Help me decide which one?

[Marky Boy]

Apologies as I know this has been done to death. Anyway after reading various other threads on £1k I have come down to these 3 challengers.

Focus Cayo 150 Ltd

Comes in at £880 with discount. Looks like an awesome bargain to me and has pretty good reviews.

Planet X pro carbon rival

Comes in at £999. Looks pretty with it's carbon weave and is pretty light, but is it worth an extra £120 for Sram rival?

Cannondale CAAD8 105

Also £999. Cannondales experience in frame building. Though it seems expensive for an aluminium frame to me when compared with the above. Would I just be paying for the name?

All comments welcome. The bike will be used mostly for jaunts into the hills at weekends as I live in the Scottish Highlands. I'm erring towards the Focus, but just wanted some informed opinion before I commit.

Thanks

[Mr Will]

I have a Cannondale myself, but £999 seems steep for a CAAD8. If it was a CAAD10 then maybe, but as it is I'd cross it off the list.

Of the other two, I believe they are pretty much on a par, so I'd go for the Focus and save myself some cash.

[anonymous-user]

i'd probably go with the focus too, the ones i have seen have been well finihsed and look like a quality bike. Although the caad frames are great, only the caad 10 is really worth considering as an alternative to the equivilent priced carbon frames.

If the planet X were 105 i would probably say go with that but i'm not keen recommending sram to people who havent used it before.

i would be very surprised if the planet x and focus frames werent from the same factory however. both are manufacturers reknowned for undercutting the market and have good sourcing experience, a bit of research on the geometry might throw up a few surprises.

there is unlikely to be much difference in terms of fit but 10 or 20mm difference regarding length of stem can totally change a bike so be sure to get measurements like that too.

[Marky Boy]

That is pretty much how I was thinking about it. The Focus certainly looks a better deal to be honest as at that price I can get pedals and a new helmet and still be under £1k.

I thought it might just be worth checking with the PH masses first though as I have been away from cycling for a few years and I'm not too sure what is what.

[dubbs]

I've got SRAM red/force mix on my bike and I prefer it to Shimano - it is a different "feel" though, it's slightly more mechanical in feel but as a result seems to me to be a better gearchange - definitely don't get misses like I'd get with Shimano now and again.

As said though - get out on one and give it a go first to see if you like it as if it suits you're style then you'll be very glad you switched - I didn't think I'd ever move from Shimano and that it suited perfectly until trying SRAM.

[Mars]

My brother has a Cayo. It's very very light.

[jodypress]

I don't think you can go wrong with either Focus or the Planet-X. Both good bikes for the money and have good after sales support (Wiggle and Planet-X).

Is it worth checking if there is much of a difference in the geometry? I know you get a trial period with Wiggle, unsure about Planet-X.

[Marky Boy]

jodypress said:

I don't think you can go wrong with either Focus or the Planet-X. Both good bikes for the money and have good after sales support (Wiggle and Planet-X).

Is it worth checking if there is much of a difference in the geometry? I know you get a trial period with Wiggle, unsure about Planet-X.

This is a bit I'm a rather unsure about. I haven't ridden a bike in about 5 years, and before that it was all off road stuff. So truth be told I'm not entirely sure what will fit me correctly in terms of geometry. I live at the opposite side of the country, or known universe going by delivery charges up here, so I can't pop into to try the bikes out. So I think this is going to be very much a suck it and see exercise.

I'm only 32 and average height 5'11 so I would assume most bikes would fit reasonably well with a little tweaking. I've emailed Wiggle and they have said if I send them my height and inseam they will advise which size to get.

As you rightly mention though, at least with wiggle/Focus if I find it doesn't fit I can send it back.

Anyway I'm now pretty decided on getting the Focus. Hopefully I should have it ordered tomorrow before I go crazy looking at bikes on the web and confusing myself.

[Agoogy]

Running a similar thread a while back..I discounted the Focus because of it's finish...you may like it of course in which case there is little competition.
I then looked at Bottecchia Duello(on recommendation from TonyHetherington), Bianchi Via Nerone Tiagra from a mate and the Scott S40 I think it was...and The Caad8 because it's the default...

In the end it was the best shop that helped me...I got properly measured for body type size and then the bike manfacturer that fitted me was chosen...luckily that was Bianchi, which I can well imagie are trading on their name a bit at this level, it is a damn fine looking bike and once set up should be very comfy. The staff at AW in Reading know their stuff and aren't patronising...

[Marky Boy]

Agoogy said:

Running a similar thread a while back..I discounted the Focus because of it's finish...you may like it of course in which case there is little competition.
I then looked at Bottecchia Duello(on recommendation from TonyHetherington), Bianchi Via Nerone Tiagra from a mate and the Scott S40 I think it was...and The Caad8 because it's the default...

In the end it was the best shop that helped me...I got properly measured for body type size and then the bike manfacturer that fitted me was chosen...luckily that was Bianchi, which I can well imagie are trading on their name a bit at this level, it is a damn fine looking bike and once set up should be very comfy. The staff at AW in Reading know their stuff and aren't patronising...

I really really fancy the Bianchi Via Nirone also. Though I've read on other threads it seams to be over-priced for what it is.

Unfortunately there are no decent bike shops around here; so I'm going to have to order it online and take a chance.

[Agoogy]

Marky Boy said:

I really really fancy the Bianchi Via Nirone also. Though I've read on other threads it seams to be over-priced for what it is.

Unfortunately there are no decent bike shops around here; so I'm going to have to order it online and take a chance.

C2W scheme! all of a sudden it ain't over priced (yes I know other bikes would still represent better vfm when bought through the scheme...whatever! :hehe)
The Duello was a close 2nd I have to say, 105 kit, very pretty....but the shop was nowhere near as good... plus the owner seemed more the bike slaesman and not the bike enthusiast...


Shame, are you 100% about that? I totally underestimated the feel good factor of having a team of people who KNOW stuff, help me make a decision, and then fettle the bike to fit ME, the right shoes, the right pedals, crank length, stem...the works...

[jodypress]

Marky Boy said:

This is a bit I'm a rather unsure about. I haven't ridden a bike in about 5 years, and before that it was all off road stuff. So truth be told I'm not entirely sure what will fit me correctly in terms of geometry. I live at the opposite side of the country, or known universe going by delivery charges up here, so I can't pop into to try the bikes out. So I think this is going to be very much a suck it and see exercise.

I'm only 32 and average height 5'11 so I would assume most bikes would fit reasonably well with a little tweaking. I've emailed Wiggle and they have said if I send them my height and inseam they will advise which size to get.

As you rightly mention though, at least with wiggle/Focus if I find it doesn't fit I can send it back.

Anyway I'm now pretty decided on getting the Focus. Hopefully I should have it ordered tomorrow before I go crazy looking at bikes on the web and confusing myself.

Best money you can spend is on getting a professional bike fit done. I know Specialized have centres around the UK. I went to Mosquito bikes in London and then went to Cyclefit (really know their stuff)

[dubbs]

Agreed although I preferred velomotion who use a retul system and actually fit you to your bike and test you riding at speed on it rather than a rig.

[Fluffsri]

I looked at the Focus and the Planet X and was nearly having the Planet X untill I found this.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

Bought 1 and love it, rides really well and is roughly 7.5kgs. I selected the SRAM Rival with a compact chainset. Love the way the SRAM set up shifts

[Agoogy]

Fluffsri said:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

thats a great shout!

[TallTony]

I'd avoid the CAAD8, its a very average looking and riding frame. I went for the CAAD9 which is miles better but I know that its not available at this price point.

[jodypress]

dubbs said:

Agreed although I preferred velomotion who use a retul system and actually fit you to your bike and test you riding at speed on it rather than a rig.

That looks pretty cool from the video in Colorado: http://www.velomotion.co.uk/index.htm

But checking the studio in Milton Keynes I'm not 100% sure they also film you riding out on the road too.

The rig setup is pretty good too. Being based in London, it's a bit of a trek for me and I can wholeheartedly recommend Cyclefit. Phil and Julian are great guys and really know their stuff. Love going in their and drooling over the bikes in their shop. All seriously top end stuff and they're also a stockist of Lightweight wheels now...

[Jimbo.]

TallTony said:

I'd avoid the CAAD8, its a very average looking and riding frame. I went for the CAAD9 which is miles better but I know that its not available at this price point.

The CAAD9 is no longer available: it was dropped when the CAAD10 was introduced, and production shifted from the USA to the Far East.

[yellowjack]

Agoogy said:

Fluffsri said:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

thats a great shout!

It is a great shout, but just a couple of minutes tweaking the spec could easily have the price above £1,830. Ouch!

[yellowjack]

Marky Boy said:

Apologies as I know this has been done to death. Anyway after reading various other threads on £1k I have come down to these 3 challengers.

Focus Cayo 150 Ltd

Comes in at £880 with discount. Looks like an awesome bargain to me and has pretty good reviews.

Planet X pro carbon rival

Comes in at £999. Looks pretty with it's carbon weave and is pretty light, but is it worth an extra £120 for Sram rival?

Cannondale CAAD8 105

Also £999. Cannondales experience in frame building. Though it seems expensive for an aluminium frame to me when compared with the above. Would I just be paying for the name?

All comments welcome. The bike will be used mostly for jaunts into the hills at weekends as I live in the Scottish Highlands. I'm erring towards the Focus, but just wanted some informed opinion before I commit.

Thanks

It'd be the Cayo for me if 'twer my money to spend, although I have to say, having seen one at work, the Planet X looks nice (naked carbon fibre for the best look). A neighbour recently bought a CAAD 8, toward the lower end of the groupset range (a 2010 Sora in red/black), and whilst there's nothing wrong with the bike, the finish isn't very inspiring to look at or live with, and although it's true to say that looks aren't everything, whatever bike you buy, you will have to look at it every time you get on it. Fit and function are important, but you have to like the way a bike looks - if you don't, you'll not be inspired to ride it as much. Just my opinion, FWIW.

Edited by yellowjack on Friday 22 July 23:44