DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
How are you finding the Cube BTW. I am looking to buy one myself. Is the sizing
My first carbon, £1500 budget, help
- Thread starter SteveBM
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Irishrich
Über Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
It's bloody brilliant! So light and great up hills. I haven't needed to use the easier ring on the compact but at least it's there if I come across any major hills. My average speed is up by 1mph which a huge amount when you factor it in over longer rides of 40 miles and above. I went out last weekend on my own and averaged 18.5mph over 35 miles on a route that I was averaging 17.2mph previously so it's a definite improvement. The sizing seems fine for me. I chose a 53cm as im between 53-54 normally and it hasn't felt too small, infact I can get a better position on the drops now as im not stretching as much. Buy it for sure!
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Cheers, glad you are enjoying it. If you don't mind me asking your height and inside leg, as I think I am between a 53 and a 56cm, so not sure which to go for. I have heard that with Cube bikes, you should go one size up, but I am not sure. Any picks of your bike BTW.
I had the same criteria £1500 carbon and comfy, and last night bought this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z5-105-2013/
Seems to fit the bill at £1136 minus quidco etc
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z5-105-2013/
Seems to fit the bill at £1136 minus quidco etc
Irishrich
Über Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
I'm 5'7" with 29" inside leg I think, could be 30". The cube I bought was the last one in the shop but the owner measured me and said it would be a perfect fit. I have to say it feels a much better fit than on my Specialized Secteur and it's a 54cm. I don't feel stretched and can really put down the power as I'm more comfortable on the drops. Here's a thread where I posted a pic of the new bike: http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-new-cube-that-i-never-intended-buying-but-gave-in.139330/
DooDah
Veteran
- Location
- France, now Northamptonshire
Ooooh, now that is too nice. Just have to work on her indoors now.
Hi, am a newbie and was gonna post a similar thread but I saw this first so figured I'd add here - hope I'm not hijacking OPs post. Anyway, my budget for going carbon is a grand and had sort of settled on either a Boardman team carbon or a planet x pro SL.
Anyone have first hand experience of either. I'm a bit of a novice but from some reading my take is they both excellent, though to me the planet x has amazingly good components at that price point (ultegra) so just wonder about quality of frame whereas the boardman might have a better frame but lesser components, which you could always upgrade over time.
Just for info i mainly do short training rides of about 1hr 15mins/23ish miles or slightly longer on weekends around 45 miles - I presume these both would be OK for that, though reading this thread has prompted other options like the cube! - though planert x do a sportive version (RT58) with great components again for v good price.
Any feedback much appreciated!!
Anyone have first hand experience of either. I'm a bit of a novice but from some reading my take is they both excellent, though to me the planet x has amazingly good components at that price point (ultegra) so just wonder about quality of frame whereas the boardman might have a better frame but lesser components, which you could always upgrade over time.
Just for info i mainly do short training rides of about 1hr 15mins/23ish miles or slightly longer on weekends around 45 miles - I presume these both would be OK for that, though reading this thread has prompted other options like the cube! - though planert x do a sportive version (RT58) with great components again for v good price.
Any feedback much appreciated!!
doctornige
Well-Known Member
So, I have an Allez Elite (E5 alu, FACT carbon forks, Tiagra groupset, and I just gave it pretty much the ultimate test an amateur can give a bike. I rode it unmodified (apart from Look Keos, Fulcrum 5 wheels and a Prologo saddle) 1199km from Paris to Nice with the Polocini crowd. This included several categorised climb, including Mont Ventoux (yes, on a 34-25!!!). 15,000m of climbing. 8 days.
How did it do? Well, it could do with a 27 or a 30 on the back for HC climbs. The front mech got twisted by cross-chaining under load. The headset came a little loose. It started over shifting on the front and dropping the chain. Extra padding is needed on the bars because I ended up with ulnar palsy. It blew up a Gatorskin on a descending curve.
Essentially, it was COMPLETELY FINE. The mech thing was my own fault for cross chaining, and the tyre was unavoidable. My 2011 model needs a bigger rear sprocket (Fred Salmon is fitting one and this involves a mech swap for 105). Fred's comment was that Tiagra would be expected to wear out a bit on a trip like that.
The bike is 9.5kg, and was probably the heaviest on the trip (others had Van Nicholas Ti, A Ti September, a Trek Domaine, a Trek Madone, a carbon Dolan and an insanely light Moda Stretto). But once you add a bottle and a rider, the 2 or so kg differences mean nothing. The geometry, although borrowed from the Tarmac, is fine for eight 100-mile days back to back, and I put up 2h 4mins on Ventoux (it was windy, OK? ;-))
My conclusion from this is that if the bike fits and is reasonably modern, then you can ride anywhere on anything. I have got a bike in my head though, and it's for reasons of desire rather than need (Wilier GT with Campag EPS), and it would weigh nearly as much as the Allez and have the same gearing.
Enjoy the Allez, and don't over agonise on the new bike. Just get something you can afford and fall in love with ... and that fits. All else is flim-flam.
How did it do? Well, it could do with a 27 or a 30 on the back for HC climbs. The front mech got twisted by cross-chaining under load. The headset came a little loose. It started over shifting on the front and dropping the chain. Extra padding is needed on the bars because I ended up with ulnar palsy. It blew up a Gatorskin on a descending curve.
Essentially, it was COMPLETELY FINE. The mech thing was my own fault for cross chaining, and the tyre was unavoidable. My 2011 model needs a bigger rear sprocket (Fred Salmon is fitting one and this involves a mech swap for 105). Fred's comment was that Tiagra would be expected to wear out a bit on a trip like that.
The bike is 9.5kg, and was probably the heaviest on the trip (others had Van Nicholas Ti, A Ti September, a Trek Domaine, a Trek Madone, a carbon Dolan and an insanely light Moda Stretto). But once you add a bottle and a rider, the 2 or so kg differences mean nothing. The geometry, although borrowed from the Tarmac, is fine for eight 100-mile days back to back, and I put up 2h 4mins on Ventoux (it was windy, OK? ;-))
My conclusion from this is that if the bike fits and is reasonably modern, then you can ride anywhere on anything. I have got a bike in my head though, and it's for reasons of desire rather than need (Wilier GT with Campag EPS), and it would weigh nearly as much as the Allez and have the same gearing.
Enjoy the Allez, and don't over agonise on the new bike. Just get something you can afford and fall in love with ... and that fits. All else is flim-flam.
stumpy66
Veteran
- Location
- Lanarkshire
I have the defy composite 1 and i luv it, i went from an allez but never liked it from the day i got it, too low at the front end which caused severe neck pain. Imo i wouldnt think twice about the defy
doctornige
Well-Known Member
Getting a fit can help. Bikes have bolts and stuff that let adjustments be made.
stumpy66
Veteran
- Location
- Lanarkshire
I went down that road, tried various options. As i said imo i prefer the defy
doctornige
Well-Known Member
Nick Stone
Well-Known Member
Tell you what you were lucky one of those bottles didn't fall out.
Sounds like a plan, I've a 2011 Allez and I still love it, only changes I've made are dropping the stem and do alternate the wheels to some RS30's every so often. Thinking of maybe a Sram Apex upgrade to it though now as old Sora is getting worn. Love the frame even though it's alu. Oh and it's getting some mudguards for winter
OP
OP
SteveBM
Senior Member
- Location
- Rayleigh, Essex
Hi OP here...
I bought a 2014 Giant Defy Composite 1 from the Giant store on London Wall on Monday
Haven't really had a good long ride yet, but the 2 miles or so have been great!
Excellent service from the store too. Got a bike fit and servicing included too so am very pleased. I can't recommend the Giant store enough
I bought a 2014 Giant Defy Composite 1 from the Giant store on London Wall on Monday
Haven't really had a good long ride yet, but the 2 miles or so have been great!
Excellent service from the store too. Got a bike fit and servicing included too so am very pleased. I can't recommend the Giant store enough
