Dolan or Planet X for £1000
Discussion
This is basically another 'what road bike for £1000?' thread, except I think I've narrowed down my choices to either the Dolan L'Etape or the PX Pro Carbon. Does anyone have any experience with these two, particularly the Dolan as I can't find any reviews of it?
This will be my first road bike having been a mountain biker up till now. I'll be buying through the bike2work scheme, with a budget of £1000. I'm not really a brand snob (own a Canyon mtb) but I must admit that I would like a carbon bike. Nothing too aggressive geo wise, but still something that has the potential for sportives or maybe a few races in the future. No idea whether I'd prefer SRAM or Shimano yet.
If not the two bikes I've mentioned, would anyone recommend anything else? I've checked out Ribble but can't seem to get anything of the same spec in my budget.
This will be my first road bike having been a mountain biker up till now. I'll be buying through the bike2work scheme, with a budget of £1000. I'm not really a brand snob (own a Canyon mtb) but I must admit that I would like a carbon bike. Nothing too aggressive geo wise, but still something that has the potential for sportives or maybe a few races in the future. No idea whether I'd prefer SRAM or Shimano yet.
If not the two bikes I've mentioned, would anyone recommend anything else? I've checked out Ribble but can't seem to get anything of the same spec in my budget.
My son got a Dolan for Xmas well the frame and forks and I have built it up for him and it looks and feels fine for the money
I have a PX TT bike and that is fine as well I also have a Pinarello Dogma 65.1 and that is great but if you are riding hard they all make your legs and lungs hurt.
I am a big fan of PX's value for money and the Dolan is slightly better to look a in the paint finish but until my son rides the Dolan there is no real feedback.
On the Track at Manchester every 5th bike is a Dolan so they must be doing something right.
I have a PX TT bike and that is fine as well I also have a Pinarello Dogma 65.1 and that is great but if you are riding hard they all make your legs and lungs hurt.
I am a big fan of PX's value for money and the Dolan is slightly better to look a in the paint finish but until my son rides the Dolan there is no real feedback.
On the Track at Manchester every 5th bike is a Dolan so they must be doing something right.
I've recently bought a PX Pro Carbon in guru blue and I'm delighted with it. Lovely and light, I opted for the SRAMs (special offer at the time) and am very much enjoying the 'double tap' feature.
The bike is very comfortable on long rides, and equally able to tackle big hills or long straights
The bike is very comfortable on long rides, and equally able to tackle big hills or long straights
Base-model carbon or top-quality aluminium?
You've already got one Canyon... http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=31...
I'd give very serious consideration to this one too... http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5230/CANNONDAL...
You've already got one Canyon... http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=31...
I'd give very serious consideration to this one too... http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5230/CANNONDAL...
i have a dolan tuono. not much help. only ridden it twice, but very happy with the bike. service was almost non existent, and when i emailed them to tell them about a few niggles, i never even received a generic reply. happy with what they make, but service leaves a lot to be desired imho.
shame as i'd love to be confident recommending them.
craig
shame as i'd love to be confident recommending them.
craig
I seriously considered a Dolan, think, maybe wrong though, that they are made by Dedacciai?
Finish looks great and pretty robust. Not sure at that money you can really lose, these types of bikes at these prices are almost "lost leaders" and the companies will sell with a lesser margin in order to get people to buy into the brand. I remember when the boardmans first came out and I was working in a very high end bike shop and could not argue with anyone coming into the shop and comparing our lower end offerings.
Planet X are great mind and superb value for money, just need to spend a little more on paint to make it look as sexy as the Dolan.
Finish looks great and pretty robust. Not sure at that money you can really lose, these types of bikes at these prices are almost "lost leaders" and the companies will sell with a lesser margin in order to get people to buy into the brand. I remember when the boardmans first came out and I was working in a very high end bike shop and could not argue with anyone coming into the shop and comparing our lower end offerings.
Planet X are great mind and superb value for money, just need to spend a little more on paint to make it look as sexy as the Dolan.
I would be biased in saying the Dolan, as I have one. Its a great bike to ride. I also agree on their lack of ability to have a phone line not engaged or have that much time while trying to order it. But I am glad to have persevered through it. On the other coin, I know a lot of people who have PX frames who are happy and the price they are selling them is very cheap. I would still get a Dolan to be honest, just on being a bit more different and most riders snob will know of PX as budget cycling and Dolan they are not sure.
Thanks for all the advice. My head says go for the tried and tested aluminium framed CAAD10, but my heart says go carbon and I think I'd regret it if I didn't. I just wish there were some tests/reviews out there for the Dolan, as it's my first choice at the moment but it does feel like a little bit of a gamble. I do like the idea of having something a little different to the mainstream brands though. Current thinking is also to go down the sram rival route, as this option would make the Dolan £999.99 and seems to be well liked.
So I've pretty much decided to go with the Dolan and have been looking into the bike2work scheme. Somehow it just doesn't add up.
My understanding is that my £1000 bike would cost me £680 (plus £50 fee), paid over 12 months through salary sacrifice. At the end of the 12 months I would then have to pay my employer what is effectively a balloon payment of 25% of the original price in order to actually own the bike, which would be £250. This all adds up to a cost of £970, so a saving of £30!! Am I missing something?!!
It almost seems like I might aswell just use Dolan's 0% finance and pay the full price to actually own the bike outright from the off. Have any of you used the bike2work scheme?
My understanding is that my £1000 bike would cost me £680 (plus £50 fee), paid over 12 months through salary sacrifice. At the end of the 12 months I would then have to pay my employer what is effectively a balloon payment of 25% of the original price in order to actually own the bike, which would be £250. This all adds up to a cost of £970, so a saving of £30!! Am I missing something?!!
It almost seems like I might aswell just use Dolan's 0% finance and pay the full price to actually own the bike outright from the off. Have any of you used the bike2work scheme?
Edited by SammyW on Tuesday 7th January 21:26
C2W is only the bargain that it's supposed to be if your employer writes off the residual value as BIC. That way a £1K bike over 12months only costs you 600-something (based on basic rate tax).
In your case it's a more like getting a small % discount off the bike and 12 months interest free, which isn't a bad thing.
In your case it's a more like getting a small % discount off the bike and 12 months interest free, which isn't a bad thing.
Gizmoish said:
The Evans system takes ownership after the first year - so it's still not yours, but you don't pay the 'balloon'.
But it extends the agreement, albeit onto FOC rental, for another 5 years and then there's still an option to own? That's how it reads:http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work/transfer-of-o...
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff