Perfect affordable crit racing bike?

[Birdthom]

I've started out doing 3/4 Cat crits this year. Great fun, but it's fair to say there are some spills along with the thrills. I was considering getting myself an ali-framed bike for the job instead of my current carbon bike (Trek 3.1 with a wheel upgrade). The idea would be to have the Trek as a nice comfy mile-munching training bike with mudguards and fattish tyres, and then have something cheap, tough, stiff and disposable for racing.

Of course, before I actually did anything about it I ended up having my first proper hard race smash yesterday. Fortunately the frame is OK (will be getting it checked) but the wheels are shaped like quavers and various ancillaries are looking rather poorly.

Three options:

1. Get a new Planet X team alu frame and fork, fitted out with 105/SRAM Rival (nothing too precious) and a reasonable (but not exotic) set of wheels.
2. Do the same with a secondhand Cervelo S1 frame/fork
3. Do nothing, keep racing the Trek and just suck up the cost of a replacement carbon frame if I break it.

I am leaning towards the S1 option, but I have never tried one and I don't want to mess a shop around test riding when I have no intention of buying a new one from them.

Anyone on here done similar?

[BadgerBenji]

I bought a pro-lite bella (carbon rear, aluminium front) plus for £300 (je james) and chucked on a sram apex groupset (merlincycles) and nicked the carbon wheels from my cross bike, job done. There really is nothing to feel between the shifting of the apex group and the rival setup, got the rival on my cross bike so it's a fair comparison, also gives me spares should I need them, whilst waiting for replacements.

[Jimbo.]

Birdthom said:

I've started out doing 3/4 Cat crits this year. Great fun, but it's fair to say there are some spills along with the thrills. I was considering getting myself an ali-framed bike for the job instead of my current carbon bike (Trek 3.1 with a wheel upgrade). The idea would be to have the Trek as a nice comfy mile-munching training bike with mudguards and fattish tyres, and then have something cheap, tough, stiff and disposable for racing.

Of course, before I actually did anything about it I ended up having my first proper hard race smash yesterday. Fortunately the frame is OK (will be getting it checked) but the wheels are shaped like quavers and various ancillaries are looking rather poorly.

Three options:

1. Get a new Planet X team alu frame and fork, fitted out with 105/SRAM Rival (nothing too precious) and a reasonable (but not exotic) set of wheels.
2. Do the same with a secondhand Cervelo S1 frame/fork
3. Do nothing, keep racing the Trek and just suck up the cost of a replacement carbon frame if I break it.

I am leaning towards the S1 option, but I have never tried one and I don't want to mess a shop around test riding when I have no intention of buying a new one from them.

Anyone on here done similar?

Something as close geometry/spec wise to your current 3.1, so either a S/H 3.1, or a 2.x (looking at the Trek site, they're the same geometry). And the same brand of drivetrain for parts interchangeability/race morning spares robbery/more common spares.

[Birdthom]

I was thinking of going for something with a bit more of an aggressive position than the 3.1, which is comfy and fits well but is a little upright for short races even with all the spacers taken out from the steerer tube. Parts interchangeability is definitely a priority. The trek is on an sram/shimano mix.

[BMWBen]

Insure the trek for racing?

[Birdthom]

BMWBen said:

Insure the trek for racing?

Could do, but I get fed up of cleaning and fettling the Trek for races after riding it in the rain and muck. There is also the n+1 factor.

[itsnotarace]

Easy one. CAAD 9 or 10

[Birdthom]

itsnotarace said:

Easy one. CAAD 9 or 10

Looks a pretty good call, it's the sort of frame/spec I had in mind. Thanks.

[lynus2004]

I got a Planet X Team Alu for the same purpose. I think it's a great frame and for the money there is no concern about it being wrecked in a crash.

[rockandrollmark]

itsnotarace said:

Easy one. CAAD 9 or 10

Aren't they supposed to be a bit fragile due to being paper thin in some places?

[Jimbo.]

rockandrollmark said:

Aren't they supposed to be a bit fragile due to being paper thin in some places?

Nope. I think that may come through the "Crack'n'fail" rep of old.

[okgo]

rockandrollmark said:

Aren't they supposed to be a bit fragile due to being paper thin in some places?

Not many bikes are going to come away unscathed in a crit pileup so makes no odds really.

[itsnotarace]

rockandrollmark said:

Aren't they supposed to be a bit fragile due to being paper thin in some places?

They are more durable than carbon frames, that generally weigh about the same or more

Perfect crit bike would be

CAAD10
SRAM Rival
Zipp 404 tubulars

If you shopped wisely (ie second hand wheels etc) that lot could be had for about £1700 and would weigh around the UCI weight limit