preferred-google-button
log in
register

Sub £1k Carbon

  • This topic has 25 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by Anonymous.
  • Creator
    Topic
  • June 10, 2016 at 1:47 pm #25868
    Chrishart45

    Hello roadies….

    As with probably quite a few people, my first post is a question about a new bike.

    I have been pondering over buying my first real road machine after getting bored of riding an ancient carrera for the past 3 years as a fitness bike.
    Looking around I have come across two bikes which seem to fit my bill, I am looking to spend £700-800 and want a fairly comfy preferably carbon machine. The two I have whittled it down to are:

    The merlin fuse
    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-fuse-105-mix-road-bike-84195.html

    Or

    The planet x pro carbon SRAM rival

    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV22/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-rival-11-road-bike

    I like the rival groupset but obviously the 105 on the merlin won’t be crap…. Frame wise I read that both are a little flexy but that’s OK with me, I’m no racer. I like the style of the planet x but the merlin looks a little more modern which I belive it is as the planet x has been around in the same guise for a few years.

    Has anyone any thoughts between these two? I have looked around a fair bit and would like something different to the norm so not really bothered about a cannondale or a giant and the spec on these is quite a lot better than the equivalent ribble.

    Any help would be gratefully received.

    Nice one

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 10 replies - 16 through 25 (of 25 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • June 12, 2016 at 12:00 am #873145
    0
    BBB

    PennineRider wrote:

    PennineRider wrote:
    Oh and you don’t need to run 28mm tyres for “comfort”. You don’t need to run 28mm tyres on a road bike at all. It’s a red herring.

    There is a difference between being comfortable and being used to discomfort.

    25mm is just a meaningless number that marketers put in your head, just like 23mm in last few decades.

    What makes you think that 25mm is what everyone needs? Is it because pros use them? Is it because jurnos tell you so? Why not 23mm used by roadie sheep for decades? Why not 30mm?

    Have you done some extensive testing on various road surfaces asking different riders weighing from 10 to 20 st about their comfort and came to conclusion that 25mm is what they all need?

    When it comes to tyres I always believed that the only way to find out what (un)comfortable, wide, narrow, soft, hard is… is to test the extreme ends of the scale. Otherwise you won’t have a slightest clue what you’re talking about.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    June 11, 2016 at 10:25 pm #873143
    0
    mtbtomo

    Agree, you don’t need 28mm

    Agree, you don’t need 28mm tyres.  I have 28mm Conti GP 4Seasons on one bike, but they’re not any wider than the 25mm Schwalbe Pro One’s or the 25mm Conti GP4000s I have on other bikes.  That’s because the 25mm tyres are fitted to wider rims.

     

    23mm Schwalbe Pro Ones on my race bike measure up at 26mm…

    June 11, 2016 at 9:25 pm #873141
    0
    PennineRider

    Oh and you don’t need to run
    Oh and you don’t need to run 28mm tyres for “comfort”. You don’t need to run 28mm tyres on a road bike at all. It’s a red herring.

    June 11, 2016 at 9:21 pm #873139
    0
    PennineRider

    I have the Planet X Pro
    I have the Planet X Pro Carbon with SRAM Rival and I’m completely happy with it.

    Merlin were not selling road bikes when I was buying. Had they been, I would have had a very good look at them.

    Both Shimano 105 and SRAM Rival perform reliably. Just get the bike you like the look of the most!

    June 11, 2016 at 4:56 pm #873137
    0
    Stef Marazzi

    Chrishart45 wrote:

    Chrishart45 wrote:
    cyclesteffer wrote:
    I think the Merlin Fuze is actually a more expensive Ridley bike in disguise, with just a simple Merlin paint job.
    I think I’ve heard this before, I can’t seem to find what model, but I’m guessing that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a bike based on a ridley?

    Had a damn good review here – I’ve got a Ridley X-Bow which is obviously a Cyclocross bike, and have just done 10,000 miles on it, loved every one of them!

    http://road.cc/content/review/167777-merlin-fuse-105

     

    June 10, 2016 at 9:22 pm #873135
    0
    Chrishart45

    cyclesteffer wrote:

    cyclesteffer wrote:
    I think the Merlin Fuze is actually a more expensive Ridley bike in disguise, with just a simple Merlin paint job.

    I think I’ve heard this before, I can’t seem to find what model, but I’m guessing that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a bike based on a ridley?

    June 10, 2016 at 9:10 pm #873133
    0
    Stef Marazzi

    I think the Merlin Fuze is
    I think the Merlin Fuze is actually a more expensive Ridley bike in disguise, with just a simple Merlin paint job.

    June 10, 2016 at 9:07 pm #873131
    0
    Chrishart45

    Thanks for the pointers. I do
    Thanks for the pointers. I do reckon we’re moving into a time where entry level carbon is becoming worth while. Though these two come with a nice looking spec compared to anything I can find. Even most alu framed builds
    Good point on the tyre clearance I’ll ask the question.
    Test ride this weekend I guess is the most important thing. Though the Planet X comes in mad pink, could be the swinging factor!

    June 10, 2016 at 4:36 pm #873129
    0
    BBB

    I can’t comment on the Merlin

    I can’t comment on the Merlin but watch the tyre clearance on Planet x. As far as I remember 25mm is max.

    Comfort that you are after will come mainly from the tyres, not some magical properties of carbon fibre. Don’t buy anything that won’t allow you running 28mm rubber.

     

     

     

    June 10, 2016 at 4:03 pm #873127
    0
    le Bidon

    I know this doesn’t really

    I know this doesn’t really answer your question or problem directly, but at that budgets I’d be looking at a nice alu frame, rather than a cheap-ass carbon frame.

    Maybe a CAAD8, Canyon Endurace, Trek Emonda.

    But if carbon it must be, then I’d take the Planetx over the Merlin. Though BTWIN do a well-reviewed sub-£1000 bike I seem to recall. Maybe look at a Ribble build?

     

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 10 replies - 16 through 25 (of 25 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.