I've scrapped the idea of a steel race bike, and I'm looking art these two as they fall into the expected claim ammount.
It would be the 2012 giant. That means the new lighter stiffer frame. Full Ultegra and their own wheels which I think are DT Swiss anyway (don't Giant own them now?) Their wheels are 1550 plus and are tubeless ready.
Or
Planet X Nanolight with SRAM Force, and some SRAM S30AL wheels - the new toroidal shaped jobs.
The Planet X is funky and the wheels are superbe, but the Giant is all pure performance. SRAM Force...Ultegra nothing in it. Also the giant comes race ready at 53/39, the Planet X annoyingly 50/34.
If I was sure that the new Nanolights were top end technology I'd be tempted, but you know Giant as it makes the bloody stuff is right up to date.
Help.
Giant. They make more carbon frames than anyone else and know what they're doing. The Planet X seem like a good bike, but I've heard nothing but bad reports about service and customer care.
I have a TCR C3 and it's a fantastic frame, just been reading about the new ones and they sound like a big leap in terms of features and performance.
And full Ultegra? It's a no brainer, it's the nicer groupset to use. The Nanos come with FSA cranks, far-east CNCd brakes etc don't they?
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The giant has a slightly more sloping TT, but they look remarkably similar to me
The Planet X will probably be a fair bit lighter, I imagine the frame is lighter and force is lighter than ultegra. Why have you narrowed it down to just these two?
The Planet X will probably be a fair bit lighter
Not any more, you seen how much Giant have dropped their frame weighs for 2012... About 20% per frame on average!!! The lightest Defy Advanced SL is sub 800g for the frame.
Anyway, I'd go for the Giant personally. You probably get a slightly better individual spec on the Planet X, but with the Giant you know you're getting something that is directly descendant of previous years TDF race bikes.
2012 Giant
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The PX is Full Force.
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I'm waiting for one of these to arrive 😀