Road Bike - Alloy Vs Carbon Frame

[Pot Odds]

My cycling evolution continues and 3 years after getting my 1st road bike I'm contemplating a 2nd.

Current ride is a 2012/13 Boardman Comp - Alloy frame, carbon fork and SRAM Apex. Runs a 10spd cassette with a 32 big ring which I really like as a climbing gear.

I've been looking around at entry level carbon road bikes (approx 1k) and wondered whether at this price point it made any sense ?

I've been eyeballing the Planet X Pro Carbon with either SRAM Rival or Force (in bare carbon - not a fan of the latest colour/graphic design):

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV22/planet-x...

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPFOR22/planet-x...

Just wondered whether anyone had one and whether they rated them or indeed had moved over from an alloy bike and how they'd found it. Sadly budget would max out at around the 1k mark and looking around at the known brands you seem to get less bang for your buck. This includes Boardman (have really liked my road comp) whose spec seems to have taken a slide on bikes around this price point - seems to be tiagra on their 1k carbon bike now.

Will need to be SRAM as I prefer double tap and to be able to get Rival at 799 or force at 1k seems a great deal. Im aware Planet X seem to fluctuate on deal pricing and wondered if the current prices were good or if there have been better deals on these bikes recently.

I currently ride 2 - 3 times a week typically 2x15/20 and then a 35/40 at the weekend with occasional 50-60's and an aim to crack a century this year. Comfort more important than out and out race geometry as I'm 40+ with a liking for chocolate and cider (nothing too bad). Quite like attacking (by my standards) hills and the odd race against myself on a few strava segments to gauge where i am at this year.

Other options at the price point with similar spec seem to include this RIbble:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalog/product/view...

Would be interested in any other suggestions/comments/advice people may have.

Cheers

Pot Odds

[Pot Odds]

matt-ITR said:

Dolan L'Etape is worth a look at - L'Etape Rival 22
I have one on test at the moment with a much more expensive groupset, but the frame is a peach.

I would recommend Eastway as well, but they don't have a SRAM build.

I really quite like the look of that Dolan ! hadn't heard of them before - how have you managed to get one on test ? Is it a manufacturers loan for review (i've had similar) or is there some sort of try before you buy as i'd be very interested in trying one out if it was possible.

Some really useful comments from all and some helpful steers at options I hadn't considered. I also quite like the Cannondale Supersix Evo 105 which seemed to receive +ve comments from a couple of you - shame they don't do a comparable SRAM build although I could always swap some bits over but that just seems a faff. Interestingly I couldn't see much difference between the 2014, 15 and 16 Super 6 and the 2015 was also down to 999 (& a better colour :big laugh ?

Are cannonades frames considered superior given that the 105 build is a couple of hundred pounds more expensive than the equivalent specced Planet X ?

I have a friend whose just got a Cannonade Synapse 105 so I might have to take that for a spin as well as another friends boardman pro carbon - given these bikes are both around my price points they should give me an idea how a carbon frame feels etc which may help me decide to stick or twist.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5762/CANNONDAL...

This also seemed like quite a nice deal to keep things on the SRAM track but might involve a little budget creep:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5475/CANNONDAL...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5776/CANNONDAL...

Seems to be a few people on other forums with storeys of cracked planet x frames but then there seems to be the same for other manufacturers too - any thoughts ?

Cheers

Pot Odds

[Pot Odds]

bakerstreet said:

Its not really a faff to swap groupset items over. In theory you can keep the same chainset and cassette and simply swap bthe front mech, rear mech and shifters. I think 105 brakes work with SRAM shifters.

The Cannondale is a better bike than the Pro Carbon. You are right that there have been very few changes from 2014 for the SuperSix and the Synapse. Synapse is a very different geometry compared to the SuperSix. Synapse is much more upright.

What I don't like about the SuperSix and the Pro Carbon is the lack of internal cable routing. I'm hoping that Cannondakle will sort this for the 2017 model year bikes.

You are also getti0nng very close to the release of the 2017 model year bikes. Expect them to break cover in late July and shops usually start to discount the 2016MY slow sellers (Usually less popular colours)

Keep an eye on the Evans site. They had a SuperSix Evo 105 for £1100 for quite a while.

Have you ridden 105? Quite different to SRAM.

I tried out 105 on the Boardman Carbon when I 1st got my comp and just preferred SRAM - I'm sure id manage shimano and get used to them but would just prefer SRAM.

Can really relate to the other posters comment about whether a new bike is actually necessary - i'm currently quicker than my carbon biked riding buddies as I've been putting in the miles - no substitute for the engine. I would be hoping for a more comfortable ride on carbon though - really think the answers going to be riding my buddies bikes and seeing how i get along and whether I think its worth it.

Thanks all for your input

[Pot Odds]

Nothing purchased as yet, things got busy but i'm still thinking about scratching the itch. I did start another thread as I really liked this when I saw it in the flesh and campag shifters seem to be an option as i don't have to use the brake lever:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/75116/Bi...

As an owner of 2 board mans already i also like this:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

Its pretty close to what i'd be looking for as its full sram force. Not sure on the colour till i see it in the flesh but i wouldn't not buy it just for that. Also the combination of british cycling discount and vouchers which i can get through work would bring it down to £1165 which seems a blistering deal for full sram force. I'm going to hopefully ride one later this week if they'll let me take one out as I want to see what my 40+ lightly bellied frame makes of race geometry !

Will also hopefully get a ride on the bianchi before the week is out but the value seems to be in the boardman. Both have the option for me to swap out to a medium cage and an 11/32 if i find i need to (Campag now have the potenza range which has an 11/32 option).