Planet X XLA

geomickb

Ooops I accidentally ordered a Planet X XLA yesterday, I could not resist their evil sales.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/cyc ... -bikes/xla

I only normally ride a mountain bike but fancy riding a bit more mixed.

Was this the right decision?

Will I like this bike!

Might look at some CX races when the season starts.

imposter2.0

Great bike - especially in Belgian blue. And yes, it's perfect for club-level CX..

Matthewfalle

yes and top choice - I have a Belgian blue one with Rival 10 speed and it fits the bill exactly. i use it for instructing mtb & leading rides. Built from bits I had kcking around, i think the whole thing cost like £350 all in, see.

i'll post a pic later

#topchoice
#thinkofOxo
#discountcode2

Matthewfalle

This is what they look like when built with bits from the your garage - Rival 10 speed (carbon shifters), Shimano wheels (£30), TRP discs that are average and I wouldn't really recommend them (lack of stopping power, no feel), some Racing Ralphs that I got in the sales at Planet X that do the job, SLK carbon seat post (sales - CRC), carbon stem (sales - Tredz), carbon bars (sales - Planet X), carbon SLR saddle that I got for nothing. Shimano SPD that are about a billion years old but still work perfectly because they always will.

FSA compact chainset (50/34), something like a 12-28 on the back because I got it cheap with a KMC chain.

I think the whole bike cost around £500. Probably less tbh.

Its on its third year on mtb trail leading and instructing - absolutely perfect for the job. Still immaculate even though I tend to fall into a lot of hedges.

They aren't they lightest things out there but at £500 its a perfect workhorse and when it gets nicked or I smash it up I'll just shrug and order another frameset.

The Belgian blue is lovely though - really nice shade, looks flipping lovely. Really nice.

The build was incredibly simple as its all external cabled - none of this internal cabled rubbish.

[img][/img]#don'tbeaclubbie

#belgium
#shiney

Matthewfalle

[img][/img]Planet x 2

Matthewfalle

[img][/img]Planet x 1

veronese68

Matthewfalle wrote:

It’s too clean, you need to get mucky.

veronese68

Matthewfalle wrote:

Matthewfalle

Top work V-Man - thank you.

There should be a third picture in there as well.

That was post last ride clean - bizarrely I didn't take the chain off and wash it in grandma's solution of white spirit and jizz or buy Muc Off at £10 a cup or whatever the local clubbie said I neeeeeeeeed to do because that's what Team Sky do - Jizer, car shampoo and hot water with a spray of GT85 afterwards. Seems to look alright.

#cleanliness

geomickb

Oh God what have I got myself into?

That's the colour I ordered. Now I've entered the Hope Pre Peaks and I keep getting aroused when I think about the 3 Peaks......

Matthewfalle

geomickb wrote:

Oh God what have I got myself into?.

is that good or bad?

you've got yourself into a world of having a laugh, getting muddy, falling off and not hurting yourself, having another laugh and drinking beer.

make sure you post pictures here of the build

#soundsgoodtome

veronese68

Matthewfalle wrote:

This is what they look like when built with bits from the your garage

#belgium
#shiney

Fixed the other picture

Matthewfalle

Veronese68 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

This is what they look like when built with bits from the your garage

#belgium
#shiney

Fixed the other picture

you are the best. top work!

grazie, grazie, grazie!

#veroneserocks

Matthewfalle

#slammed

geomickb

It's arrived!



https://flic.kr/p/2g4NrkS

The 1 x drivetrain seems good.

At the moment I hate the bike, feels really uncomfortable (wrist pain) after riding a MTB for years .

I'm going for a fit at the weekend and am hoping this will help.

What are some good tyre options? Should I go tubeless?

Mick

Matthewfalle

ooooh - looking very cool. potential there.

I would say that the wrist pain is deffo fit - your bars are angled up turning your wrists in an unnatural direct.

first thing I would do is flip that stem to make the position flatter. also a lot of spacers there forcing your upper body upwards.

is that also the correct seat height? not much showing, so the frame may be too big which is also causing stretch & reach issues.

re tyres: personally I'm running Racing Ralphs with tubes - before then were some cheapie things from the loft - and i've had one puncture in 3 years, so personally don't feel any need at all for tubeless - far too much hassle.

but thats me - someone will come along in a minute and extoll tubeless virtues.

#belgian

geomickb

I flipped the stem to lift the bars a little, I have rotated them down since this pic. The hoods are now level.

Yes, that is the correct seat height (ish). I agree I am a bit concerned that the frame is too big. It is a medium and I am 176cm. Size guide says that medium is for 175-180cm.

I'm booked in for a fit on Saturday morning, so I've given up worrying/tinkering. I have a lot of faith in the guy that is doing it so will soon find out if it's too big or just needs tweaking.

If it's too big I will just have to see if I can swap it or get a small frame and ebay the medium.

I will keep you updated.

Cheers,

Mick

Matthewfalle

coolio.

px should be ok with a swap to a small - give them a quick bell to find out.

keep us updated though

#sizematters

geomickb

What pump should I carry?

My MTB one, or my road one?

I think the MTB one is for bigger volumes but the road one is for higher pressure?

What pressure should I run (currently has tubes in) ?

Cheers,

Mick

Matthewfalle

i only carry co2 things and a presta to scraeder adaptor so can't help there - sorry.

what are ypu doing with it? mine is used for cal paths, singletrack, light off road so i run mine qt about 60psi - c/x racing will be different.

#iamuselesstoyou.apologiez

geomickb

Mainly road and disused railway line at the moment.

I'm hoping that when I get used to it, I will use it a bit more off-road.

I have entered the Hope Pre Peaks (https://hopeprepeaks.com/). I was hoping to use it for this but if I don't get more confident/comfortable I will be doing it on my hardtail.

I reckon at the moment I will try quite high pressures but drop them when I start going off-road more (I think it will also need different tyres at this point).

Cheers,

Mick

Matthewfalle

yeah - chuck in high pressures - max dependant on what it says on your tires.

if you're stcking to the pavement & tracks it will be fine.

5psi below max stated and shooooooooom along

#highpressure
#shooooooooooooom

geomickb

Hey,

Had my fit done on Saturday and first impressions are that it is much better. I managed 15 hilly miles yesterday without wrist pain.

It is possible it is slightly too long for me, I currently have my old MTB stem on which is only 80mm. Just ordered a 90mm (which was suggested at the fit) from Wiggle and will fit that soon. It was also suggested that I swap for some bars with a shorter reach but I will leave that for a bit and see how things go.

Not sure what I think about the BB7's spent a couple of hours trying to stop them rubbing ( only slightly) and it doesn't seem possible.

Bit happier with it now.

Cheers,

Mick

Alejandrosdog

nice clean patio and well tended garden MF, you must all have been working on that.

Nicely slammed stem

WTF is all that cable outer doing along the top tube????

imposter2.0

Alejandrosdog wrote:

WTF is all that cable outer doing along the top tube????

XLA needs to run a full length cable outer for the rear brake if you are using cable discs. No cable bosses as the guide needs to be able to accept a hydraulic hose as well.

tgotb

geomickb wrote:

What pressure should I run (currently has tubes in) ?

Racing - start at ~30psi and go from there. Lower if it gets muddy; in one very extreme case (World Cup course, the day after the pro races, and on tubs) I rode at 14psi; I'm 85-90kg.

Gravel, farm tracks etc, maybe 40-50ish? You want the tyres to provide some suspension. Harder tyres protect you from pinch flats, but too hard and your teeth will get rattled out and you'll go slowly; get it right, and you'll feel like you're gliding over the rough stuff.

geomickb

Tried it on slightly trickier terrain and really enjoyed it:

https://ibb.co/8NTYG4G

I was pretty amazed with how well it climbed off road and got lots of funny looks from MTBers (i also had some practice carrying it down the descent!).

I'm thinking I should swap the tyres for something a bit more suitable for off-road, maybe Landcruisers or WTB Cross Bods. If I want to do the 3pcx one day I guess I may as well get used to 35mm.

I am debating going tubeless, can I do this with my wheels? :

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPGIROEQ/gipiemme-roccia-equipe-700c-29-inch-disc-wheelset

Cheers,

Mick

Matthewfalle

top work! yeah, they climb well and I'm yet to find anything an mtb can do that it can't and its cheap enough that if i smash it up i don't care.

no idea re the wheels/tyres - sorry. maybe best to post in Road General or call P/X.

#bikerocks

tgotb

Matthewfalle wrote:

I'm yet to find anything an mtb can do that it can't

Downhill on big roots/rocks/steps is definitely more forgiving on an MTB! But yes, a CX bike will do a lot more than most people would imagine.

Matthewfalle

TGOTB wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

I'm yet to find anything an mtb can do that it can't

Downhill on big roots/rocks/steps is definitely more forgiving on an MTB! But yes, a CX bike will do a lot more than most people would imagine.

more forgiving - agree completely - but sometimes its more fun to do something that the bike wasn't totally designed for!

#aaarrrrggghhhhthisisgonnahurt

geomickb

I don't think my wheels will go tubeless so have ordered a set of Land Cruisers.

They are only £10 each and seem to be favored by Three Peaks riders.

Cheers,

Mick