Planet X Pro Carbon Evo?

I’ve been looking and holding off from buying a carbon road bike for ages.

I’ve got a full Monty SL at the moment, alloy frame with carbon fork. Cheap wheels and bottom end groupset, mechanical discs.

It’s ok, but I’m enjoying roadying more than I thought I would, so feel like an upgrade, plus then I’ll turn the full Monty into a pub bike.

I’ve been mulling over the Ribble endurance, giant defy, trek domane, spesh Roubaix etc’. They’re all roughly around the same price point, £1800ish for 105, £2300 for ultegra.

But, planet X have just sent out an offer on the new pro carbon, £1500 with full SRAM Force 22. On paper, it seems a bargain. Reviews are a bit thin on the ground.

Is there any reason not to!? Or are the more expensive brands really worth it?

Help me mull it over, my wife’s not interested!

I love mine. Force 22 is really nice to use. I’d like nicer wheels but they’re not the worse.

Mines a medium, with carbon bars and seat post and comes in at just over 8kgs without pedals. New wheels could save another few hundred grams I reckon.

I’m running 28mm tyre up front but there’s not quite enough clearance for me in the back so  stuck with 25mm there.

The other bikes you mention are ‘endurance’ type with taller headtubes, perhaps 2cm taller and slightly shorter top tube too.

The geo for the pro carbon and the Ribble (which was always the main contender) in XL (I’m 6’2) is very similar. 10mm lower stack for the Ribble, same head tube, longer wheel base though.

I need a bike that’s good for local fitness rides and occasionally big days out to the forest of bowland, lakes and dales. I don’t compete in anything or ride in a group so keeping up with anyone is not an issue!

The planet X looks good for that?

I have a ProCarbon Evo in the same red and love it. Rides really smooth, comfy on longer rides and seems well put together. The wheels are where they have compromised to hit a price point and they weigh a ton but they are true and go round so fine for now. Thinking of some Hunt wheels later as an upgrade.

Perhaps when buying a new bike consideration should be taken of the reliability record and quality of customer service? Then, look at the specifications and price?

I’ve had 2 bikes off Planet X in last 5 years and countless parts/clothing over almost 20 years and I’ve honestly never had a single issue. Guess with the amount of bikes and stuff they shift it’s bound to go wrong from time to time.

Exactly. Is the customer service really that bad, or do we only really hear about the worse cases? There’s some happy customers above and I’ve already got an alloy planet X frame which seems fine to me! It’s £500-£700 cheaper than similar specs from “more reputable” brands.

I bought the Rival 22 disc version and loved it.
Only changed the stupid heavy seat post and the wheels.

I went through this at the beginning of the year (when F&F was £299)

Old thread
Positive feedback from those who have them…

I ended up buying an XL frame (slight issue they sent a track frame but very quickly picked that up and sent the correct frame). Very good customer service experience given the initial hiccup.

Looked good on arrival, fits my existing Hunt and Kinesis wheels, just needed new drivetrain/hydraulic brakes.

Sadly, no income since Feb means no way of buying the groupset bits I need, so it’s still in its box and I can’t comment on ride qaulity 🙁
And I had plenty of time to kill to build it in April/May too

Did think about selling on as the F&F are now £999! But it’s one of those things I am looking forward to doing when I can…

I know I’m being a bit of a snob but if it were my money and I’d already been mulling over £1800+ bikes I’d be more inclined to pay the extra £300 for the same bike with Ultegra…

That said it is your money.

I know I’m being a bit of a snob but if it were my money and I’d already been mulling over £1800+ bikes I’d be more inclined to pay the extra £300 for the same bike with Ultegra

This.
A friend has the same bike, likes it a lot, it looks great. I’ve never ridden it but he’s pretty sharp on it. The wheels weren’t great but they’re easily swapped over.

I’d investigate the potentially limited rear tyre clearance mentioned above.

And I wouldn’t settle for just 25mm clearance on the rear if buying a new disc bike myself now, it’s needlessly restrictive on a disc frame.

I’d be more inclined to pay the extra £300 for the same bike with Ultegra…

it’s not 300 extra for ultegra though.

From the OP, so thats 300 extra for 105 or 800 extra for ultegra….

I’ve been mulling over the Ribble endurance, giant defy, trek domane, spesh Roubaix etc’. They’re all roughly around the same price point, £1800ish for 105, £2300 for ultegra.

But, planet X have just sent out an offer on the new pro carbon, £1500 with full SRAM Force 22.

TBF I paid about £1250 for mine with Carbon seat post and Carbon bars.

I’d investigate the potentially limited rear tyre clearance mentioned above.

And I wouldn’t settle for just 25mm clearance on the rear if buying a new disc bike myself now, it’s needlessly restrictive on a disc frame.

A 28mm tyre did fit in but the clearance was tiny. I rode it twice like that but was paranoid about picking up debris and causing an issue….

I didn’t really think about it when I bought it, and would have preferred to be able to run a 28 on the back, but it’s still comfy enough with 25’s. 28 on the front is fine though.

Well the build options come with 25’s and I’ve currently got 25 pro ones which I’ll be wanting to get a few more miles out of yet. But next time i’d like to move up to 28’s.

Turns out the blurb for the bike says “new improved clearance for up to 30mm tyres.” So that sounds good!

From what I’ve been reading, even £2000-£2500 bikes still benefit from wheel upgrades so that would still be an issue.

I don’t really know what I’m asking, but it’s nice to hear some positive reviews up there.

If the clearance is improved to take 30c, I’d take a punt on it (if it’s true that the Ultegra version is £800 more).

I’m very much a Shimano man but I’ve had Rival on a road bike and it was fine – and pretty light. So Force should be more than acceptable.

If the wheels are dogshit, then you will want to find a bit of money to upgrade.

Depending what the axle format is, I may be able to assist – I’ve got some semi-decent disc wheels I took off my new Boardman.

Just checked the PX website and thats a newer version than mine and seems to have improved the tyre clearance. New colours look nice as well.

Might have to see how much F&F are going for in a few months time…..

if it’s true that the Ultegra version is £800 more

That’s not what I mean. If you look at the Ribble endurance, that’s £2300 for ultegra, trek domane £2400 for 105, Cannondale synapse £2700 for ultegra etc’.

Just been in my local roadie lbs. They deal with some high end stuff, they’ve got a Look 785 huez for £3000. 105 and Mavic Aksiums which in reviews of other bikes are heavy and need upgrading anyway!

So what is it you actually get by spending £1000+ more!?

It’s funny though, if I happened to have £5000 burning a hole in my pocket, i’d happily throw it on a Transition Spur rather spending half the amount on a Vitus from CRC!!

it’s not 300 extra for ultegra though.

£1799 Innit?

I’m Not sure what extra magic the word ‘Evo’ infers, is it actually less tyre clearance?, doesn’t seem very “evolved”…

That’s not what I mean. If you look at the Ribble endurance, that’s £2300 for ultegra, trek domane £2400 for 105, Cannondale synapse £2700 for ultegra etc’.
Just been in my local roadie lbs. They deal with some high end stuff, they’ve got a Look 785 huez for £3000. 105 and Mavic Aksiums which in reviews of other bikes are heavy and need upgrading anyway!

Ribble 872 Ultegra Disc is £2k at present, the 105 version is £1.5k both similar builds to the newer ‘endurance’ equivalents just without the extra “aeroz”…

So what is it you actually get by spending £1000+ more!?

Well it’s possibly more like ~£0-300-500 more, and for that you can get shimano rather than SRAM, Wheels are going to be much of a muchness between all of these offerings Most of the Ribbles seem to come with Aksium Most of the PX with Fulcrum wheels…

Took a punt and ordered! XL in blue 😳

Well it arrived a few days ago

I’ll post up a bit more info a bit later

Only been out for a short set up ride so far. It feels good, although I don’t doubt there’s an element of new bike excitement!

First thing, it’s so quiet!! No rattles, knocks, creaks and a silent free hub. There’s a bit more absorption of rough roads, I didn’t feel as beat up as I sometimes do on my current ride.

Not used SRAM road gear before but that feels great. It’s Force 22 with hydro brakes. I like the definite click of each gear selection and the brakes feel so much better than TRP spyres I’m used to. There’s no hills nearby though so not a real test of those yet.

Weighs roughly 8.5kg. I’ve got a better wheelset on back order so once that arrives that should knock a bit more weight off along side going tubeless.

I’ve got 25c pro ones on the current bike with plenty life left in them so they’ll go on the new rims.

There’s 25c on there at the moment with plenty clearance, apparently there’s room for 30c now, tried to get pics of the clearance below. Next time I need tyres I’ll probably go 28c.

It definitely feels like all the road bike I’ll ever need. Feels comfortable and more sprightly than my current ride. I didn’t set any strava leaderboards on fire today, but I reckon there’ll be a noticeable difference to comfort and stamina on a long, hilly day out.

Considering I got £200 knocked off for pre-ordering and was lucky enough to get a 10% NHS discount, I reckon I’ve got a bargain. I appreciate it’s not gonna be the finest quality/grade carbon or hand built in a shed somewhere, but it’ll do me!

Next job is to convert my old frame into a flat bar, single speed hybrid type thing. Got most of the bits to knock something together I think.

Edit – oh and it’s not an Evo anymore, been re-badged back to Pro Carbon.

I could be tempted by one of these frame and forks next year if they ever get cheap again. Currently got a Cannondale Caad 12 disc and if I could save a bit of weight with a carbon frame and get more rear tyre clearance that would be be great. Got a 25c Continental GP4000 on the rear at the moment and would quite like a 28c at some point. Wifey might go mad if I change a bike frame again though….

Would quite like to get down to bang on 8kg or less if possible. Got Di2 Ultegra on there already and a 1550g wheelset.

Does it have mudguard mounts anywhere?

What I’d ideally like is a System Six but that’s never happening!

No mudguard mounts.

I reckon you could get pretty close to 8kg. I picked the carbon bars, but there’ll be lighter ones out there. Seat post is brand X carbon so it’s not bad but again, lighter stuff available. My pedals are pretty heavy too. I’ll weigh again when the new wheels go on, the tyres on there at the moment are tubed with a wire bead so pretty heavy I reckon.