Which Carbon Bike should i buy - advice please

[Mostyn]

Ridley produce one of the lightest Alloy framed bikes in the world; they even shout about it in their ads. I have a Ridley X-Ride and must admit it's almost as lightweight as my Carbon bike. But after riding the Carbon bike, I wouldn't want anything else on a nice ride; and I suppose a good-deal of that would be a Feel-Good-Factor? Especially when your old and slow, and getting slower, just as I am.

[bfergie]

But here we are talking of £1k or thereabouts...at that price point it has to be either upgrades on the existing good quality frameset or going high quality alloy like a the Cannondale Caad frames, Cervelo S1 alloy etc. I'd love to throw £1k onto my Principia alloy, it would be a thing of beauty, floaty light, stiff, fast and best of all, it would look so ordinary!!

[themadchemist]

Hey Guys,

6.4,KG, = around 14,Lb in weight for a complete bike with pedals; and bottle cages, is fantastic for an alloy framed bike.

But is it all about the weight of a bike? or maybe there are other attributes to owning and riding a Carbon bike? Most off the shelf Carbon bikes come in about 8,KG, which is pretty lightweight ...

6.4Kg's for an alloy bike is light..mine weighs over 12kg.. oh,maybe that's because it's a hybrid
Seriously,my carbon weighs over 7kg,so 6.4 is light.

I think some of us are missing the point of the post.. it asks for advice on carbon bikes.
When i had a similar task,6 maybe 7yrs ago,i wouldn't have been swayed to look at alloy frames because i wanted a carbon one. Personally i don't like the ride of alloy frames..but that's just me.. I actually prefer my 531c steel and that gets out more than the carbon.
Bfergie does have valid points,that spending the money on upgrading parts on the original bike would probably be the sensible idea.. but maybe the poster wants to use the old bike as the winter hack,and wants something swishy for the summer..

[pragmatix]

Funnily enough my Carbon TCR weighs over 7kg closer to 8kg infact but that is still stock

[Mquesera]

Thanks for advice having looked around both Planet X and ribble seem very well priced. Anyone any experience with either of these manufacturers? Any advice on which models would suit me, average rider 30 mile rides couple of time midweek then 60 milers on weekend

[stepdot]

I ride a Ribble (well 2 in fact, one aluminium and one carbon) and can recommend it, it rides well, is light and comfortable and if it isnt good enough to race on then you must be competing at the very top of the amateur field. My carbon bike is the old red/black sportive/racing frame which morphed into the Bianco which gets some very favorable reviews in various magazines.

[bfergie]

I had a Planet X SL Pro and it was a good frame, the Nano is even better, stiffer and lighter. Our resident ex pro also has a Planet X and rates it beyond any bike he ever raced on...if it's good enough for Dazz....who are we o say otherwise!!

[Mostyn]

Ribble & Planet X are good bikes! I know two people with a Planet X bike; and they both love them! Also know a couple with a 2012 Ribble Bianco. And if it were for looks and frame geomtry? I'd go for the Ribble. You can also choose how you build the Ribble bike; and I suggest you go for the best possible wheels you can afford! Or buy the bike without wheels and get in touch with Fergie for some fast lightweight wheels. I do like the new Ribble, as seen in the bike show.