PSA – Planet X London Road frameset for £150

I found the threads on the rear disc bolt mount very stiff also. I put it down to new bolts and a poorly cut thread. After a few times tightening and backing off they snugged up tight but fine.

In my experience there isn’t much difference in quality between genesis frames, px/on-one,pinnacle,merida,Giant,trek et al – eastern manufacturing to a cost which is usually good.

On my road bike i hardly used the drops because i could never get comfy for long periods, but the midge bars being shallower and flared seem really nice

I’d like to know what the cheap unlabelled OE bars are on my Saracen Hack (similar sort of bike to the LR) as they have a super-shallow drop and are really comfortable riding in the drops – could do with another pair for my plastic fantastic road bike!

Yeah I’ve been comparing it with my Road bike a bit and I had expected the TT to be longer and I’ve tended to prefer Shorter stems on road bikes (probably because I’m still a tubby MTBist at heart) and it’s what I had in the spares bin, but I think 60mm may be that shade too short, although this bike will be getting used off-road as well as on and a bit less reach might help it in that respect, there’s only one way to find out…

In other related news my cheapo 31.8mm seat post has arrived, I shall try it in the frame tonight…

frankly I am sick of cheap Chinese Asian tat being not fit for purpose

I don’t think it’s fair to simply blame the Chinese it is mostly Planet-X / On-Ones fault, they set the tolerances, design, QC/QA. We’ve know for years that Planet-X simply don’t care about QC/QA and have no interest in putting it right. Anyway what do you expect from a company run by a CEO who looks up to Mike Ashley (Sports Direct). Quite frankly people need to stop buying from Planet-X and then maybe they’ll make sit up and take notice.

IME Giant / Trek / Spesh etc. frames are much better made than Planet-X / On-one.

More expensive though….

More expensive though….

Is it really though, Pinnacle Arkrose is selling at £300 same RRP as the London Road, and comes with a headset fitted.

Genises frames at Paul milnes on ebay from 124 for a vapour no fork limeted sizes left but they have other inc Eqilibrium for arround the 300 mark and a very nice Ridgeback advance disc frame sets disc ready for 245

I’ve happily had 3 Pinnacle bikes/frames since swearing off PX/OnOne bikes/frames.

Success! (or rather failure on the part of PX if you prefer) 31.8mm post (marked as such and measured to confirm) fits perfectly i.e. no slop, slides all the way in without graunching or scoring, clamp nips up securely without having to pinch the tube in.

in short it’s a proper fit not undersized.

I will email PX to let them know and maybe link this thread. If I were them I would be checking remaining stock, chasing the supplier and looking for someone to supply 31.8mm seatposts in bulk rather sharpish…

Still happy with the frame, wouldn’t be if I had purchased a full build with an undersized post fitted…

It would be nice to get some sort of official response from PX on this thread…

Is it really though, Pinnacle Arkrose is selling at £300 same RRP as the London Road, and comes with a headset fitted.

But you didn’t mention pinnacle, I was directly referring to your post above mine.

dragon – Member

I don’t think it’s fair to simply blame the Chinese it is mostly Planet-X / On-Ones fault, they set the tolerances, design, QC/QA.

Absolutely this. If your job spec is “make us some tat” then it’s not the fault of the factory when they send tat. Huge amounts of high quality goods come from the far east, sold by consciencious/competent companies.

First ride into work on it today. Seat post is slipping no matter how tight I do up the bolt!! A new planet X one bought at same time as frame??

Checked my seat post/tube this morning and it does wiggle around in it, mines a medium, doesn’t slip though once the clamp is tightened.

I don’t really want to send it back because the bike is great otherwise, it’ll also be a hassle stripping it down but, I am going to email them and ask them about potential future cracking issues and where I stand.

Marty the seat POST isn’t the issue its the seat tube in the frame. If you’re lucky it’s 31.8 not the 31.6 it should be (see above), if you’re unlucky it’s 32.something and a “clowns pocket” like my first frame.

You either accept it and maybe try shim it with a coke can, or return it like I have (now for a refund).

The closest we ever get to an official response is Brant, who left, what, a year ago? Why should they reply, for every thread like this there’s people recommending Codienes, Pickenflicks and other premium-priced items (which I wouldn’t consider).

The Sports Direct comparison was interesting- buying up old “heritage” brand names and punting cheap stuff out. Is there any difference between the PX Pro Carbon and the Holdsworth (trentino?) Other than paint job?

They won’t get my business again, but they won’t notice.

Cookeaa I included a link to this thread in my first email to them when I’d photoed my first frame so they are well aware.

From the Planet-X interview in Rouleur:

As for who Loughran admires in the business world, the first name that comes up is Mike Ashley, the billionaire founder of Sports Direct, which operates more than 500 stores worldwide. Loughran has consciously followed the Sports Direct model: build a business around multiple brands that you own and cut out as many tiers in the supply chain as you can.

Cheers. Will look into it. I have emailed them about it. Don’t really want to send it back as I need the bike to get to work and like it. perhaps a larger post will do it.

I’ve had a 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

Which TBF is as I expected, they are checking their stock, what more can they really do at this point?

I didn’t stamp my feet or ask for a replacement/refund as I just wanted them to know there’s an issue and now they do…

If your post is loose, and/or shifting while you ride, my suggestion would be buy a cheap 31.8mm post for a tenner just so you can carry on safely using the bike, raise the issue with PX (linking this thread) and see what resolution you get to…

Cookeaa see earlier post of mine- they were allegedly pulling ALL the remaining stock to inspect it after my first return so they were aware the best part of 2 weeks ago.

I’ve emailed them to see what they say about potential for future cracking. I’ll see what they come back with. I have said that I don’t want to send the frame back if they don’t think there’s a problem, but at least if they telll there shouldn’t be a problem I’ll have it in writing!!

Did notice though that the silver Frameset has gone up to £199 now. Black and green still £299

Fair enough CTM, I don’t have the same axe to grind with them though, my dealings with PX/OO have been fine in the past, and I can reasonably see how this problem might have occurred, it’s not left me out of pocket or hugely inconvenienced…

I just found a different solution to coke can shims or sending it back.

They are hardly going to email back saying, “yes we know it’s a bit out” I am fine with the response, primarily because they didn’t tell me that my course of action was wrong, or not recommended, which I interpret as me still have the right to return the goods as unfit, should any other problems develop…

PX could just amend the description on the site, and crack on selling the frame for use with a 31.8mm post, that’s what I would do in their place…

Yet to finnish my biuld and this is not inspiring confidece. How many people here have a problem ?

A form email comming from all those with issues might be a good idea, individualy easy to fob off one at a time but a group of people have more clout.

just an idea

Thing is at present I don’t have a problem, unless PX come back and tell me it’s a safety concern or could increase the likely hood of future cracking.

I’ve been thinking of getting a carbon post but i can’t find one in 31.8!!

Cracking bike otherwise, no pun intended, just see how your seatpost/tube goes and enjoy the bike if it’s all ok.

Fair enough CTM, I don’t have the same axe to grind with them though, my dealings with PX/OO have been fine in the past, and I can reasonably see how this problem might have occurred, it’s not left me out of pocket or hugely inconvenienced…

well my experience with their frames is “0 for 2” as they’d say in America, and as Munqe Chick and I have previously documented it has left us inconvenience and out of pocket.

They are hardly going to email back saying, “yes we know it’s a bit out”

why not, that would be the honest response given I sent them the link and my pic on June 2nd?

How many people here have a problem ?

far more people will have out-of-spec seat tubes than will have a “problem” with that. Plenty of replies early in the thread along the lines of “mine was a bit of a loose fit but nipped up fine” and people saying my second pic was “bang on” when it measured 31.8-something. And if you bought a full bike someone’s already done the “nipping up” for you.

Cancelled an order for one of these. I’ve been stung by PX in the past and it this looked ideal for me but just cannot be bothered with the aggrevation of dealing with them in the event of it having a Wizards sleeve seatpost.

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/recalls-0

Interesting site about the bike industry showing recall information.

Measured mine as a whopping 32.2, shimmed with a coke can. Not a problem on a road bike, but would have been completely unusable if it were a mtb frame.

Amazing what FAULTY products people are willing to put up with on here! As for hoping they will guarantee a cracked frame for tightening the clamp WTF that’s crazy too!

I’m frustrated as I liked the bike and had bought various bits to build it up! But this isn’t advertised a a “cheap knock off faulty bike” this is advertised as a £300 bike down to £150. Absolutely no axe to grind with Planet X but clearly they are sending out generic responses!

Measured mine as a whopping 32.2, shimmed with a coke can. Not a problem on a road bike, but would have been completely unusable if it were a mtb frame.

Interesting view point. On the basis that I spend way more time sat down on my road bikes, my personal view would have been the opposite!

Any one think the sizing is on the small side for the frame?

I got sent a replacement frame and it had exactly the same fault.
Has anyone got a large frame with a seat-tube the correct size??

Getting increasingly frustrated here… They are refusing to refund, and just offering a credit note, which isn’t much use in getting a replacement from somewhere else. :/

If your within 28 days from purchase i believe you can return it for a refund might be wrong but that was what i was told.

You’ve got the right to reject it even if there’s nothing wrong with it, under the distance selling regs.

Trade descriptions act – they have to offer a refund as it’s a) different from advertised and b) not fit for purpose.

Hmmm, I’m coming round to CTM’s point of view a little after reading others experiences, 32.2mm, for example, is too far out IMO and really should go back, are they getting bigger ODs the further back in the container they go or something?
Did they just start off with a 33mm reamer and wear it down on successive frames until it was in the ballpark?

Sounds like I was one of the lucky ones, got a frame that’s within 0.2mm of the target dimension and a post that fits could be found, but they’ve dropped a bollock really haven’t they…

Refusal to refund isn’t on, you have SOGA rights and they need to meet those or else explain why to trading standards…

I note the Frameset price has gone back up to ~£200 (£300 for green still) on the PX site, maybe they’ve shifted all of the wonky batch now…

On One/planet X in shit customer service shocker.
The bikes they make (when ok) are really good but should you have a problem they make Dave Hinde look good.
I hope you all get sorted soon. Going on past experience you might have to wait a while.

maybe they’ve shifted all of the wonky batch now…

I do wonder if they knew there was a problem all along with specific frames and just though they could blag it. Pretty disgusting if that’s the case.

Google Planet-X and this comes up 😳

Jimmy Saville’s bikes

I hadn’t realised the old Planet-X CEO is now co-owner of Alpkit.

Google Planet-X and this comes up

In their defence that was a long time before things started to come out of the woodwork, and the auction was for charity.