[Closed] PSA - Planet X London Road frameset for £150

Lifeline for me also, went in fine. Haven't tried to take it out yet though...

I've done over 1000 commuting miles on mine, it's ace - apart from a little problem I've come across in sub-zero but slushy-in-places conditions where the mech cables freeze up around the BB cable guides - which is surprisingly effective at stopping shifting capability.

It's only happened twice, and I guess it's a more of a problem problem with under-BB cable routing in general than a design problem with this specific frame - but has anyone else come across this / managed to find a way of preventing it?

It's only happened a couple of times so far, but is a little annoying - especially as it has only happened when I'm in the big ring and have a climb coming up 🙂

Just been on the plant x site and the frames are down to 149.99 again, colours limited though.

Tot up up the cost of the build first, including the frame and bits you won't have in the spares bin, be honest... compare that cost against the equivalent Arkose, grade or LR full build... Then decide...

Very happy with my LR, not everyone else is, I built mine cheap, had relatively low expectations which have mostly been exceeded, finish ain't great though...

£24 posted for a PX mech hanger?! Any one found another that fits?

PS Nano Race 40s (which are actually up to 42mm) fit a treat, still loads clearance.

Okay mine is suffering in the seat post/clamp department.

Can't get it to stop creaking!!

Do I really need to cut open a can of beer/coke and make a shim? It does seem like the seat post diameter is a tad too big..

(Yeah yeah I should have listened 🙄 )

Some needed shimming, others didn't.

My mate had a go on mine and so impressed he built one for himself. Large black, Flat bar (600mm) with hydros & bar ends, XT 1x10 40T 11-36, Compass Barlow Pass 38c (std), Hope/Crests, Lifeline £10 rack, Charge spoon.

[img] [/img]

Oh yeah and on mine, mudguards fit fine over Nanos, plenty clearance.

I'm using a 31.8-27.2 shim with a 27.2 post.

That's a good idea Horatio!

I even went out and bought the official planet x 31.6 seat post. Definitely more wiggle room with the post than any other bike I've owned.. But it looks so good 🙄

Okay mine's going back to PX for them to sort out the seat tube, the creak is too much for me... 😳

I would love to see the correspondence between PX and the manufacturer of the first batch because I am sure the first batch was shite and PX must have told them so.

Okay mine's going back to PX for them to sort out the seat tube, the creak is too much for me

good luck. The pic of my first one is back on page 7, it was laughably out of spec, not just the 0.2mm that some people sorted with shims. The replacement was better but still out so I had a full refund.

The theory was that it was only the silver ones (that were the only ones reduced to £150) that had the issues, but then people buying full bikes were likely to have had the seat tube binder tightened up in the warehouse before the bike was shipped and be less likely to notice.

good luck. The pic of my first one is back on page 7, it was laughably out of spec, not just the 0.2mm that some people sorted with shims. The replacement was better but still out so I had a full refund.

The theory was that it was only the silver ones (that were the only ones reduced to £150) that had the issues, but then people buying full bikes were likely to have had the seat tube binder tightened up in the warehouse before the bike was shipped and be less likely to notice.

Thanks!

I wouldn't have minded the issue, if it hadn't have creaked and I'd gone out of my way to buy PX branded parts to try and solve it instead of the stuff I'd already had. But every slight movement on the saddle causes it - which is unacceptable on a road bike imho.

At least it's an opportunity to strip down and rebuild a bike - quite enjoy doing it. If they do replace the frame the seat post is the first thing I'll be checking, if it's out again then I may ask for a refund and get an FM079 😆

How long did it take with their warranty team?

So has any one loaded up their LR with panniers and toured yet ? ho did it handle ?

Has anyone pulled the trigger at £140 this weekend?

Sorely tempted here, my old cdf is feeling very heavy on the hills these days... Humm...

wicki - Member
So has any one loaded up their LR with panniers and toured yet ? ho did it handle ?

I'm tempted but not sure on what size to go for
5'7"tall with 30" long legs , I have brakes and bars for a flat bar setup but would still like to be able to run drop bars is I change my mind.
small or medium ? any ideas or thoughts?

@ wicki

Will be bike packing Ridgeway double next month, some other stuff, then Torino Nice Rally in Sept.

Now flat bar, hydro brakes, SLX 11-36t & 38T N/W; Nano Race 40c.
(5'11 on large, 56cm ETT)

[img] [/img]

Iam 5'9" and wanted the same dual purpose choices as you, got the recommended medium and its to small to flat bar with out a stem that looks like a boat tiller..its 54 virtual not actual ....i wish manufacturers would settle on one convention for frame sizes.

They publish the effective top tubs don't they?

fwiw I went from drop bar 80mm stem to flat bar 100mm stem.

Mine's still with the warranty team 16 days later 😆

Pushed the button last night. At £140 it is cheaper than the forks I was considering for my other frame. Man maths has a lot to answer for, again.

I'm tempted but not sure on what size to go for
5'7"tall with 30" long legs , I have brakes and bars for a flat bar setup but would still like to be able to run drop bars is I change my mind.
small or medium ? any ideas or thoughts?

You'll be a small.

Price has just gone up

How long did it take with their warranty team?

Mine's still with the warranty team 16 days later

to be fair they were very quick with mine - I sent em photos and they sent a replacement frame pretty much as soon as they'd got the old one back, and the refund on that was quick too.

crashtestmonkey - Member

to be fair they were very quick with mine - I sent em photos and they sent a replacement frame pretty much as soon as they'd got the old one back, and the refund on that was quick too.

TBF with a frame like this with such known defects, quick would mean sending it out before they had the old one back. It's a different deal to one-offs. Unless yours was a different issue to the standard ones?

no, I think I won the Clown's Pocket Award for most laughably out of spec seat tube

[img] [/img]

Yeah mines out of spec too, not as much as that though!!

The issue is it's causing a huge creak, which was highly annoying.

Some of stuff they have said so far though.... 🙄

Are you sure the creak is coming from the seatpost clamp of the frame? Mine was similar to crashtestmonkeys, and even that didn't creak at all. Is it a carbon post or dodgy saddle rails or something? You mentioned you had the lifeline headset in, which is slightly out-of-spec, it could be that too. If the headset is not in the cups properly it will creak with the slightest movement of the steerer (this happened to me until i got the correct headset).

Yeah definitely seat clamp area - confirmed by placing a clamp on it and tightening (by hand) just until it bites - makes the same creak.

Before doing that test I tried:
2x 31.6mm seat posts
3x seat clamps (Hope/BB/PX)
Carbon pasted/greased/dry
2x different saddles (one brand new, one from my road bike so confirmed it doesn't)

WHY did they put the price up?! 140 was on, 170 is too close to 200 for my liking! They were clearly selling too fast. Fingers crossed they fluctuate the price down again, come on p x !!

crashtestmonkey - Member

no, I think I won the Clown's Pocket Award for most laughably out of spec seat tube

Like throwing a sausage down a close, that.

Mine's still with the warranty team 16 days later

24 days later

Latest reply 26th May. I've sent two email messages, called twice and online chatted since then. 😆

Interesting that they are still suffering the same oversized seat tube issue, must be a fresh batch by now, shouldn't be a problem anymore... Piss poor QC...

cookeaa - Member

Piss poor QC...

It's not a QC issue, it's a not giving a shit issue. Factory and seller are totally aware but have just decided to sell them anyway. Their manufacturing and QC is functioning exactly how they want it to.

@Northwind you are probably right, it just seems like the blowback from the previous shite batch wasn't enough to motivate them to actually address the issue. It's a shame, I really quite like my London Road, but would never recommend one to anyone else, quite an odd thing to say isn't it:

[i]"it's a great bike... But buy an Arkose"...[/i]

I wasn't going to show this, but PX are really hacking me off now.

My original email to them stated that the seat tube was over sized, this is their response:

Hi Nathan

We have never had a problem with this at all it is a first.I would recommend sending the frame back so the warranty team can inspect that.We can arrange collection for you.

Regards

Therefore you guys with seat tube issues have photoshopped them! 😆

Anyone fancy ordering a full London Road bike with the 700x50C Schwalbe Century tyres option and when it arrives, ask them why the wheels won't spin? 😆

@nathb that is an outright lie, I have a customer service acknowledgement from PX dated 18/06/15 related to "[i]London Road frame seatpost size[/i]" where I reported the issue of oversized seat tubes and linked this thread... Flick back a year or so and you'll find my corresponding posts...

OMG the company just gets better and better 😆

Ticket History
------------- (Client) Posted On: 18 June 2015 07:01 PM

Hi there, following this thread on STW:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/psa-planet-x-london-road-frmaeset-for-150/

I bought a 31.8mm seatpost to check the fit (description says 31.6mm), the
fit of the 0.2mm larger post is significantly better, and measurements I
have taken indicate the tubes ID is 31.8mm.

I am still perfectly happy with the frame but thought that planet X should
be made aware of the discrepancy as it may affect frames already in use.

Regards,

-------------.

And the response:

Hi -----

Thank you for your email

We appreciate the feedback in this matter and take it very seriously, we are currently testing our frames to assess whether this is an isolated incident.

Again thank you for bringing this to our attention

Kind regards

Robert

So yeah. It's all news to them... Again.

Received June 11 2015 in response to sending them my pic then returning my frame...

Hi David

Our technical department has asked me to contact you regarding your frame,

An assessment has been made and the seat tube is over sized,

Due to this I have arranged for a replacement frame to be shipped to the address on your returns form as soon as possible.

I apologise fro any inconvenience that has been caused.

Kind Regards,
Naomi

I made a coke-can shim. Yes I know - it's not the point - but less trouble than sorting out a return/replacement.