cube peloton - mistake..?

km991148

After much looking about I thought getting a cube peloton from a lbs was what I was after (1st road bike, keen to keep it under 1k with pedals + shoes) but after reading a few of the threads on here I am unsure..

example:

blorg wrote: »

The Cube is a triple and uses an outdated BB standard. The other two are compacts with external bearing BBs. That is the substantial difference (more the triple vs compact than the BB standard, incidentally.)

Test ride and see what you prefer but looking at them I would probably go for the Corratec as it is a bit different. Felt looks good as well though and the brakes are probably a bit better.

I tried a corratec myself, but it goes a bit over budget even although I did like it;

however, with the BB - is that an issue, i.e. specifically what advantage does the external bearing BB provide?

I was keen on a double/compact (I am fairly fit and doubt I would be into the granny ring much) but dont mind the tripple as with the cube its a mostly tiagra setup which for the money seemed ideal;

I know planet x bikes get good reviews on here, but I doubt i'd get one for my budget (and dont want to wait until the back end of the season for the discounts)

any other comments, or should I just take the plunge and get out there !!

chakattack

km991148 wrote: »

After much looking about I thought getting a cube peloton from a lbs was what I was after (1st road bike, keen to keep it under 1k with pedals + shoes) but after reading a few of the threads on here I am unsure..

example:


I tried a corratec myself, but it goes a bit over budget even although I did like it;

however, with the BB - is that an issue, i.e. specifically what advantage does the external bearing BB provide?

I was keen on a double/compact (I am fairly fit and doubt I would be into the granny ring much) but dont mind the tripple as with the cube its a mostly tiagra setup which for the money seemed ideal;

I know planet x bikes get good reviews on here, but I doubt i'd get one for my budget (and dont want to wait until the back end of the season for the discounts)

any other comments, or should I just take the plunge and get out there !!

It's not a mistake at all! So long as the bike is the right size for you it is fine.

The external bottom bracket is lighter and maybe easier to disassemble but will be perfectly functional and the weight penalty is marginal. If you're fit you don't need a triple but at least now you have no excuse for not getting yourself up the mountains (where you might be thankful for it).

Go out and get plenty of miles under your belt and enjoy your bike.

km991148

alright then so..

I hadnt considered the BB issue before and got a little worried.. I am sure for the €€ it aint a bad bike as such..

Although after ttrying others I may drop the size a little and try and get a better fit now I know what I want (a little) more..

And no excuse is what I guessed witht he tripple, alough hopefully I wont be needing it for all but the steepest o climbs

cheers,,

Lumen

km991148 wrote: »

And no excuse is what I guessed with the triple, alough hopefully I wont be needing it for all but the steepest of climbs

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a triple. You get more closely spaced front gears than a compact and can run a more closely spaced rear cassette too.

A 30/39/52 (triple) with a 12-23 cassette gives about the same range as a 34/50 (compact double) with a 12-27 cassette, but the triple set up has no jumps over 12%, wheras the compact has three jumps greater than that.

People pay loads for a extra gear on the back and yet an extra gear at the front has a stigma attached. Makes sense it does not.

blorg

A triple is absolutely fine and makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. I used one myself for many years and still do on my touring bike. A double does shift better at the front as is less liable to chain loss but this is only really an issue when racing. The BB is not that big a deal, it was only in the context of comparing those similarly-specced bike (but different geometry as Lumen pointed out) that the Cube using Octalink BB+cranks would be below the other two.

spurscormac

It was my query on the 3 bikes that illicited the response about the Cube. I do actually really like the look of it, and when I do decide, I'll probably take each for a spin & see which I prefer.
As a noob, I do like the idea of a triple, but am undecided as of yet.

Have you already bought the Cube - if so, could you tell me what you think of it so far?
I'd be in a similar position to yourself, 1st road bike, so nothing really to compare it to.
If anyone has any experience on any of the options I'm looking at, I'd love to hear about it.

niceonetom

I had a Cube Streamer (same frame and fork with ultegra compact groupset and crappy shimano wheels).

It's a good bike. Definitely more towards the stiff racer end of the things rather than a comfy relaxed geo thing. I found it a touch buzzy in the front end compared to the carbon planet-x I have now which is generally much more plush.

km991148

Fist thanks all for the advice (again..) good to get a view on these things;

spurscormac wrote: »

It was my query on the 3 bikes that illicited the response about the Cube. I do actually really like the look of it, and when I do decide, I'll probably take each for a spin & see which I prefer.
As a noob, I do like the idea of a triple, but am undecided as of yet.

Have you already bought the Cube - if so, could you tell me what you think of it so far?
I'd be in a similar position to yourself, 1st road bike, so nothing really to compare it to.
If anyone has any experience on any of the options I'm looking at, I'd love to hear about it.

thats the issue, as a noob I am unsure what exactly feels good or bad and even having a bike for an hour or two isnt a great help (well for me at this stage); I should get the cube this week, I am querying the size, a 62 was recomended but I think I would rather try a 60 after trying other bikes 9and most calculators recommend well less than 62), so I dont know if that will hold things up or not, bu I will be sure to post back with more info;

niceonetom wrote: »

I had a Cube Streamer (same frame and fork with ultegra compact groupset and crappy shimano wheels).

It's a good bike. Definitely more towards the stiff racer end of the things rather than a comfy relaxed geo thing. I found it a touch buzzy in the front end compared to the carbon planet-x I have now which is generally much more plush.

thanks, but this sorta budget is as plush as it gets for for now...

Timmah!

I have the 2007 model. I am by no means an expert but I like it a lot....