SpeedX - Smart Aero Road Bike

[louiebaby]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/sp...

It doesn't appear to be live on Kickstarter yet, but the details in the article sound interesting.

I can't do a full digest of the specs, as my work network is suspicious of the SpeedX website, but at first glance, £1800 for an Ultegra Di bike sounds like pretty good value.

Even the £1000 bike based on 105 gear sounds pretty reasonable, depending on wheel quality, etc.

I'm not convinced about the Smart Tech bit, although it might be pretty cool, it could be gimmicky, unless it includes a power meter in the bike too. (Doubtful.)

Whilst I'm sure it hasn't benefited from the same amount of development, it is about half the price of a Canyon Aeroad...

Nevertheless, I'll be keeping an eye on it. Anyone else got any insight?

[TwistingMyMelon]

My marketing bullst detectors are getting tingled with this one

They seem like a well oiled marketing machine that are trying to build initial hype, with quite a bit of guff, just noticed they paid for that kindly written news feature

Looks a good idea, but the pessimist in me thinks they are underpricing the price to gather interest and when/if it launches the price will be a lot more, making it inline with what is already available.

Cyclists are often easily pleased bunch and with the spring approaching i've seen a few fair weather all the gear no idea riders start getting themselves in a frenzy over this .

[loudlashadjuster]

That CW link's already been pulled. Very suspicious.

[anonymous-user]

I can see it on kickstarter and it is already over its $50k target ($84203 from 50 backers at time of writing)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/speedx/speedx...

[JustinF]

spec is impossible for the price, it's a scam.

[anonymous-user]

Using componenents from Miracle, Deng Fu and all our other well documented Chinese carbon outlets, the spec is probably acheiveable (just!) given the bulk discounts that the aforementioned offer on framesets, wheels and finishing kit.

The "smart" element is doomed to fail though, given how many people have issues with Garmin 800s etc and Garmin apparently being the market leader for cycle GPS computers, when the SpeedX system does fail, you are left with a pretty nondescript bike that no longer has its USP.

[SixPotBelly]

If that computer does everything that's promised, reliably, they should forget the bikes and just market that!

[louiebaby]

The computer description is very cleverly written.

It mentions Strava Pro, but in such a way that makes it sound like it works with it.

But I don't think it does.

That said, I kind of wish I'd managed to get in on the 20 Leopard Pros at $1899. (Yes, USD.) I think that was probably a pretty good deal for a Carbon frame with lifetime guarantee and Ultegra Di2.

I realise the lifetime guarantee is only for the life of the company, should it fail.

[esuuv]

You can just get the computer................

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/speedforce-the-...

With that being $150, with bulk discounts and chinese suppliers I can see how its done, you can pretty much do it yourself

£200 for cheap chinese wheels (dengfu or similar)
£450 for a cheap chinese aero frame / bars (dengfu or similar)
£850 for FULL di2 (this is with the brakes etc so could be reduced) - Merlin
£110 for the computer - Indegogo
£100 for all the other bits and pieces (saddle, bar tape, tyres, tubes)

£1710

[Berz]

esuuv said:

You can just get the computer................

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/speedforce-the-...

That looks like a good piece of kit. There were 7 (now 6 ) cheap ones left via a gift card deal at $109; if that truly includes GPS, decent nav, speed and cadence sensors it is potentially a mahoosive bargain.

[JustinF]

Berz said:

That looks like a good piece of kit. There were 7 (now 6 ) cheap ones left via a gift card deal at $109; if that truly includes GPS, decent nav, speed and cadence sensors it is potentially a mahoosive bargain.

isn't the gps via BT to phone?

[louiebaby]

JustinF said:

isn't the gps via BT to phone?

For on the fly routing, yes. For pre-loaded routes, no. (I think.)

[bananarob]

louiebaby said:

The computer description is very cleverly written.

It mentions Strava Pro, but in such a way that makes it sound like it works with it.

But I don't think it does.

That said, I kind of wish I'd managed to get in on the 20 Leopard Pros at $1899. (Yes, USD.) I think that was probably a pretty good deal for a Carbon frame with lifetime guarantee and Ultegra Di2.

I realise the lifetime guarantee is only for the life of the company, should it fail.

It failed. Not before most got their bikes though.