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i need a bit of help.
iv built up a Planet X pro full carbon 105 10 speed with Mavic mid range wheels.
i thought I was happy with it until I road a friends mekk full carbon, and a specialized s4 both seemed to have accelerated quicker. Both were too big for me so I could not give them a good ride to compare.
Is it just in my head or is there much better frames than mine out there?
I ride once or twice a week with mates on the road bike in the evenings 35 miles ish each time. The rest is my tru love MTB.
is there something I can look out for with not too much extra outlay? (Sell a frame buy a frame)
Stop riding other bikes. Ride your more.
I doubt those frames are much better than yours. Could be your head. Could be tyres or wheels.
Lighter wheels make a big difference.
I had the same 10s 105 and recently put the new ultegra on instead and it it's really a big step up.
Yes, there are better road frames out there than your Planet X, they were known for being a bit flexy, but a Mekk (whatever that is) and a Spesh SL4 aren't that much better for you to notice much I'd say.
I'd just ride yours and crack on, you'll never find the holy grail, even £10k road bikes have 'faults'. It'll be the wheels and tyres you notice 1st, so if you want to upgrade, I'd start there.
Are you still running in the wheel bearings?
Old wheels Mavic askium. 25mm tyres Continentals.
It's worth checking the geometry charts for the bike you currently ride and what else has felt good. The Planet X is a respectable budget frame with a lot of very happy customers, but there's been no substantial development of the frame in its lifetime.
I'm currently rocking an immaculate used Trek Emonda ALR (alloy) as my roadie and it's an ace way to test what geometry works without risking an expensive mistake. Just wanted to say that you can get low-ish cost frames like this without going carbon.
Mavic Aksium aren't mid range, they're better than a lot of oe sets but not by much. Difficult to judge the tyres with no model details. I've one of those Planet X as well, can't say I notice it being any more flexible than my other bikes (wasn't Hora always going on about them being a bit noodle?) or particularly slow, it s an ok bike, so maybe wheels and tyres then
... there’s been no substantial development of the frame in its lifetime.
I believe there's a tendency for people to overthink road bikes, I'd hazard a guess that even without substantial development 98% of the riders on here wouldn't get near being under-biked on it, it's some carbon tubes with fairly standard road geometry, as you say with your frame they're all much of a muchness, more so if your not racing at a high level.
Good point about the tyre. They are gator skins.
Tyres and wheels do make a difference but light weight is about FEELING faster rather than being significantly faster.
What wheels have your pals got?
Can you pop a set on your bike and see how it feels?
aksiums are heavyish wheels and i found gatorskins to be quite draggy , as chakaping said try your mates wheels on your bike or your wheels on there bikes,