Planet X Pro Carbon vs Boardman Road Team Carbon
Discussion
Just looking for any experiences of either of these bikes for regular use.
I have been commuting on my mountain bike with slicks for a long time, only 5 miles each way in central london. I think the time has come to get a road bike though, to enjoy on rides outside london but also probably to commute on in the end. Max spend £1000. I don't really know anything about road bikes so have just been doing research online. I didn't care about carbon vs alu but then I stumbled across these two bikes, and heard that carbon soaks up the bumps a bit better so might suit commuting more.
The Boardman Road Team Carbon seems to get almost unanimously excellent reviews. At £999 it is top whack and no sign of any discount.
The Planet X also seems to get good reviews and currently has £200 off so is £799 - http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLP105/planet-x-p...
Alternatively, I would be happy to get an alu bike around the same price.
Any thoughts appreciated.
I have been commuting on my mountain bike with slicks for a long time, only 5 miles each way in central london. I think the time has come to get a road bike though, to enjoy on rides outside london but also probably to commute on in the end. Max spend £1000. I don't really know anything about road bikes so have just been doing research online. I didn't care about carbon vs alu but then I stumbled across these two bikes, and heard that carbon soaks up the bumps a bit better so might suit commuting more.
The Boardman Road Team Carbon seems to get almost unanimously excellent reviews. At £999 it is top whack and no sign of any discount.
The Planet X also seems to get good reviews and currently has £200 off so is £799 - http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLP105/planet-x-p...
Alternatively, I would be happy to get an alu bike around the same price.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Frame material is of secondary consideration to the tyre size that you can run.
For commuting I won't go with anything narrower than 28mm - I find that the combined weight of steel bike, fat me and panniers/music scores/rack etc put such a heavy demand on the wheelset that I want as much air as possible round the wheel. The current 622/30 Conti Sport Contact tyres on my commuter rig roll nicely and are pretty puncture resistant.
I personally think you're looking at this the wrong way round. You want a really good commuter bike that can double up for weekend road/group rides. The PX London Road looks a good product, as do the Pinnacle road disc bikes from Evans.
Unfortunately no commuter drop bar bikes in the UK seem to come with dynamo hub as standard, which is a pity as even the cheapest modern dynamo powered LED bike lights are bloody excellent. Wire and forget.
You'll have no hassles with mudguard clearance when running wider tyres on a CX style bike either.
Best of luck whatever you get! Hope this slightly rambling post was useful.
For commuting I won't go with anything narrower than 28mm - I find that the combined weight of steel bike, fat me and panniers/music scores/rack etc put such a heavy demand on the wheelset that I want as much air as possible round the wheel. The current 622/30 Conti Sport Contact tyres on my commuter rig roll nicely and are pretty puncture resistant.
I personally think you're looking at this the wrong way round. You want a really good commuter bike that can double up for weekend road/group rides. The PX London Road looks a good product, as do the Pinnacle road disc bikes from Evans.
Unfortunately no commuter drop bar bikes in the UK seem to come with dynamo hub as standard, which is a pity as even the cheapest modern dynamo powered LED bike lights are bloody excellent. Wire and forget.
You'll have no hassles with mudguard clearance when running wider tyres on a CX style bike either.
Best of luck whatever you get! Hope this slightly rambling post was useful.
I have the Boardman and have owned it for a year now with about 2,500 miles done so far. I haven't commuted on it as I work 5 mins from my house but I have found the ride comfortable, even after 5-6 hour rides. I have recently changed tyres to conti 4season's in view of the colder season but other than that, I have had a few rear spokes snap and a replacement BB. If I needed to then I would happily commute on it. I know a few people that chose the Planet X but again, no commuters but also no bad words said about it.
I think if I had the choice again, I would save the £'s and get the 105 Planet X set up and use the savings for the workshop spares and tyres etc.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
I think if I had the choice again, I would save the £'s and get the 105 Planet X set up and use the savings for the workshop spares and tyres etc.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
The most important bit is to have mounts for mudguards. I went out on my carbon bike earlier for the first time in ages, and it turns out that melted snow is very cold and very wet when it's flung at your derrière at 35kph, and therefore far from ideal for commuting to the office.
I'm not sure if either bike you're looking at has mounts, and I guess you could fit Raceblades but they're not ideal really. I did commute on a bike with Raceblades for 2 months in winter and managed OK, but it was a 4km ride and if it rained a lot I took the tram instead.
On the Boardman though, there are various discounts available from Halfords if you join British Cycling and other associations.
I'm not sure if either bike you're looking at has mounts, and I guess you could fit Raceblades but they're not ideal really. I did commute on a bike with Raceblades for 2 months in winter and managed OK, but it was a 4km ride and if it rained a lot I took the tram instead.
On the Boardman though, there are various discounts available from Halfords if you join British Cycling and other associations.
jamiebae said:
The most important bit is to have mounts for mudguards. I went out on my carbon bike earlier for the first time in ages, and it turns out that melted snow is very cold and very wet when it's flung at your derrière at 35kph, and therefore far from ideal for commuting to the office.
I'm not sure if either bike you're looking at has mounts, and I guess you could fit Raceblades but they're not ideal really. I did commute on a bike with Raceblades for 2 months in winter and managed OK, but it was a 4km ride and if it rained a lot I took the tram instead.
On the Boardman though, there are various discounts available from Halfords if you join British Cycling and other associations.
I'm certain that the Boardman has the mounting points. I shall check later and confirm.I'm not sure if either bike you're looking at has mounts, and I guess you could fit Raceblades but they're not ideal really. I did commute on a bike with Raceblades for 2 months in winter and managed OK, but it was a 4km ride and if it rained a lot I took the tram instead.
On the Boardman though, there are various discounts available from Halfords if you join British Cycling and other associations.
I have the Boardman bike & I'm pretty happy with mine , The only thing I have replaced on mine was a better tyre for the back, I'm approaching 2,000 miles in mine & I'd certainly recommend it.
Join British cycling @ £20.00 a year & automatically get 10% off of all Halfords products.
The Planet X bikes look really nice but unfortunately I've never seen one for sale in a shop down south.
Join British cycling @ £20.00 a year & automatically get 10% off of all Halfords products.
The Planet X bikes look really nice but unfortunately I've never seen one for sale in a shop down south.
I've got the carbon pro Planet X with Campy Athena. The only upgrades I made were carbon fibre chain set and campag zonda wheels. The wheel upgrade transformed the bike from being very good to a revelation. Bang for buck, you can't really beat them. I can't really comment on the Boardman although two of my training buddies have got a couple that sit quite high up the range (carbon fibre). One thing I did notice about them is that they creak like hell when under load. I don't know if they've sorted out their bottom bracket issues.
Never been fussed about mudguards, 8000 miles this year in all conditions and I've even taken them off my MTB. If its wet you get wet anyway, if its muddy you get muddy anyway.
As much of a fan as I am of the various boardmans, the range seems to be taking a dive to the bottom spec wise. The limited edition team carbon this year was apex 10 speed for example and was heavier than my (admittedly much modified) 2009 aluminium team.
You have to go up to the pro carbon SLR to get an 11 speed groupset (admittedly that is a nice bike)
Planet x at present is VERY hard to touch for a nice spec at a budget price point.
As much of a fan as I am of the various boardmans, the range seems to be taking a dive to the bottom spec wise. The limited edition team carbon this year was apex 10 speed for example and was heavier than my (admittedly much modified) 2009 aluminium team.
You have to go up to the pro carbon SLR to get an 11 speed groupset (admittedly that is a nice bike)
Planet x at present is VERY hard to touch for a nice spec at a budget price point.
S13_Alan said:
Yeah the Team Carbon has mudguard mounts (at least the 2014 one does).
I've got proper full mudguards on mine (asks chromoplastics I think). It's quite a tight fit and some shouting at the bike trying to get them on but otherwise fine.
Can I ask what mudguards you are using?I've got proper full mudguards on mine (asks chromoplastics I think). It's quite a tight fit and some shouting at the bike trying to get them on but otherwise fine.
I've currently got a set of Crud Roadracer II's and they are truly awful things. They keep the mud and water off but the fit is terrible, they're constantly rubbing, even after being cut to fit. Your's look much more made to fit the bike.
Cheers
I've picked up this through cycle to work scheme.
http://www.moda-bikes.com/portfolioentry/bolero/
Got it for under £800 and it would be ideal.
Mudguards come fitted, great wheelset and pretty comfortable as well.
http://www.moda-bikes.com/portfolioentry/bolero/
Got it for under £800 and it would be ideal.
Mudguards come fitted, great wheelset and pretty comfortable as well.
Personally I wouldn't feel that happy commuting on a carbon bike. It's not the riding, it's the leaving it in the work's bike store for anyone to kick/knock their bike against/gouge, that would be the issue for me. Alloy is a lot more resilient.
Course, then you'll need a CF "best bike"...
Course, then you'll need a CF "best bike"...
freakynessless said:
S13_Alan said:
Yeah the Team Carbon has mudguard mounts (at least the 2014 one does).
I've got proper full mudguards on mine (asks chromoplastics I think). It's quite a tight fit and some shouting at the bike trying to get them on but otherwise fine.
Can I ask what mudguards you are using?I've got proper full mudguards on mine (asks chromoplastics I think). It's quite a tight fit and some shouting at the bike trying to get them on but otherwise fine.
I've currently got a set of Crud Roadracer II's and they are truly awful things. They keep the mud and water off but the fit is terrible, they're constantly rubbing, even after being cut to fit. Your's look much more made to fit the bike.
Cheers
Very tight fit on the front of the back wheel and took a bit of time getting it to fit (although I cut nothing and used all the original points). Does rub occasionally when you get some muck pulled up and will depend a fair bit on what tyres you have (Pro 4 service Course 23s for me and I can't imagine getting anything with a higher profile to fit on that bike to be honest) but I'm very happy with them.
Once fitted and the supports at the side done with high strength loctite so the don't move I've been able to easily remove and re-mount the guards without any issue.
I like my Pro Carbon Ultegra, very comfortable bike to ride but it does have noticeable flex as reported else where on the web, up Swyncombe hill I had the rear wheel brushing the pads on each pedal stroke. I must admit I prefer the comfort it offers over stiffness mind. Some poor design on it though, where the front mech cable exits the BB for example means with the mech correctly aligned the cable snags it when dropping to the little ring, minor niggle but it'd have been nice if it didn't. Maybe other mak mechs the arm leans further from the frame but even with an addition 1mm washer to space it still just touches.
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