp supplied.
No headset supplied
Surprised that a rear hanger was included.
Bottom bracket threading poor -- had to re tap it .. although the facing ok.
Size 56 frame and I 'm 6 1
I always use 130 stem
Build weight 7.7kg - with its single speed config
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Nice one, JGSI. And somehow the handlebar tape doesn't look as 'out of place' (?) as it should... in that colour.
The wheels... I've been looking at some Fulcrum Race 3's for my own bike - yours are? (same spoke pattern)
I might hand down the Bontragers off my Trek then - maybe not the best wheels, but better than what he has now, and he'll be pleased to be able to mount a 10 speed cassette, especially when they're free.
Arlowood, I've have been checking out prices for such items. Indeed, deraileurs aren't expensive at all, along with cassettes and chains. So maybe I will just search out second hand shifters.0 -
Wouldn't bother with changing to carbon post and bars as there are no benefits comfort or performance wise IME.
There are some good quality light weight alloy options at a lot better prices than carbon if he is after weight saving options.0 -
diamonddog wrote:Wouldn't bother with changing to carbon post and bars as there are no benefits comfort or performance wise IME.
There are some good quality light weight alloy options at a lot better prices than carbon if he is after weight saving options.
Yeah, had heard that carbon posts are meant to be more... 'compliant' !
I think he's after something a bit more modern/comfy/ergonomic (?) than his current bars - they look like something a plumber has put through a pipe bender!
These would suit (ish)...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... prod1334380 -
SME wrote:diamonddog wrote:Wouldn't bother with changing to carbon post and bars as there are no benefits comfort or performance wise IME.
There are some good quality light weight alloy options at a lot better prices than carbon if he is after weight saving options.
Yeah, had heard that carbon posts are meant to be more... 'compliant' !
I think he's after something a bit more modern/comfy/ergonomic (?) than his current bars - they look like something a plumber has put through a pipe bender!
These would suit (ish)...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... prod133438
I think a set of compact bars would suit him better and would also look better on the smaller frameset. I have used these on several bike builds and find them to be excellent
https://www.evanscycles.com/bontrager-r ... AnZQ8P8HAQ
but there are other compact offerings out there for more or lkess money.0 -
arlowood wrote:SME wrote:diamonddog wrote:Wouldn't bother with changing to carbon post and bars as there are no benefits comfort or performance wise IME.
There are some good quality light weight alloy options at a lot better prices than carbon if he is after weight saving options.
Yeah, had heard that carbon posts are meant to be more... 'compliant' !
I think he's after something a bit more modern/comfy/ergonomic (?) than his current bars - they look like something a plumber has put through a pipe bender!
These would suit (ish)...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cont ... prod133438
I think a set of compact bars would suit him better and would also look better on the smaller frameset. I have used these on several bike builds and find them to be excellent
https://www.evanscycles.com/bontrager-r ... AnZQ8P8HAQ
but there are other compact offerings out there for more or lkess money.
Ah, thanks for that. Apparently, when I said 'ergonomic' it was a referral to a type of bar, which I didn't know.... And compact is another. (near bottom of page)
http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/beg ... ebar-guide
So yes, compacts would be better. I've also found these
Planet X Strada Lite 7050 265gm £20.00
FSA Omega Black 296gm £24.00
Deda Zero100 RHM 248gm £44.00 if he wants to pay the price for a little lightness!
At the end of the day we'll check his measurements against what he has now, and guestimate the rest, I guess.0 -
The PX ones are good bars, one of my bikes came with them fitted, still have them somewhere.
Replaced them with some Ritchey WCS ones, drop and reach alters depending on bar widths.
As to the seat post I have a carbon one on the Canyon and an alloy one on the Pro Carbon and really don't feel or notice any difference compliance/comfort wise.0 -
arlowood wrote:Keep an eye on the classifieds on this site. Rare to have a full groupset listed but you can usually pick up the individual components piecemeal. eg some 5700 shifters currently on offer
viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=13067618
The shifters are the most expensive part so if you can pick up some 2nd hand ones in good condition then your quids in. The 5700 front and rear derailleurs are relatively cheap to buy brand new (£15 and £22 respectively) so maybe not worth hassling about rooting out second hand examples. For the chainset you can mix and match so if you see a Sora or Tiagra compact at a good price then that would work fine with the 5700 components
Manged to get ahold of some 4600Tiagra shifters new on eBay for £56 - happy since they're £99 at CRC. And a Tiagra RD (up to 30 teeth) I purchased for £19 which seemed a reasonable price.
My son's busy with his 4 kids in the holidays (read broke!), so decent wheels will have to wait. In the meantime I rebuilt his old rear wheel with a Tiagra hub to take a 10 speed cassette.
viewtopic.php?f=40012&t=12643811&p=19945477#p19945477
When he comes back from holiday it'll be another minor upgrade time!0
