I'm thinking of a PX UJ frame given that they seem to be well loved by their owners and they're pretty silly cheap (TBH though I wish there were Chinese carbon frames priced at £250 like the mtbs but that's maybe a different topic...) but I just wondered if they're a bit brick like in terms of weight and ride or not. They're triple butted alu which would suggest they're not too heavy but I've read people both claim that they're heavy and that they're light - anyone actually ever weighed one?
Also, any good suggestions for a disc fork that won't break the bank? DC37 looks decent but I haven't really seen anything new come out which I was expecting given the legalisation of discs in CX.
TIA
I built up an Uncle John over the summer. I too was seduced by the low price and I have to say that I think it is a bit of a bargain. I paired it up with a Kinesis CX Disc alloy fork which is also a bit of a a bargain (it is also very well made). It isn't that much heavier than some carbon CX forks and is about half the price. At present the current Uncle John fork won't take discs.
The Uncle John frame seems plenty stiff enough and compared to my Surly Cross Check it feels a lot lighter and more responsive. I'm sure there are lighter alloy frames out there but for the price Planet X are charging I'm pleased with it. Never actually weighed it though.
Overall the bike seems to handle and ride well and it is nice and versatile. I'm running V brakes at the moment but it is good to know I can stick on discs when I want. Negative points are paint that chips as soon as you look at it and the BB shell was visibly on the wonk and needed a good facing. The pulley arrangement for the front gear cable is a bit of a faff to thread the cable through.
I'm happy with mine and I think there are a few on here who are as well.
I have one. I like it. It isn't heavy.
The sizing is a bit on the big side IMHO, so you may want to sit on one or contact Planet-X before you buy one.
I had one, was little on the big side for me but I loved it til I sold it.
Only sold due to relocation in that Canada
Mines ended up as a light tourer. It's ace though
I bought mine as a complete bike off a mate to do some cross racing. It's deffo not flash, but it does has a really reassuring ride. It's only ever had CX tyres on, and is my first cross bike*, so I have nothing to cpmpare against. I've a bottom half of the field type of rider so it suits me fine.
I'm 5'7" (with relatively long body/short legs) and ride a size small. Fits fine height-wise, though is a touch short front to back ( a different stem would sort that).
I'm thinking of adding discs for next season (had to sit this one out - boo). Not many forks to choose from, though I do like the look of the Spot Brand disc only carbon fork. But then I am rather ATGNI.
Apart from a couple of local cheeky rides, I've never ridden anything other than cross, so can't help on its suitability for road (other than it having bittle cages and guard eyes).
Thanks all. I'm 6'5" and the sizing looks like a large would much closer to my current cx (which is spot on in terms of position) than an XL which is unusual so they are indeed big - looks like they're based on road bike geo basically.
I bloody love mine!!
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/6883837353_ee8a899a09.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/6883837353/ ]Uncle John[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr
Use it for heavy trail work,120 mile off road epic's!
My paints looks like new.
can you run these with flat bars but still have them set up like a cx bike?
you could but it'll be a bit short since it's designed for drop bars which put your hands further forward
what size frame will i need has im just over 6ft?
I'm 5/11 and got a Large.
for road or cx, h4muf?
CX.
any pics?
H4muf - what mud guards are those?
Rear one is BBB thing that slides off when you unlock it!
Front is a small generic crud.
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=bbb+mudguards&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bpcl=38093640&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=4391945443098441646&sa=X&ei=AMaiUMrFCo3csgbjzIDAAQ&ved=0CE0Q8wIwAQ