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| Home > Cycling > REVIEW: Planet-X Superlight Team Frame |
| REVIEW: Planet-X Superlight Team Frame | | Date Created: 24 Apr, 2006, 06:58 PM |
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| I was very sceptical when I received this bike frame from Planet-X as I had managed to test ride quite a few other bikes but had to order this one blind. There were very few reviews on the frame on the internet (the Cycling News one did not exist at the time) but the frame angles/geometry seemed to be well thought out and were similar to other frames I had tested. I talked with Brant at Planet-X to see if he thought the bike frame would fit me (being 6'6" tall I was pushing the geometry) and he thought that I may be pushing it. I had tested, a couple of days before, a Giant TCR Composite (well above my budget but I wanted to know if I should keep saving) and comparing this with my current bike and the specs on the Planet-X website, I came to the decision that with a long seat post the bike would fit me perfectly. |
At the time (2005) there was only one colour available for the frame (a powder blue) and when the frame arrived I instantly was attracted to the decor. The graphics on the frame were understated and almost retro which suited me perfectly and the colour was stunning.
I received the Planet-X full Carbon fork + Cane Creek headset with the frame on a special deal (to make space for the new ones coming into stock I presume) and this made it an even more economical deal (this is a cheap frame for the quality even at full price). The fork had the more common shiny Carbon Weave decor with Planet-X logo branding and looked a treat with the frame. |
First impressions of the Frame after looking at the colour were as follows:
1. Welds were large and visible but very neat and solid looking. They are not untidy at all but could possibly be smaller.
2. The tubing was very interesting as the top-tube and down-tube were tear-drop shaped. Not sure if this was good or bad when looking at it but certainly different.
3. Very simplistic: No toggles, bells, whistles or seat doodahs. Fantastic as they always go wrong eventually. It required a seat clamp but this is great as I have sheared bolts in the past and found it a pain.
4. Rear Mech Hanger was detachable, excellent news as if you bend aluminium it doesn't bend back.
5. This frame weighs nothing. Amazing. |
On the Go:
Finally I managed to get the frame built up with Planet-X finishing kit, 105 Shifters & Mechs, Dia Compe Brakes, Truvativ Triple Crankset (Peak district and me being unfit do not mix), 105/DN6 Handbuilt Wheels.
First Ride:
This bike flies, it is very light and responsive and feels nothing like any other aluminium framed bike that I have ever tried. It removes lots of road noise but still communicates what is happening to the bike.
500 Miles Later:
Wow, still getting that fabulous feeling, it taunts me to go faster and yet is stable when I want to go slow (or can no longer go fast).
Handling: Excellent for long distance riding as it doesn't do anything unpredicatable. Fast when required but just as happy going along the long ups and downs of the Peak hills and Northumberland. It feels light and responsive, great for climbing due to the stiff chain stay and seat tube and yet not jittery at all when decending. This frame is more comfortable than my Steel bike of old (something I did not expect) though this may be due to the large amount of carbon seat tube and the great carbon fork. Even after centuries my behind has been in one piece and I have been able to cycle the next day.
Weight: Very light weight for an aluminium frame. Considerably heavier than a pure carbon frame but at a fraction (and a very small fraction at that) of the cost it gives you money to spend elsewhere. |
Negatives:
- Large welds are not the prettiest but certainly do the job.
- I personally would rather have a non-integrated headset so that I could fit a Chris King headset to the frame (I think it deserves one) but this would buck the integrated headset theme that is currently working its way through the bike world.
Comparisons:
I have not been able to test other bikes with this exact component setup so that I can compare just the frames. This bike frame does seem to balance comfort with stiffness perfectly, much better than other bikes I have ridden. The geometry fits me perfectly unlike some other bikes, so again this is a plus point to the Planet-X Superlight Team Frame. |
Conclusions:
At this price I really couldn't ask for better value, performance, comfort and great looks. If I had another £3000 to spend on a bike, do I think that for me it would perform that much better than the Planet-X Superlight team frame? Probably not and at least with this one if I come off the bike and total it I will not be crying till the end of time (perhaps only a few days till I could get another one).
It really annoys me that a frame that is this good could get marked down for not being the lightest, most technologically advanced frame available. If you look at what this frame aims to deliver it fulfills all the criteria perfectly.
Before I end this review I would like to tell you about Planet-X. I ordered the parts one afternoon and they arrived the next day in perfect condition. The order was missing the Stem, so I rang them up and got through to a PERSON (hurrah!) who appologised and the day after I received the rest of my order. Service that is this good is rare and this gives the Frame a few more points on my scorecard.
A well deserved 9.9/10
Because no frame is perfect no matter how much you pay!
UPDATE: See HERE for a change in my bike spec!
For more pictures see Here |
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