Bowman Palace. Hype or good

Spooked
Spooked Posts: 90
edited April 2019 in Road buying advice
Hi guys,

Are these any good? Or would a CAAD12 be a better frame? Just wondering if it’s hype from magazines or these are truly good.

Cheers,

Comments

  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    generally recognised as good as a CAAD and have adopted by at least one club as their club bike.

    loads of them about so that many people can't be wring.

    imo they are cooler as well - a palace with force and carbonzones would be a perfect crit bike.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • rodigan
    rodigan Posts: 5
    I built one up last year with mechanical Ultegra and a set of Hunt Aero Wide wheels, it's 7.2kg. Absolutely love it.

    I have an Emonda built up with Dura-ace Di2 as well and although they're very different bikes I can't decide which I prefer so they're both in heavy rotation. Personally, I'd rather have the Palace than a CAAD but they are both solid frames so you can't go wrong with either.
  • aberdeen_lune
    aberdeen_lune Posts: 547
    I’ve been considering these two bikes as well. The CAAD12 takes 28mm tyres the Bowman 25s. So I’m going for the CAAD12 as I’m using it as a commuter/winter bike. May use it for a Crit as well if I get it built on time.
  • Midlands Grimpeur
    Midlands Grimpeur Posts: 340
    Built up a CAAD12 a few months back as a new training bike. Have to say I am very impressed with it, in terms of weight, stiffness, handling etc. I can't really find much to fault it on, hard to distinguish between the CAAD and a high end carbon frame to be honest. I think it is getting replaced with the CAAD13 this year so anyone who is after a 12 better hurry up I guess :)
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    generally recognised as good as a CAAD and have adopted by at least one club as their club bike.

    loads of them about so that many people can't be wring.

    imo they are cooler as well - a palace with force and carbonzones would be a perfect crit bike.

    2 friends had them and once you realise their minor quality issues, they are fine bikes designed for crit racing. both have still got them.

    the issue with both was around the rear wheel/tyre interface. bigger tyres (conti's) often fouled... though one was a big unit who could break wheels quite frequently.
  • gary_sparrow
    gary_sparrow Posts: 181
    The bowman looks a million dollars but tyre clearance can be an issue for sure . Caad12 is a fine bike but the caad13 is coming out this year , which could also mean caad12s prices will drop . Personally I’d find the bowman a better choice because I’m short legged and a long body . Caads are very tall bikes if you’re used to a sloping top tube .
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    I have CAAD's, but a bowman is probably more distinctive and maybe a bit more special.
    Not sure if it's any better though.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    so long as its not worse or less cool its still a winner.

    and its deffo neither of them and, as you say, a bit more special (and we are CAAD lovers here).


    buy it. buy it. buy it. buy it now. buy it. buy it. buy it now.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    lets face it, its pretty close. not sure I could choose, except I do like the option of 28mm tyres. they are pretty much the best 2.

    no ones talked about the allez sprint. is that close to these?
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    Anyone with experience of both the Emonda ALR and CAAD12 able to comment?
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    allez are meant to be pretty good but not as good as certainly not as cool.

    then again, if you are talking about a red hook one they are incredibly lovely and sooooooooo cool but double the price of a Bowman
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    the MFs personally doesn't think it makes a difference whether they take 28s or not as they aren't they kind of bike - the Bowman in partic.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    I'm pre ordering the Blue/orange frameset later.
    image001.png

    It will have mechanical Dura Ace on it
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    scrummy frame and perfect groupset for it. het.

    you better post pics.

    what wheels/finishing kit?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    It'll have FFWDs F6R, they might clash a bit but I cant go splurgin on another rim wheelset.
    5 years and it all be disks everywhere.. and tubeless.
    Delivery not till June.. then 2 weeks holiday to build it.
    Bars with 3 T and rest of the bits FiZik. (Dura Ace 9100 groupset).
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    60s?

    can't wait to see this build.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • steveatbath
    steveatbath Posts: 49
    What do people think of Zipp aero bars on a frame like this, yay or nay? I’m undecided based on the shape of the frame which is reasonably traditional at the from end
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    its traditional from every end so no. the frame is round so round bars.

    end of.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • steveatbath
    steveatbath Posts: 49
    That’s kind of where I got to!
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    good point well presented :)
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    I struggling with he club bike post. Wtf.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    I struggling with he club bike post. Wtf.

    ?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.

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