Ventura cp 50 (argos)

[Justinslow]

I've had the bike since the 27th December and have covered just over a hundred and thirty miles on my Ventura CP50, and everything is still going good. Never regretted the purchase.

I've since upgraded the seat to a Spoon, V8 Pedals, mudguards and Clarks brake blocks.

I've also stuck some clear helicopter protective tape on the CP50, to protect certain area's of the carbon fibre body from scrapes, chipping and dings etc. ....

I wouldn't hesitate buying it again, at £499.99, but if the price is back at£799.99, I'd be different and I'd be looking at other carbon bikes at around the grand mark, with better specs.

How's everyone else's CP50 getting on?

I'd love to hear of your upgrades and road experiences.

Haven't been out on mine since before Christmas, but have, like you fitted some mudguards, I chose the "Crud road racer 2" set. I also put some clear helicopter tape on the more vulnerable parts and where the cables touch the frame.
I'm also of the same opinion as you, at the sale prices its a steal, at the normal price not so much as the competition gets greater. As an entry level bike it's hard to fault at the prices we paid. I've signed up to do another sportive in April, a local 60 miler so looking forward to slightly better weather! Yours is looking great with the new saddle, something I may do myself.

 

[Cuchilo]

I don't follow? Do you mean that "people" don't like it because it's cheap therefore it must be rubbish?

No , I'm saying some people don't think a few thousand pounds is a lot of money .

 

[Justinslow]

No , I'm saying some people don't think a few thousand pounds is a lot of money .

Absolutely agree, obviously there's a lot of people out there with big salaries! Equally there's a lot of people with rather less than big salaries! For us, we are sifting through the "chaff" looking for the best product at the price range we can afford, not easy at the cheaper end with budget componentry etc, we have to view the likes of the cp50 against similar bikes in this price category and there are "cooler" names here too not just Tescos, Argos, Halfords specials etc, base model Felts, Giants even specialised all come in around £500, choice is a wonderful thing!
One thing I will say is viewed only by looking (and reading) the Argos website - you would probably be justified in thinking the cp50 looks like a pile of s##t, it's much better in the flesh so to speak, which is one reason I've started and continued this thread with other owners coming on board aswell. It will be interesting to see what (if any) Argos brings in to replace it in its product line up in the future.

 

[albion]

Sometimes, bike decor peels off.

 

[Justinslow]

Sometimes, bike decor peels off.

?

 

[Justinslow]

Just spotted the R501 wheelset fitted as standard to the cp50 on a cannondale supersix Evo 105 for £1274 (sale price). If it's good enough for them etc etc......

 

[youngoldbloke]

R501s aren't exactly expensive anyway, you can buy them for around £65-70. I'm not impressed when I see them supplied on relatively pricey bikes.

 

[jeffo50]

Just spotted the R501 wheelset fitted as standard to the cp50 on a cannondale supersix Evo 105 for £1274 (sale price). If it's good enough for them etc etc......

In our case, the balance between the price of our bikes vs wheels etc... is a good combo. I'm still a happy chappy.
Today was a tad windy, and I can feel the resistance, riding into the wind.

 

[jeffo50]

Even though I've upgraded my seat to a Spoon, plus a gel seat cover, my bottom still gets kinda uncomfortable.

Can anyone recommend a really comfy seat or have any other ideas?

Cheers.

 

[Justinslow]

R501s aren't exactly expensive anyway, you can buy them for around £65-70. I'm not impressed when I see them supplied on relatively pricey bikes.

I know, I was a bit surprised to see them on that bike! But it just shows they are a half decent "solid" wheel and if they fit them to cp50's I'm not complaining for the price of the bike.

 

[Justinslow]

Even though I've upgraded my seat to a Spoon, plus a gel seat cover, my bottom still gets kinda uncomfortable.

Can anyone recommend a really comfy seat or have any other ideas?

Cheers.

For me the only thing that helped was going out riding regularly and just getting the miles in, kind of going through the pain barrier! I put the original seat back on the other day and did 41 miles last night, it wasn't too bad until the last 5 miles or so!

 

[jeffo50]

For me the only thing that helped was going out riding regularly and just getting the miles in, kind of going through the pain barrier! I put the original seat back on the other day and did 41 miles last night, it wasn't too bad until the last 5 miles or so!

At least you coped much better than me. Haha

I've even contemplated trying on my wide springy/gel/ cushy folding bikes seat (Asda jobby) , but it may look too wide on my CP50.
Has anyone used a wide seat on their road bike?

Cheers

 

[Justinslow]

Just spotted the R501 wheelset fitted as standard to the cp50 on a cannondale supersix Evo 105 for £1274 (sale price). If it's good enough for them etc etc......

Spotted the R501's again today in a lbs on a Da Rosa 1.5k bike.

 

[Rob3rt]

Manufacturers often spec similarly priced wheels regardless of the rest of the spec, they do this to meet a price point knowing that many people buying the higher end models will pull the cheap wheels straight off and put a pair of nicer wheels in. R501's are in line with, if not a very good wheel for that Argos bike, but on a £1.5k bike, they fitted to make it roll out of the showroom.

 

[Justinslow]

Manufacturers often spec similarly priced wheels regardless of the rest of the spec, they do this to meet a price point knowing that many people buying the higher end models will pull the cheap wheels straight off and put a pair of nicer wheels in. R501's are in line with, if not a very good wheel for that Argos bike, but on a £1.5k bike, they fitted to make it roll out of the showroom.

If I was spending 1.5k on a bike I would want it to have better wheels to start with! Seems crazy to me that a bike at that price point has wheels worth £80 ish, I agree they are nothing special but are better that some such as those fitted to the cheaper B twin models.
My point regarding this post is purely to illustrate that this bike has got some reasonable named components fitted and for the sale price that ain't too shabby IMO.