Planet X

Author
Discussion

Fluffsri

3,161 posts

195 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
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Barchettaman said:
Bit of an absence of input from OP regarding exactly what is lacking in his current bike, and what he's looking to upgrade to, and why.

I'd get a CX bike with two wheelsets, but i am a bit of a broken record on that subject.
I'll ssecond this lol. Std wheels for road and a beefier set for off road for me, I treat it like another mtb TBH, jumps an all hehebe

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
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Daveyraveygravey said:
A friend of mine is currently shopping for a new road bike. He is thinking Canyon SL (I think it is) or Cannondale Synapse 2014 for around £1500. I think the Cannondale has some 105 parts, but some other Tiagra/own brand, where as the Canyon is all 105. We were at the London Bike Show on Sunday, he had a little ride on a couple of Canyons but the Cannondale wasn't available to try. It was a billiard smooth 500m loop so you couldn't tell a lot from the ride. The Cannondale guy implied they were building them frantically as the reviews have been so good sales have gone through the roof.

We looked at similar priced Giants, Treks etc. And then we got to Planet X (and also Ribble) and on paper you're getting a better bike for less money with either. It isn't £50-£70 less, it's around £500, so I know I'd find it hard to not go for either of those. I would want at least a 10 min test ride to compare if possible, but that can be hard to arrange.

I was also impressed with the Kinesis bikes on show, but they don't have a carbon and my mate is convinced he wants carbon.

As to the more relaxed set up v more racey, I wouldn't get too hung up on it. The differences aren't enormous (bit like frame sizes) and there are plenty of adjustments you can make to alter the characteristics of a bike.
The latest Synapse doesn't have 105 brakes and having run a Tiagra brakes and recently moved to SRAM Force, I'd definitely want to pay an extra £70 for the 105 brakes. Ultegras are really good too. The Tiagra brakes really aren't that great.

Back to the OP. PX is good if you can easily get to a local shop (There is only three!), but I'm not sure what you do if you live far away and something goes wrong. At least if you go for something like Caad, you will be able to take it back to a shop with relative ease.

Justin S

3,637 posts

260 months

Tuesday 18th February 2014
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My experience of PX for aftersales is not particulary good. Waiting 10 days for a refund on some faulty wheels is not the best. I believe they accept they have issues with volume of sales etc, but that doesn't help a consumer. Remember that all bearings are consumables, even if only ridden 10 times. They also had no idea where I could get replacements. Merlin and CR still do it better.

Dixie

732 posts

234 months

Wednesday 19th February 2014
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Justin S said:
My experience of PX for aftersales is not particulary good. Waiting 10 days for a refund on some faulty wheels is not the best. I believe they accept they have issues with volume of sales etc, but that doesn't help a consumer. Remember that all bearings are consumables, even if only ridden 10 times. They also had no idea where I could get replacements. Merlin and CR still do it better.
That's sounds a bit rubbish.

I had a faulty tubular tyre from them. The valve came away from the tyre body. They happily replaced it like for like within a week.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th February 2014
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Justin S said:
My experience of PX for aftersales is not particulary good. Waiting 10 days for a refund on some faulty wheels is not the best. I believe they accept they have issues with volume of sales etc, but that doesn't help a consumer. Remember that all bearings are consumables, even if only ridden 10 times. They also had no idea where I could get replacements. Merlin and CR still do it better.
I purchased my RS80s from PX as they were the cheapest at the time and their service was a bit shoddy. The fact that they offered me free delivery seemed to be a good excuse for them to take over two weeks to ship them and it took several phone calls along with lots of incorrect info on their part.

The Planet X shop in Hertfordshire doesn't offer an awful lot. Despite having a workshop, they really aren't keen on basic things like putting different tyres on for you. I've just about managed to get to get them to put alternative bar tape on my CX bike. Hes a very friendly guy though and certainly knows his stuff.

GaryGlitter

1,924 posts

182 months

Wednesday 19th February 2014
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To be fair PX only have shops in Rotherham and Barnsley, the presence in St Albans is Triathlon Zone who are a disty of PX bikes and not PX themselves.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 19th February 2014
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GaryGlitter said:
To be fair PX only have shops in Rotherham and Barnsley, the presence in St Albans is Triathlon Zone who are a disty of PX bikes and not PX themselves.
PX is usually all he has in the shop and some of the bikes there are clients own bikes waiting to be collected. I think the shop has the potential to do much more, especially if they offered bikes for test rides.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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I thought I'd add a little update of my current experience with Planet X. I ordered a CLX in Medium (Flanders) at the start of Feb. I was told a couple of days after that the Frames were not in stock, but they were en route from the far east. I was fine with that. I was then told that my bike would be built on the 21st, this then changed to the 24th.

Another update then said the 28th and this has changed to the 6th and this is only the frames arriving at Planet X and they have just told the shop that it could be another three weeks after that.

The shop have been quite good and actually offered me a full refund, which I'm considering. The Rose looks very tempting as an alternative, but I'd still have to wait two weeks for that. Might post a separate thread on that.

I have co-ordinated shipping from the far east. I know you can pin down delivery dates, even if its shipment by sea. Planet X seem to be ducking this issue.

I was probably ok, if I knew I was going to get the bike on something like the 10th, but they are guessing April, which is a joke for a bike that is £1000!

Rant over. I like the idea of a carbon frame, but the weight difference is tiny between the frame of the Rose and the CLX.

Decisions decisions.

jason90

217 posts

203 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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When I ordered mine I was given a build date and they stuck to it. The only issue I had was trying to get the correct awb no. out of them

I was under the impression that it would be dispatched by TNT , but it turns out they use TNT Post for intl shipments,I had to collect it from the local post office. Minor problem in the grand scheme of things, but I think it could be clearer on their website

It still got here within the quoted shipping time, I have subsequently ordered some other bits and pieces from them, knowing how it will be shipped, and knowing it takes them 2 days to reply to emails. Quickly worked out phoning isn't an option, I always end up in a queue of 4 people for some reason. The 1st time I called I was on hold for nearly 20 mins, with the cost of intl phone calls their cheap prices are not so cheap

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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jason90 said:
When I ordered mine I was given a build date and they stuck to it. The only issue I had was trying to get the correct awb no. out of them

I was under the impression that it would be dispatched by TNT , but it turns out they use TNT Post for intl shipments,I had to collect it from the local post office. Minor problem in the grand scheme of things, but I think it could be clearer on their website

It still got here within the quoted shipping time, I have subsequently ordered some other bits and pieces from them, knowing how it will be shipped, and knowing it takes them 2 days to reply to emails. Quickly worked out phoning isn't an option, I always end up in a queue of 4 people for some reason. The 1st time I called I was on hold for nearly 20 mins, with the cost of intl phone calls their cheap prices are not so cheap
Yes. I'm nearly always third on the que for phone calls. I couldn't get through to anyone useful this afternoon, so I was told to call their customer service manager tomorrow morning after 10am. Getting pretty fed up with it all now frown


Justin S

3,637 posts

260 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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I must admit to liking the guitar playing on hold. On another note, I ordered a new saddle on Wednesday and it turned up Friday. It either works well with them or falls flat on its face.

olliethehut

135 posts

172 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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I've had my Pro Carbon for around 6 months and I love it, its softer than my previous Alu Lemond, strava reckons its quicker, and its had no issues whatsoever. Was delivered on time despite being on B2W, has only needed the front shifter adjusted and standard lubing in the time I've owned it.
Love it, for the money its an awesome bike. Only complaint was a month after I took delivery they dropped the price of the Ultrega model down to £999.
Proud dad pic!


Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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I ordered my Planet X Pro Carbon Shimano Ultegra Road Bike last month. I was given a build date of 9 days later, which was spot on. It was delivered the next day.
I'm going for a bike fit in Sheffield with a mate of mine next Saturday.

They aren't quick to answer the phones, but are very helpful when they do.

Dan_1981

17,351 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Would anyone like to pass comment on either of these two Planet X sold bikes?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBGUCAR/guerciotti-ca...

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOTRTIA/holdsworth-...


yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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The first one seems like a bargain. If you are in the market for a small frame in red. It appears to be the very last one they have in stock.

The Holdsworth isn't floating my boat, aesthetically, but seems reasonable value putting you on a full carbon frame/forks. It weighs about the same as my aluminium Merida with full Ultegra, but there's plenty of room for upgrading wheels and finishing kit as time goes by, which would bring about a significant weight saving.

Ultimately, I'd not be massively keen to buy either, without seeing the bikes 'in the flesh' and having some sort of fitting/trial ride though.

Dan_1981

17,351 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Ahhh.... hadn't noticed the lack of sizes available to the first one. That'll explain it.

Planet X are literally down the road from me so fitting and a test are no problem.

I quite like the appearance of the 2nd one.....

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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I prefer the looks of the Guerciotti, and to be honest a small might be right for me. I need to get a solicitor to sort me out some cash from the Insurance Co of the driver who wiped me out last month before I can go buying a new bike, though.

The top tube of the Guerciotti is slightly more toward horizontal compared with the Holdsworth, the paint colour/design looks nicer, and it's 105 kit, which is about as 'low' down Shimano's range as I want to be. Shame I don't have the funds to replace right now, although it'll be at least another 3-4 weeks before I'm riding at all, and maybe a month or two on top of that before I can do a road bike justice again, so I'm in no real rush.

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Maracus said:
I ordered my Planet X Pro Carbon Shimano Ultegra Road Bike last month. I was given a build date of 9 days later, which was spot on. It was delivered the next day.
I'm going for a bike fit in Sheffield with a mate of mine next Saturday.

They aren't quick to answer the phones, but are very helpful when they do.
Still no build date for me yet. I will give them a bell and see what's going on. They seem to have admitted their email system is up the spout

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Vocal Minority said:
Still no build date for me yet. I will give them a bell and see what's going on. They seem to have admitted their email system is up the spout
That excuse is next to 'cheque in the post'. Hacks me off when suppliers resort to lame excuses like that.

Despite my initial grumblings, my PX CX bike has done 1600 trouble free miles now and I'm pretty happy with it. The 44cm bars were a mistake, but I'm sure I will eventually get round to ordering an alternative set in a smaller side.

I came pretty close to ordering a Planet X N2A frame last night, but I got distracted by DIY frown

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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WinstonWolf said:
My rear derailleur was a bit fussy for a while, the cable seemed to seize in the internal cable guide. Took a fair amount of grease to get it running smoothly again smash
Well it took more than that in the end, it went back for a new frame under warranty as the cable to the rear mech all but seized completely in the frame.

Seems they've had a redesign on the RT-58 and the new one is a better design.