On-One / Planet X bikes and components

Sure.

For the prestige though?

For the prestige though?

Ah, you know what I mean. He wants a carbon bike. Pros ride them, they're futuristic and cool. Possibly the wrong choice of words on my part.

I've got very little experience of alu to compare against but I've had the PX Pro Carbon for a number of years and happy with it. No issues really; just had to replace the headset after several thousand miles but that's about it. So this looks pretty good value to me.

To be fair, it's well cheap. I doubt it's going to be amazing, but at that price... Make sure someone PDI the bike properly before your mate rides it.

Ah, you know what I mean. He wants a carbon bike. Pros ride them, they're futuristic and cool. Possibly the wrong choice of words on my part.

Same reason why Cannondale did not do well with the CAAD10* in the UK due to the Super 6 despite the CAAD10 being an excellent frame.

*2014 only have one model.

Alu frame + good carbon fork > Carbon frame + low quality carbon fork.

^ massive generalisation

a) going to soak up a little more road buzz,

Regarding this, alu frame are not uncomfortable as people make it out to be, a good set-up and reasonable tyres pressure can make it pretty comfortable, even my old Dolan soak up the road well for a heavy alu track frame.

Get a bamboo frame and ocelot bone fork.

Now you're talking, that's the prestige value.

Custom.

Bespoke.

Wow.

Regarding this, alu frame are not uncomfortable as people make it out to be, a good set-up and reasonable tyres pressure can make it pretty comfortable, even my old Dolan soak up the road well for a heavy alu track frame.

My geared bike is an aluminium ribble audax and although I've toured on it, it's really not that comfortable. I've had a fit from the bike whisperer, so it's not the set up, and my tyres aren't (always) ridiculous pressure. I can't see the PX alu frame being miles better than the ribble, for the price.

It's still a significantly harsher ride than steel (and I presume carbon, although I've never personally ridden a carbon bike).

I got a PX pro carbon last year, and compared to the similarly priced alu bikes I've ridden, it feels a lot more comfortable. But then there are so many other factors (choice of components, tyre pressure, geo etc etc) that you can't really make a fair comparison.

I'd definitely recommend as a good value carbon entry.

Compact geo and lots of exposed post (as on the Pro Carbon) makes as much difference as anything.

I'm of the opinion that carbon seatstays absorb/disapate a certain level of vibration. When you jump on a carbon rear ended bike, after using a metal bike for a while, theres something missing from the road feel in a way.

I guess this is what people translate as improved comfort. But IMHO its just a small aspect of overall bike comfort.

Compact geo and lots of exposed post (as on the Pro Carbon) makes as much difference as anything.

This too, carbon seatpost with a layback can also make a big difference, even if your bike doesn't needed a layback.

This arrived yesterday:

Monster.

The Picklefucker?

Indeed!

As widely discussed the gearing is a bit spinny for out and out road use, but riding it around the suburbs today commuter stylee, I didn't find myself running out of gears. TBH its got much longer gearing than my fixed so i knew that wasn't going to be a problem for the occasions I use it for commuting. The challenge will be to get a good clip on mudguard setup that works and is easy to get on and off. However thats not really the focus. Its main purpose is to be bombproof and go anywhere. And who knows, I might even do a few more cross races on it....

It looks like it would easily take some slightly bigger chainrings, which I might investigate if I find myself spinning out too often.

That's their cheap ti cross bike, right? What's it like?

Forks look a bit gash tbh.

Ive only done about 20 miles on it so far, so a bit early to say. Carbon cyclocross forks are all a bit chunky, especially with tapered head tube, the crown is going to be pretty big. I bought it to replace my Cross Check as I was getting disc envy.

Looks great. Ti and disks. What's not to like! Any space under the fork crown for a mudguard?