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solicited advice

(15 posts)

Started 1 day ago by Baldcyclist
Latest reply from handcyclist

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Baldcyclist
Member

I'm a bit of a Planet X fan, and have two of them, a Pro Carbon Evo, and a Kaffenback which is my triggers brush commuter which I've had for at least 12 years, it's been battered and bruised, and crashed multiple times, and it needs a bit of tlc.

It needs a new back wheel after a crash, and a new groupset as that is worn out. ALso the gear hanger, which is attached steel has been bent and bent back a number of times, and as a result the gears just aren't quite 100%. All of which will cost hunners of money.

On getting back to commuting last year I used my MTB a lot over the summer and thought I prefered the flat bars, so was considering either converting Kaff to flat bars, or just buying a new hybrid bike. However my neck seems to be adjusting to road position again, so I may stay on road bars now with plenty spacers, and shorter stem, which has worked well for me.

Has anyone got a Planet X Tempest (https://planetx.co.uk/collections/tempest), is any good? Also any experience of the SRAM electronic grouopset , or should I just stick with a mechanical Shimano groupset?

I'm thinking I might treat myself to one last nice bike.

Posted 1 day ago #
chdot
Admin

“I might treat myself to one last nice bike.“

That sounds pessimistic!

I keep trying to stop…

Bigger

Posted 1 day ago #
acsimpson
Member

That's a fetchin' bike.

@baldycyclis, I only have good things to say about the SRAM electronic group set. I've been riding a rival axs since it was launched and love it. I keep the chain reasonably clean and replace it when necessary and in return it's given me well over 10,000km of trouble freee riding. Yes you need to charge the batteries occasionally but there is no indexing required ever. It's also truly wireless, unlike di2 which just has wireless shifters.

Posted 1 day ago #
mcairney
Member

+1 for SRAM electronic groupsets. I've got SRAM Apex AXS on my new Diverge and it's great- shifts are quick clean and crisp and I much prefer SRAM's design decision about having a removable battery than Shimano's integrated battery.
Still early days though and I seem to remember that the bearings on Apex jockey wheels aren't sealed so need upgrading/replacing if you plan on riding it in Scottish weather.

Mechanical SRAM at anything lower than Force is terrible though, especially if it uses doubletap.

Posted 23 hours ago #
chdot
Admin

“That's a fetchin' bike”

Ta

Mostly original, as bought.

Rear mech on when I bought it (not original) manages to work on new 8 speed block.

New TA ring on original (cottered!) cranks.

Built better wheels with ‘period’ age components.

Rides nicely.

Posted 22 hours ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

@chdot, that's a pretty rear triangle. :)

I have older SRAM Force which is doubletap on my Pro Carbon, which came off my previous bike. I'm probably not keen on doubletap for a commuting bike, but it's OK for weekends. I probably prefer my cheaper Tiagra shifters on my Kaff compared to SRAM Force doubletap.

Figured button shifting probably equalises things a bit in terms of feel, so brand probably less of an issue if electronic. I do like the idea of no tinkering, or cables etc.

Posted 21 hours ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

"sounds pessimistic!"

Probably next bike in 10 or 12 years will have a battery,

Posted 21 hours ago #
chdot
Admin

“Probably next bike in 10 or 12 years“

Sounds optimistic

(In terms of bike/electonics/your willpower holding out…)

Posted 21 hours ago #
chdot
Admin

“that's a pretty rear triangle“

Stylish even

Posted 20 hours ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

"your willpower holding out…"

It's not the new bikes so much that are the problem, more my inability to dispose of the old ones...

That said there may (or not) be an advert for my Parabike soon.

Posted 20 hours ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

"inability to dispose of the old ones"

My Kaff may end up on the wall next to my Cervello...

Posted 20 hours ago #
neddie
Member

One bike I regret selling was my 1995 Canondale M500 fully rigid mountain bike. The frame was so stiff and light, it felt like every ounce of pedal stroke force was transmitted to the wheels!

I have seen it since being ridden (legit) by someone else, converted to a most excellent commuter bike

Oh well...

Posted 19 hours ago #
Baldcyclist
Member

Somebody at work had a black M500 when they came out, and I remember thinking the tubes were massive, though they don't look that big by todays standards.

I'd regret selling my Parabike. It's objectively rubbish, but it's my favourite bike. I've probably only riden it twice in the last year though, if I just want to nip to the shops my MTB is far easier to get up the hill, so it now has no real purpose other than looking pretty when I go into the garage. :(

Posted 19 hours ago #
mcairney
Member

I might have just been unlucky but I've had 2 bikes with SRAM 1x mechanical (Rival and Apex). The bike with Apex went through 3 rear mechs, 2 cassettes and countless sets of brake pads in my year of ownership (from new).
The Rival was a bit better but was still very finicky in terms of cable tension to the point where the gears needed re-indexing again 10 miles into a post-service test ride. Shimano mechanical is at the opposite end of the scale, it'll keep shifting smoothly well past the point of no-return of your chain/chainrings/cassette!

Posted 19 hours ago #
handcyclist
Member

Just make sure your Planet X Tempest has been made properly. This is a salutory tale from a friend of mine: https://road.cc/content/news/doctor-paralysed-after-planet-x-failure-wins-ps45m-payout-313877

Posted 17 hours ago #

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