Very close to getting a pre-order in for one of these - anything else worth looking at around the same price before I do?
Main sticking point, which tends to cut the list right down, is it has to be SRAM and discs - just much prefer double tap to Shimano's floppy brake levers. Otherwise carbon frame and thru axles are about my only other wants. Wheels don't matter as I already have some decent carbon ones to swap them out with.
Don't mind a few months wait as I'd have to for the PX anyway, but doesn't look like there's much else comparable for the money?
but doesn’t look like there’s much else comparable for the money
Exactly why I ended up with the planet X. I can't really offer much of a review as it's my first "decent" road bike so can't compare.
It feels light, comfy, looks alright, clearance is good for 28's but you can go bigger.
I sold the fulcrum wheels for £140 I think so factor that in as well! I also got the carbon bar upgrade for £60. Worth it? Don't know but it looks good 🤣
Dolans L'Etape SL is far superior but why people want SRAM is beyond me.
The new Shimano 105 is superb and one Pro is famously quoted as saying he'd rather have 105 than top spec SRAM.
Watching with interest, in the market for a nicer road bike than the current commuter.
I'll add Dolan to my list but like the OP, want disc.
Ribble Endurance but not SRAM so out for OP.
Was tempted by the Giant TCR, a chunk more (£2200) for 105 but does look/ride ace.
I've got the previous version Pro Carbon, it's a lovely bike, rides really nice. I too put carbon bars on it, but actually kind of wish I hadn;t as I now can;t fit clip on tri bars. Still want to swap the wheels as well, but can't afford yet.
I wanted Shimano when I was looking for a new road bike but the price I got the PX for was so good I decided to give SRAM a go. I've got to say its really very good. Don't get me wrong, if I was buying another road bike today, I would probably again look for Shimano first but certainly wouldn't be bothered if a bike had SRAM. As long as it was at the better end of the scale SRAM.
Dolans L’Etape SL is far superior but why people want SRAM is beyond me.
The new Shimano 105 is superb and one Pro is famously quoted as saying he’d rather have 105 than top spec SRAM.
To be fair I also hate the flappy Shimano levers - every now and then I’d go to shift with the brake lever and ever so slightly catch the lever behind and the whole thing just flaccidly swing in with no gear changing. Sram double tap much nicer for me - but expensive to buy after market. So I ended up getting rid of mechanical 105 and going Ultegra Di2 which also got rid of the stupid brake lever shifting.
As you say, there's not much else comparable for the money - especially with SRAM as stock.
Easy choice if you actually favour their groupsets anyway.
I wish I could get on with Shimano, I can see it's much better value and there'd be a lot more choice, but the brake lever shifting just doesn't quite work for me. The SRAM Force on both my gravel and previous road bike has been flawless too, so other than the lack of availability there's not really anything to put me off it...
Looks like the PX wins by default then! At least the few mentions of it have been positive! Any thoughts on sizing for those of you with one? At 5'10" the sizing puts me right between M and L - geometry on my last road bike was very similar to the medium and felt great, so pretty sure that's the size to go for...
It's interesting how PX do their bikes so much cheaper with SRAM groupsets, they must be very competitively priced at OEM.
My experience of Rival nine years ago was that it was impressively light and worked well enough, I just prefer the ergonomics and solidity of 105 or Ultegra.
I'm 5'9" and on a medium 53 or 54 what ever the last one was...
Dolans L’Etape SL is far superior but why people want SRAM is beyond me.
The new Shimano 105 is superb and one Pro is famously quoted as saying he’d rather have 105 than top spec SRAM.
I have SRAM Etap and the new 105, they both work very well, as do all modern groupsets.....
Dolans L’Etape SL is far superior but why people want SRAM is beyond me.
The new Shimano 105 is superb and one Pro is famously quoted as saying he’d rather have 105 than top spec SRAM.
Except the OP wanted disks. At which point it's between the Tuono and Ares at ~£2050 and £2500 respectively for 105.
The Ares looks fast just sat still, but it's not £1700 with Force and disk brakes.
On a related note, it shows how far our economy and the £ has slipped in the last ~15 years when we're now looking at £2500 for a 105 bike via a direct sales business model! It doesn't seem that long ago that the big annual Cycling Plus super-grouptest was £1500 from any brand and you were getting 105/ultegra!
Sonder do the Calibri Carbon with SRAM Rival for £1749.00
You could also look at the PX Ec130 - very pleased with mine, I'm 6'1" - wouldn't get away with being much smaller and still fitting on my large - though you might get away with a shorter stem if you wanted to
Except the OP wanted disks. At which point it’s between the Tuono and Ares at ~£2050 and £2500 respectively for 105.
They had an L'Etape Disc but may have been a Special Edition - all gone now.
Dolan 55cm L'Etape Carbon Disc Road Bike-SE - 105 R7020 - Dolan Bikes
Dolan L'Etape Disc from www.dolan-bikes.com
Dolan 55cm L'Etape Carbon Disc Road Bike-SE - 105 R7020. £1599.98. From £21.85 per month on finance. (0 reviews). | Write review. Product Code: ...
Yep-all gone!
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the big annual Cycling Plus super-grouptest was £1500 from any brand and you were getting 105/ultegra!
Yep, my old 2016 Cube Attain GTC full carbon and full 105 (caliper though) was £1500 RRP.
I much prefer Shimano but the Sram Rival I had was decent enough.
Thanks for all the input! The Sonder looks decent, but it's Rival rather than Force, and seems to be cable Tektro brakes looking at the spec, all for £50 more than the PX. Have also seen the EC130, but that's again £100 more for the Force option, and think I'd prefer something a bit more all round over aero. Other options being Shimano pretty much rule them out for me unfortunately... So that's the PX pre-ordered!
Does seem to be a quite a price increase/spec decrease now it's been mentioned - remember looking for my first road bike probably 7 or 8 years ago and sure it wasn't much more than £1000 for something with full 105...
