Planet X now £899 with free build

flatface

Dear Santa...

Lumen

Stealth for £999 built. Now that's tempting.

blorg

I saw that this morning. To be honest I would shell out the extra and get the £999 bike with full Ultegra, proper cranks and brakes. That £999 is unbuilt and you have to pay shipping of around £50 though so it is more like a £200 than a £100 difference.

TT bikes tempting though.

Worth noting they are doing free shipping to Ireland on those special offer bikes as well as a free build.

godihatethehils

Do they have any triples?

Lumen

Ah, the rush. I have that guilty, fiscally terrified feeling again.

blorg

godihatethehils wrote: »

Do they have any triples?

I think we will pretend we didn't hear that. If you want to delete your comment let me know and I will remove this one.

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

Ah, the rush. I have that guilty, fiscally terrified feeling again.

You didn't.

Did you?

Lumen

lukester wrote: »

You didn't.

Did you?

I did. Bottom of the range Stealth (large size) with Model Cs, GP4000s, Time pedals and a bottle cage.

On the plus side, I can sell my clip-ons now.

ednwireland

blorg wrote: »

with full Ultegra, proper cranks and brakes. QUOTE]
mechs are ultegra ? (ok sh**ty brakes) since when are FSA not "proper" cranks ? i'd like a link to the research please :rolleyes:

godihatethehils

blorg wrote: »

I think we will pretend we didn't hear that. If you want to delete your comment let me know and I will remove this one.

Due to no fault of my own I recently spent a week in Majorca with a triple chainset (blame the rental shop....). At first I was as horrified as you but it turned out to be a wonderful week full of comfortable hill ascents and high-cadence climbing. I loved it.

Now, on a serious note though, I currently have a compact (50/34).

If I get a triple I will:
1. Have the option of using a 53, I would like this.
2. No longer have the problem of the big drop from 50 to 34 which is proving problematic in a tight group
3. Have the granny gear for big climbs (there's no way I could get up a big climb with the 39 of the double chainset)

I can currently see no drawbacks other than the shame of having a triple chainset, which I will pawn off on the fact that I am but a big girl's blouse. Is there another drawback to a triple which I'm missing??

Lumen wrote: »

Ah, the rush. I have that guilty, fiscally terrified feeling again.

If you were a woman I'd only love to see your shoe collection.....

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

I did.

w00t! Nice bargain, sir.

Lumen wrote: »

On the plus side, I can sell my clip-ons now.

Bonus, that will completely salve your conscience.

The devil on my shoulder is telling me this is a bargain too good to pass up. Must resist.

Lumen

godihatethehils wrote: »

Is there another drawback to a triple which I'm missing??

The front shifting is less good.

The other option (since you don't really need the granny gear) is a "semi", e.g. a 50/36 or 52/36 on a compact crankset.

DirkVoodoo

godihatethehils wrote: »

If you were a woman I'd only love to see your shoe collection.....

I bet he is already making his wife sell half her clothes so he can have a walk in wardrobe for his SIDI collection. Probably spends more time shaving his legs too.

@Lumen: Nice. Somebody find him and give him his "luckiest boy in Dublin" award.

Caroline_ie

I am tempted to add a triple to my winter bike ... but it's not cheap so i will just push the big euro gears instead.

So Blorg, you can't let Lumen get away with it, get a better PX go for it! You know you want to!

godihatethehils

Lumen wrote: »

The front shifting is less good.

The other option (since you don't really need the granny gear) is a "semi", e.g. a 50/36 or 52/36 on a compact crankset.

How much less good?

I found myself and the granny spent a surprising amount of time together in Majorca....basically I popped it down into the granny gear at any big hill and as a result even enjoyed climbing sometimes (shock, horror). This made me think I should get one.....however, the fact that they are making less bikes with granny gears makes me think that there's some drawback I'm missing.

lukester

I have a triple, bought before I knew any better.

I like the fact that the outer two rings are 53-39, and the closer ratios are nicer than on a compact. Front ring shifting is just fine, not much different to any compact I've ridden.

I think the only reason they are not making so many triples is because they are less fashionable than compacts or standard doubles, particularly here and in the UK. I don't think there's the same stigma on the continent, probably because they have proper climbs over there.

Having said that, my next bike will be some flavour of double.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

On the plus side, I can sell my clip-ons now.

gimme

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

I did. Bottom of the range Stealth (large size) with Model Cs, GP4000s, Time pedals and a bottle cage.

You must have epic plans for next season.

lukester

Raam wrote: »

You must have epic plans for next season.

Was thinking the same thing.

blorg

ednwireland wrote: »

mechs are ultegra ? (ok sh**ty brakes) since when are FSA not "proper" cranks ? i'd like a link to the research please :rolleyes:

Nothing wrong with FSA cranks but the Gossamers in particular are pretty entry level in the FSA range and I would prefer new Ultegra.

The stock cheap brake calipers with PX are pretty bad, while the new Ultegra ones are the best I have ever used (better than 7800 Dura Ace.)

For me, the relatively small amount of extra money to get full Ultegra would be worth it, that is all I am saying. Otherwise we would all be using Sora which is perfectly serviceable.

godihatethehils wrote: »

I can currently see no drawbacks other than the shame of having a triple chainset, which I will pawn off on the fact that I am but a big girl's blouse. Is there another drawback to a triple which I'm missing??

I was joking, there is very little drawback to a triple unless you are racing. I used one myself for a long time and still do on my touring bike. I would have appreciated a granny ring myself on the Marmotte.

Lumen wrote: »

The other option (since you don't really need the granny gear) is a "semi", e.g. a 50/36 or 52/36 on a compact crankset.

To be honest I don't think you can make a blanket pronouncement that others "don't really need" the granny gear. I think most non-racing cyclists probably could do with one. A 36 inner would not be a good idea for most people on a compact, it would slow your cadence while climbing. I'd reckon most appreciate the 34.

Lumen

godihatethehils wrote: »

How much less good?

Enough that if you never use the granny ring it seems like an unnecessary sacrifice. After doing the ROK without touching the small cog I figured it was time to move on.

There are so many ways to approach the gearing issue, like wide cassettes, triples, compacts, semis, all of them have downsides.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

To be honest I don't think you can make a blanket pronouncement that others "don't really need" the granny gear. I think most non-racing cyclists probably could do with one. A 36 inner would not be a good idea for most people on a compact, it would slow your cadence while climbing. I'd reckon most appreciate the 34.

It wasn't a blanket pronouncement, it was a specific assumption. From what I remember, GIHTH is a perfectly good climber.

I'm not suggesting most people should use a 36 inner, but for a someone who has a compact chainset and wants to reduce the gap between chainrings (which is often cited as a criticism of compacts) without going all out with a standard double it is an option.

godihatethehils

blorg wrote: »

I used one myself for a long time and still do on my touring bike. I would have appreciated a granny ring myself on the Marmotte.

Blorg has one....that's good enough for me

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

You must have epic plans for next season.

I reckon I completely bollixed my back (several months off the bike) by screwing with my position for the 40K boards TT, and doing some regular TT training in the correct position should help prevent this happening again next year.

I'm just trying to save on physio fees.

blorg

Fair enough. I would say that most people doing proper climbs (note we do not have any of these in Ireland) could do with a triple. Plenty fast guys on the Marmotte had them; Diarmuid lives in France and posted before that they were very popular locally.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

I reckon I completely bollixed my back (several months off the bike) by screwing with my position for the 40K boards TT.

D'oh.

Lumen wrote: »

I'm just trying to save on physio fees.

Interesting justification of a bike purchase. I usually just go with "I saw it and simply had to have it."

blorg

@Lumen- I am disappointed you didn't go for the £1499 one!

I would also have to state an interest in your extensions.

niceonetom

blorg wrote: »

@Lumen- I am disappointed you didn't go for the £1499 one!

I would also have to state an interest in your extensions.

I'm disappointed you haven't bought a TT bike. Your crown is slipping.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

@Lumen- I am disappointed you didn't go for the £1499 one!

Apart from the fact that it's excessive for my needs, the wheels are non-Powertap.

blorg

niceonetom wrote: »

I'm disappointed you haven't bought a TT bike. Your crown is slipping.

Haha, just waiting for the cycle to work scheme to be introduced here and I will be slicing valuable seconds off my commute...

Caroline_ie

blorg wrote: »

Haha, just waiting for the cycle to work scheme to be introduced here and I will be slicing valuable seconds off my commute...

For some reason ... i doubt your place of work would want anyone to cycle more ...

Jawgap

Wonder if they'll do anything with the titanium range.......


......given the plummeting state of Sterling, that would be tempting!

ROK ON

@Lumen. Well wear on the new bike. What will its primary use be?

@Godihatehills. I have a triple and compact. Imho the triple is superior for the type of cycling I do. The 52/39 combo is fantastic and far superior to 50/34. Then for very steep climbs I have the granny. Shifting is way better than the compact. To bd honest I hate the compact. The compact is a dishonest crankset. It is for cyclists who are unable to climb effectively on double but are to image conscious to go for the triple :-)

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

@Lumen. Well wear on the new bike. What will its primary use be?

Commuting, shopping, general utility cycling. Hopefully the saddle-forward position will counteract the weight of the baby seat and the trailer on the back. :pac:

ednwireland

ROK ON wrote: »

@Godihatehills. I have a triple and compact. Imho the triple is superior for the type of cycling I do. The 52/39 combo is fantastic and far superior to 50/34. Then for very steep climbs I have the granny. Shifting is way better than the compact. To bd honest I hate the compact. The compact is a dishonest crankset. It is for cyclists who are unable to climb effectively on double but are to image conscious to go for the triple :-)

well said sir

makes me feel much better about going for the triple on my focus

barney150

My employer has set up the bike to work scheme. Can you buy a bike off Planet X via this scheme. I rang Planet X and they said that they hadn't sold bikes to Ireland through the scheme. She did mention the UK scheme. In general can you buy a bike through the UK on the cycle to work scheme.

Raam

barney150 wrote: »

My employer has set up the bike to work scheme. Can you buy a bike off Planet X via this scheme. I rang Planet X and they said that they hadn't sold bikes to Ireland through the scheme. She did mention the UK scheme. In general can you buy a bike through the UK on the cycle to work scheme.

The Irish scheme has no restriction on place of purchase. A buddy of mine bought his on the scheme from PX

Lumen

barney150 wrote: »

My employer has set up the bike to work scheme. Can you buy a bike off Planet X via this scheme. I rang Planet X and they said that they hadn't sold bikes to Ireland through the scheme.

Not true, they sold one to me (an Uncle John) explicitly under the scheme.

It was not without complications. You need to request that they withold UK VAT, or else the employer will end up paying both UK and Irish VAT.

victorcarrera

I had been waiting for a VAT rate change in the Dec budget before buying a stealth frame from them, but just noticed they are only charging 15% (UK) Vat at present.
Fair play to them there is very good value there at the moment.
And all the talk about the Shimano parts price hike a few months back seems to be forgotten.

The tax man

ROK ON wrote: »

@Godihatehills. I have a triple and compact. Imho the triple is superior for the type of cycling I do. The 52/39 combo is fantastic and far superior to 50/34. Then for very steep climbs I have the granny. Shifting is way better than the compact. To bd honest I hate the compact. The compact is a dishonest crankset. It is for cyclists who are unable to climb effectively on double but are to image conscious to go for the triple :-)

I've just built up my PX sportive with the compact drive train from my Lapierre.
Seeing that this bike is for audax events I've decided to ditch the compact and go triple,just wish I'd made my mind up before I started the build.:o

Screwballs

Okay - this offer is seems too good to pass up... so here it is please advise if I am making incorrect component choices... I am 6'2" about 15st... athlethic build... "I have only specified the parts that are not defaulted"

Planet X Pro Carbon Road Fuselage Black XL
1/2 PRICE :: Cinelli Neo Handlebar Oversize 44cm
FSA New OS120 Stem 31.8 6 deg - 110mm
Planet X Superlight Team Saddle - Black Titanium Rails
FSA Gossamer Pro 175 MEGXO 53-39 330-0916
Look Keo Easy Pedals
Planet X Large Saddle Bag with Zip Pocket


This is going to be my first road bike btw...

Thanks in advance

Screwballs

Okay looking at it... I will need to calculate the handle bar - like so
However how does one judge the crank length? 170 172 175...

blorg

Sounds OK. If you are over 6ft you probably want 175mm cranks. I am 6ft and use 175mm.

Also consider a compact (50/34) rather than a standard chainset- easier to get up hills, especially if you are 15st.

I would consider spending the extra on the £999 full Ultegra, to my mind it is worth the extra few quid.

emty

You might want to get a longer stem,I use a 140mm.Just to say that I am about 6' 2 and a half(very important) and I have a large size frame and am quite happy with it,However,I wouldn't mind giving an x-large a bash.
What I am trying to say is that I would recommend that you try one for size before you order.

Screwballs

would I be able to reach the handle bars?... :rolleyes:
what would the average joe stem lenght be... 100, 110?

Lumen

Screwballs wrote: »

would I be able to reach the handle bars?... :rolleyes:
what would the average joe stem lenght be... 100, 110?

Depends on torso/leg ratio and other stuff. Generally taller people use longer stems.

If you look at this chart, you'll see that a suggested stem length for a 6'2"+ rider is 130mm or maybe 140mm.

emty

Screwballs wrote: »

would I be able to reach the handle bars?... :rolleyes:
what would the average joe stem lenght be... 100, 110?

Best of luck with your purchase :mad:

D!armu!d

Lumen wrote: »

Not true, they sold one to me (an Uncle John) explicitly under the scheme.

It was not without complications. You need to request that they withold UK VAT, or else the employer will end up paying both UK and Irish VAT.

I was looking into this and thought you couldn't get any VAT adjustment, as technically it is you buying the bike as a private person, with your company just administering the payment/repayments?
Am trying to get PlanetX to open an Irish bank acc which would make them a possibility for public service employees, will update if this works out.

Lumen

D!armu!d wrote: »

I was looking into this and thought you couldn't get any VAT adjustment, as technically it is you buying the bike as a private person, with your company just administering the payment/repayments?
Am trying to get PlanetX to open an Irish bank acc which would make them a possibility for public service employees, will update if this works out.

No, you are not buying the bike. The company is buying the bike for you as a tax-free benefit in kind (BIK). Although some companies are giving out vouchers, they're paying for the vouchers.

All CTW purchases are liable to Irish VAT, which is not reclaimable.

That's my understanding, based on instructions from my accountants. Beasty is the resident expert on accountancy matters.

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

No, you are not buying the bike. The company is buying the bike for you as a tax-free benefit in kind (BIK). Although some companies are giving out vouchers, they're paying for the vouchers.

All CTW purchases are liable to Irish VAT, which is not reclaimable.

That's my understanding, based on instructions from my accountants. Beasty is the resident expert on accountancy matters.

As Lumen indicates, the key to this is that the employer buys the bike, and cannot reclaim any VAT on the purchase

Assuming the employer is registered for VAT in Ireland, and the bike is bought from an Irish retailer, the position is straightforward. The retailer charges 21.5% VAT, and the employer cannot claim it back. The same situation arises where the UK retailer is registered for Irish VAT (eg Wiggle)

If the employer is registered for VAT in Ireland and the bike is bought from a UK retailer that is not registered for VAT in Ireland (which is almost always the case, the main exception being Wiggle), the employer should provide the retailer with its Irish VAT number. The retailer should then not charge any VAT. However the employer should then self-account for Irish VAT at 21.5%, and is unable to recover it. If the employer does not provide it's Irish VAT number, as Lumen points out, you end up paying both UK VAT (on the initial purchase) and Irish VAT (under the self-accounting system) - not good news!

In all the above examples, the net position is that irrecoverable Irish VAT at 21.5% is suffered. It is perhaps important to note that if you are looking at prices with 15% UK VAT that come to just under €1,000, the extra 6.5% may bring you above the €1,000 threshhold. In this case, only the excess is a taxable benefit in kind.

The one situation where Irish VAT is not paid is where the employer is not registered for Irish VAT (not normally the case, but possible, particularly for low turnover or financial service companies). In this case the retailer charges UK VAT at 15% (NB due to return to 17.5% or higher from 1 January), but there is no mechanism for the employer to charge itself Irish VAT. Hence the VAT cost is 15% in this case.

Lumen

Thanks Beasty, added to the BikeToWork wiki article.