[magslmac]

Hi,
I am considering £600 for the Planet X RT-58 alloy or £600 for the Genesis Equilibrium 00 – both new. There is also, for £500 a Canondale CAAD tiagra 2009 for £500 second hand (although, little used).
Can you give me any advice.
I am new to road riding and am looking for best value for money of the 3 options in case I end up selling. On a positive note, I also want the best future-proofed bike in case I wish to upgrade components. I imagine the “winning” bike would meet both these criteria.
The plan is to ride longish distances/sportives, and for fitness, but, as I am retired, there will be no commuting!
The specs look similar apart from the steel frame on the Genesis
I am only considering the canondale because the frame had such great reviews back then, but I don’t know how much alloy technology has developed since then.
it would be great to hear some advice.
magslmac

Topic

[magslmac]

Thanks. I was fitted in the
Thanks. I was fitted in the bike shop and as a result was told I was a 54 size with a 110mm
Stem. No other customised bits apparently required. I will ask for a correct setup when I collect the bike. Is this what you mean?

[Roberj4]

Hi magslmac pleased you got
Hi magslmac pleased you got your order away. I wonder (being new to cycling) can the shop offer you a proper bike fit to get you ‘on the road’ correctly before you pick up the bike?

I’ve made the mistake of purchasing my bikes (correct size) but the finer points of correct seat post and saddle positioning, handle bar set up is very important and ignored by most cyclists. For me coming back into cycling I struggled over the last few years with lower back, knee issues. A proper bike fit helped me enormously and I have no niggly issues any more.

[magslmac]

That seals it. I’m on. Shame
That seals it. I’m on. Shame is the best motivator! Best of luck to you both.

[T1berious]

Go train and do the 100! I’m
Go train and do the 100! I’m doing a 50m will with my father in law in a few weeks and he’s 73!!

I can only hope I’m that fit when I hit 70+ 🙂

[magslmac]

Thanks so much. I have just
Thanks so much. I have just ordered one from my local Edinburgh Planet X store and your feedback has lessened my guilt at spending so much money ( you can tell I’m new to this!).

[magslmac]

Thanks to T1berius, Budd,
Thanks to T1berius, Budd, timblake7, and velomoose for making my day/year. I decided to back my hunch thatmost people on this site were unfamiliar with Planet X because they had no access to their bikes other than online. Accordingly I went with my informed-by-google instincts and ordered an RT-58 alloy on Saturday through the Edinburgh Planet X shop. I am greatly excited, so thanks for the positive feedback from you guys.
Thanks also to the canondale and genesis brigade as I covet their brands for the future – especially the Equlibrium 10.
Now to find out what I am going to do with the bike in reality as I am a frequent rpm gym class attender but only a road virgin. Will my 62 year old ambitions to do a 100 mile sportive prove fantasy or will the knees shudder with fear and imbalance at the passing of the first articulated lorry and a white van on a rural b road?!! I will have up to 21 days to wait and see.
magslmac

[magslmac]

Sounds great. I think I will
Sounds great. I think I will aim for such a bike in the future when I have established my needs.

[velomoose]

I’ve not ridden the other two
I’ve not ridden the other two so can’t compare, but I’ve been riding the alloy RT-58 for a couple of months now and love it. Light for the money and a decent combination of comfortable and quick. Tiagra does what it says on the tin (which is fine). It climbs particularly well, I find.

Worth knowing (if you live down south) that they have a dealership in St Albans (Triathalon Zone, who were brilliant).

Also worth checking whether you can actually get the size/colour you’re after – I got literally the last large frame in black in the country. Other sizes had more stock though.

[timblake7]

Just taken delivery of an
Just taken delivery of an alloy Rt58 and ridden it twice, once in anger! First impressions are it’s fast, geometry is good—sharp turn in but not twitchy fast, reasonably comfortable and as good value as it looks

[budd]

Can’t comment on the RT-58
Can’t comment on the RT-58 but I have been riding the PlanetX RT-57 since April this year and find it excellent. I am a relative newbie to cycling so not an expert but you do seem to get a lot for your money with PlanetX.

regards,

Budd.

[T1berious]

Just thought I’d add my
Just thought I’d add my £0.02

I’m getting back into road biking after a long hiatus and recently got a Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105 6. I’d just like to say it’s an awesome bike (Ok the wheels were the 1st thing to go but as I had a set of Mavic ksyrium on my other bike it’s all good).

With your budget I’d go for SuperSix Evo 5 and some nice wheels 🙂

I’m no expert but am now doing 100+ miles a week on it and its lush!

Cheers,

T1b

[mike the bike]

magslmac wrote:Is your

magslmac wrote:

Is your equilibrium a 00 or more? and do you think your comments apply to the 00 2014 ( carbon fork)?

My Equilibrium was bought as a frameset two years ago, before the 00, 10 and 20 classification arrived. It’s Reynolds 725, which is a truly lovely tubing, and has a carbon fork. I built it up using Campag’ Centaur ( I am sticking at ten gears ) and Fulcrum wheels.
If I say so myself, it’s a cracking bike, swift but comfortable, handsome yet workmanlike. If one of my children was kidnapped and they demanded my Genesis as ransom ……. a tough call!

[magslmac]

Thanks so far guys. Greatly
Thanks so far guys. Greatly appreciated. I am curious why no-one seems to be rating the all-tiagra Planet X bike. Is this because you haven’t ridden one or is there something more I should be aware of. It seems to be the best specified bike for the price out there, and I tend to favour it over the equilibrium 00 as it seems commonly held that a the higher spec equilibriums are significantly better.
The canondale I regret to say, after trial today, is just too small. Pity.

[Roberj4]

Always worth a barter £400 –
Always worth a barter £400 – £450 if you can, then any savings can go towards a saddle bag, bottle & cages, inner tubes etc etc. if it’s ‘as new’ condition, hardly used then your paying (possibly?) half the original RRP even a better feeling you’ve bought a real bargin

[Forester]

Big fan of Genesis
Big fan of Genesis Equilibrium 10, have slightly shortened stem on mine and it is a lovely day ride, am beating times set in 2012 on a giant Defy 2 all-aluminium bike, but its main strength is as a mile-eater, especially with current state of roads. I ride son’s Cannondale CAAD 8 Sora too and that is quite a bit lighter, not quite as comfortable but more responsive and probably a bit faster for the average rider. I have conti Touring 28 tyres on the Genesis and although I will never be KOM I can happily average 14mph + for a day ride, not too bad at age 64.

[Author]

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