Racing Bike different Specs

seanie500

lads/lassies

Am doing some research on some racing bikes at the min planning on getting something decent.

Saw a post on here a few months ago explaining the different level of specs for the various bike parts gears etc but cant find the post on here.

can ayone advise on these?

1st proper racing bike but planning on getting something in the EUR 1K mark.

Thanks

Chips Lovell

From entry level to top:

Shimano: 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace
Campagnolo: Veloce, Centaur, Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record.
Sram: Rival, Force, Red.

blorg

2200 is now 2300. You need to bear in mind also that Shimano have just upgraded Ultegra and Dura-Ace, so the old/new numbering there goes 6600/6700 and 7800/7900. They are not entirely compatible with the older stuff. I have new 6700 Ultegra on one bike and it is a noticable improvement over old Ultegra, it is even better than Dura-Ace 7800 in many ways (the brakes in particular, probably the shifters also.)

Apart from that, if you have 1k, get the £899 Planet X with new Ultegra mechs and shifters, or preferably, spend a little more on the £999 full new Ultegra version. There is not a better bike for the money at the moment.

CheGuedara

It's almost the boards mantra but for 1K you need to seriously look at getting the Planet X Pro Carbon.

Carbon frame, well reviewed wheelset, mixed new Ultegra/FSA Grouppo and FSA/in house finishing kit.

To break that down - the ultegra components are second from the top of Shimanos drivetrain componentry with little difference between it and the DuraAce above it. FSA (Full Speed Ahead) are component/wheel manufacturers and their kit is generally accepted as equivalent to that of the bigger manufacturers at the same price points.

Buy it now and get it built and shipped for the equivalent of e1007 yoyos and wether you use it for it or not you'll have a bike that wouldn't see you let down if you decided to give racing a go

Edit: beaten to the punch by Blorg

bbosco

el tonto wrote: »

From entry level to top:

Shimano: 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace
Campagnolo: Veloce, Centaur, Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record.
Sram: Rival, Force, Red.

What's happened to Xenon and Mirage? I just took a look at the Campy website and they're not listed anymore.

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

Shimano: 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace
Campagnolo: Veloce, Centaur, Athena, Chorus, Record, Super Record.
Sram: Rival, Force, Red.

It's worth pointing out (if it's not obvious) that Campy and SRAM stuff tends lack the bottom end of Shimano, i.e. Shimano is 8/9/10 speed, SRAM is 10 speed, Campy is 10/11 speed, and the Shimano stuff tends to be heavier and less "fancy" (e.g. alloy cranks including DA) though no less functional.

In other words, Rival/Veloce is in no way comparable to 2200 and Sora.

Hungrycol

Don't forget Dura Ace Di2 their electronic groupset.

seanie500

cheers for replies saw some posts here on the boardmans and apart from the fact that halfords actually sells them the components of the boardman team 09 model seem impressive any thoughts?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_501963_langId_-1_categoryId_212536



I understand setup with halfords will go out the window but apart from that and not havin any aftersales support how would it compare with your suggestions above?

Chips Lovell

bbosco wrote: »

What's happened to Xenon and Mirage? I just took a look at the Campy website and they're not listed anymore.

They discontinued them and now just do mid to high end stuff.

blorg

Halfords Boardman bikes are also good but I would give the Planet X the nod above them at current prices. Full carbon frame and lighter. PX build their bikes properly too if you get them to do the build.

seanie500

if you are purchasing a planet X are there any stockists in ireland or is it a web purchase only?

Was hoping to buy instore instead of online

Lumen

seanie500 wrote: »

if you are purchasing a planet X are there any stockists in ireland or is it a web purchase only?

Was hoping to buy instore instead of online

Online only. That's why they're so cheap - disintermediation.

seanie500

That's a balls

doing the BTW scheme and only approved stockists are the raleigh ones

so annoying that

seanie500

just after finding out that i am restrcited to the raleigh stockists in ireland and company wont let me buy a bike online. - raging The Govt guidelines say that you can buy online its so frustrating

I am actually trying to work out what is better value to

1. Buying the planet X £899 deal with freebuild and postage as a regular purchase or

2.Buying a racing bike with similiar spec to the planet X and availing of the BTW scheme. when i look at the raleigh stockists some of the bike prices are nuts.

can anyone tell me what would be a similiar spec to the planet X so i can actually see if its sold in the raleigh store and see if it works out cheaper

thanks guys:D

BostonB

If you can pick up a nearly new bike, 2nd hand , or a new one on sale, at 40~50% the cost of a new bike, then thats the same saving.

The Raleigh dealer doesn't know your restricted, so you can go in and bargain hard, you might get a good discount. Unlikely though as the shops can't sell bikes fast enough at the moment.

Raleighs seem to be a little expensive for what you get, but from what I've read they seem like decent bikes especially towards the top end.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/airlite-carbon-race-08-31373

seanie500

http://www.raleigh2work.ie/shops.html

this is the list of stockists i can choose from

so for example if i look at cyclestore site brands here are

1. Cube
2. Giant
3. Lapierre
4. Look
5. Pinarello

Which of these would be in the same league as the planet X one

My knowledge isnt really up to speed TBH


http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/showsearchresults.asp?idCategory=35


Thanks

Lumen

seanie500 wrote: »

Which of these would be in the same league as the planet X one

Ah, OK. So you're not limited to Raleigh brand bikes.

Have a read through previous discussion of CSS CTW recommendations.

As I recall, CSS tend to steer people towards Lapierre over Giant as they claim they offer better value for the same spec.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

As I recall, CSS tend to steer people towards Lapierre over Giant as they claim they offer better value for the same spec.

Or, they have a better mark-up.

seanie500

As I recall, CSS tend to steer people towards Lapierre over Giant as they claim they offer better value for the same spec.[/quote]


ok so lets say i am going to go for a lapierre from the CSS which one is similiar to the planet x spec? irrelevant of price

That way i can work out if its worth my while doing the BTW scheme or instead just buying the planet X one for the £899 deal

Thanks

blorg

This would be the cheapest Lapierre with pretty much the same spec but would be a fair bit heavier than the Planet X.

This one is a similar weight to the PX with the same groupset, but better finishing kit and wheels than the PX.

Note you only get tax relief on the first €1,000, I think you would still be ahead getting the PX. Consider getting another bike (MTB or whatever) at the end of the summer when Irish shops are running sales.

seanie500

that's some difference in price between the planet X v the 2 lapierre bikes you mention the lower spec one is 2100 so would cost 1600 ( after the BTW scheme) and the 3K one would be 2500 roughly

now all i need is 899 pounds for the PX!

thanks for the help there

blorg

Just to mention, I think the £999 Planet X is a better deal than the £899 one. The Lapierres I was comparing to the £999 one, both have full Ultegra groupsets. The £899 PX has downgraded cranks, brakes and some other stuff. Will still ride fine I am sure.

seanie500

Cheers Blorg for that at least i know what bike i'm after now

appreciate all the help lads