How to spec component size on a Planet X

[Custom24]

I am maybe interested in buying a Planet X Pro Carbon. A bit stupid maybe, because this would be my first road bike. But I can't get away from the value for money.

Anyway, when you order one of these, there is a lot of customisation to be done in terms of the frame size, bar width, crank length, cassette, chainset, stem and saddle.

How do I go about knowing what to specify here? Planet X don't have a guide on their site as far as I can see and I'm not sure they will be that much help by email or phone. Google does not seem to be my friend either, probably because I am not sure what to search for.

I've never had a bike properly fitted before, so I'm not sure if that is something which should be done after I've specified the bike, or before, or what? Planet X offer this for £75 as part of the bike purchase, but I'd have to travel to Doncaster, which I'm not keen on. I'd probably get this done locally after I'd settled in with the bike.

Any pointers?

 

[Hacienda71]

Your bar width should be about the same width as your shoulders or so they say. Crank length should not make much of a discernable difference. They will be between 170 to 175 mm, if you are tall you may want to spec the longer crank, tbh honest I can't tell any difference between my 172.5 and my 175's.
Cassette size will be down to how hilly your riding is likely to be. The hillier the higher the biggest number on the cassette.
Saddles are personal to the user so I would start with the Planet X own brand stock saddle. They do one that is a Fizik clone.
Stem length is down to how stretched out you want to be. The racier the set up the longer the stem. I would be tempted to go for a medium to shorter stem say 90 to 100 mm. They are easy and not too expensive to change in the future.
Hope this helps a little rather than confuses.

 

[Custom24]

Yes it does help. Any idea on choosing the frame size?

 

[Hacienda71]

How tall are you and what inside leg do you have?

 

[Smurfy]

Yes it does help. Any idea on choosing the frame size?

If you can spare the time and petrol/diesel you could visit them. They're only a few minutes off the M1 at Meadowhall.

 

[PpPete]

I'm not sure they will be that much help by email or phone. ?

Actually their email responses are pretty good IME.
If you really can't get there, then give them a call (with, at the very least, your height and inside leg measurement)

 

[Custom24]

Actually their email responses are pretty good IME.
If you really can't get there, then give them a call (with, at the very least, your height and inside leg measurement)

Emailed them Sunday, no reply yet.
Tried to phone twice yesterday, gave up both times after a few minutes.

 

[vickster]

No response in 3 days to an email isn't great, nor not answering the phone. I'd try calling again, forget email, you need to talk properly to someone. but think about whether this lack of responsiveness could be off putting in case of future issues?

Frame size, as above how tall are you etc?

 

[Custom24]

No response in 3 days to an email isn't great, nor not answering the phone. I'd try calling again, forget email, you need to talk properly to someone. but think about whether this lack of responsiveness could be off putting in case of future issues?

Frame size, as above how tall are you etc?

The off-putting-ness is what I'm vacillating on. But I really want the bike!

Anyway, I need to measure myself properly tonight using book method for inside leg and height, so will reply then.

 

[sackville d]

Yes it does help. Any idea on choosing the frame size?

The frame size guide is directly below the diagram giving tube lengths and angles on the frameset page.I have a RT58 in medium and I`m 5 11"
Maybe they were talking to somebody about sizing a frameset when you called and couldn`t answer your querie through sheer lack of hands,who knows? Now scratch that itch!

 

[Pdstubbs]

If its your first road bike definitely get the bike fit. Best £75 you'll spend

 

[boydj]

Given your lack of experience, it could be an expensive mistake to buy a bike online. If you like the Planet-x bikes, then it would be a worthwhile investment to take a day out to visit the shop for a fitting session and a try-out of the various models that they sell before committing the cash. What have you got to lose apart from some time - against the reassurance that you get a bike that fits and suits the type of riding you'll be doing?

 

[shortone]

Given your lack of experience, it could be an expensive mistake to buy a bike online. If you like the Planet-x bikes, then it would be a worthwhile investment to take a day out to visit the shop for a fitting session and a try-out of the various models that they sell before committing the cash. What have you got to lose apart from some time - against the reassurance that you get a bike that fits and suits the type of riding you'll be doing?

I completley agree. I've just got myself a Planet X N2A which was delivered today.

Before I purchased the bike I went the 80 miles to Sheffield to vist the Planet X store. There I was measured and got to try any bike in any size I wanted, which was to make sure I was getting the right size for me and that I felt comfortable. Once I had decided which model and frame size it was put on the turbo where we tweeked the bike to get correct bike size and fit, including bar width and stem length. All this was free and part of their sevice.

Also this is not my first bike, but still felt the need to vist the store to make sure I was gettign the correct size.

 

[Custom24]

I completley agree. I've just got myself a Planet X N2A which was delivered today.

Before I purchased the bike I went the 80 miles to Sheffield to vist the Planet X store. There I was measured and got to try any bike in any size I wanted, which was to make sure I was getting the right size for me and that I felt comfortable. Once I had decided which model and frame size it was put on the turbo where we tweeked the bike to get correct bike size and fit, including bar width and stem length. All this was free and part of their sevice.

Also this is not my first bike, but still felt the need to vist the store to make sure I was gettign the correct size.

Thanks. A grand is too much money to gamble, so I'll probably be taking your advice. To be clear, though, did that only require one trip to the shop, or did you have to go back for your fitting session? I will try to get through to them again on the phone to see what the deal is.

For what it's worth, I am 176cm tall, inside leg is 84cm (book method), I am 90cm tall sitting on the floor, and my shoulders are 43cm wide. I think this makes me a medium in their frame sizes, although my legs are longer than average for my height.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I bought a pro carbon from them but I did a careful comparison of figures I'd got from a fitting session first. Frankly, I wouldn't have dared buy at a distance without a set of figures to compare it with. So I'd strongly recommend either getting a set of figures from a fitting session or going up there before buying. Assuming you're fully grown - - once you have the figures for a comfortable bike they're not going to change much before you start shrinking from old age. Even then, your legs won't really shrink, your reach and flexibility might but stem length and angle will cope with that.