Planet X On One Free Ranger Review

[@mlegrand]

Wow! Love the intro on this one!!! Red and purple would have been something. Awesome that you can go to 48 on this. I think you're really going to enjoy this!

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks Matt. I was actually really proud of the intro so really appreciate your comment. I'm still trying to get my head around a bike with drop handlebars and the potential for tyres that wide!!! Cannot wait to get this off road. Thanks as always for watching and commenting and Kudos once again for your 10K milestone.

[@Countrystock]

Great looking bike, definitely the best colour out of the 3 available. You’re gonna love gravel

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks Andrew. Yep - I really don't know how it's taken me so long to connect the dots in my head and go gravel. Already, I can feel this replacing a couple of my existing rides.

[@PatrickDelorenzi]

Love this bike! Great video

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and for the comment.

[@bullwinkle428]

Looks like an absolutely spectacular bike for the money! Trek's gravel bikes start at $2500 USD, and that bike has an alloy frame with a mix of Shimano GRX and 105 components. Will totally consider one of these if/when I decide to buy a gravel bike.

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. I'm totally with you on the cost of the Trek offerings and how they compare.

[@br5380]

I know they say 700x48c max, but I've 50c Gravelkings on mine, with JRA 25mm internal rim wheels and it's done nearly 1500 miles on/off road with no issues.

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. Wow - that's a properly wide tyre. Do you still get good enough frame clearance with a 50 on there?

[@br5380]

@@TheImprobableIronman yes, but because we do get plenty of rain up in Scotland we don’t really suffer from mud as the majority of trails are hardened/rocky/gravel etc. The wider rim helps to to ‘spread’ the width. I’m really an MTBer, so the Free Ranger works for both gravel & road nicely, and a bit of bikepacking.

[@ashleymcavery4132]

Nice bike, I also had this or the mystique in mind. Went for the mystique in the end. First thing I did was swap the wheels for some prime gravel wheels and some 45mm tires. Goes great on and off road!

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. Yep - it was a really tough decision between those two bikes. Ultimately one of the things that swayed it for me is that the price on the Free Ranger was a bit of an easier sell to the wife!!! :-)

[@ashleymcavery4132]

@@TheImprobableIronman oh absolutely price is a factor. I ended up selling my road bike to offset the cost, so glad I did as this really is a do it all bike!

[@mokotramp]

Yep great bike, been riding one since August. Using Schwalbe G one all round tubeless on 40s, fantastic tyres for road and gravel! Changed the bars, seat, seatpost and stem. My only criticism are the Force brakes, they're shite! Enjoy the bike, they're great fun! ✌️

[@br5380]

I've one with Force brakes too, no issues with them but what are you comparing them to? Have you tried putting in a new set of pads and 'running' them in, or larger rotors - unsure of your weight BTW.

[@paulwatson-work3544]

Good video, very useful cheers!

[@ACTIVEPAIR]

Bought my Orange/Brown prebuilt beginning of December and have done the following: 42t changed to 38t chainring; 100mm stem to 60mm; changed to Sonder Bomber flared bars; Schwalbe Bite1 45mm tyres; Mudhugger Gravel Mudguards. Love it. Had a bad oth incident 2 weeks ago on a forest track, thankfully the bike faired better than me with the only crash evidence being a scrape on the right lever and rear derailleur and mech was bent, all paintwork fine…..me however had cuts and gravel rash G would’ve been proud of😂 I’ve bought Fulcrum 800 wheels, cassette and rotors and just waiting for 32mm Victoria RevTech tyres and will sell my 10 yr old Trek Madone roadie to par down the bike stable (which includes an OnOne Scandal!) Also Rate Customer Service, when I contacted them because the bike didn’t arrive when they said it should they refunded the delivery👍🏽 Looking forward to many adventures this year😁 I did a quick review on my Channel too, not as prof as this one though!!

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. Sorry to hear about your accident - hopefully on the mend now? Like you, I can feel a stem change coming - along with some new wheels. A tyre width of 45 sounds pretty optimum - I'm finding the 38s a little lacking when it gets properly muddy.

[@ACTIVEPAIR]

@@TheImprobableIronman the 45s just give that little extra cushion on the rough forest tracks up here! Go better than expected on road too😁 I had a Boardman CX Team for many years and changed the stem on that as I found I was getting a bit of shoulder ache on longer rides, 60mm stem made riding far more comfortable. Should be able to get out this week as all my scabs have fallen off 🤢😂

[@mokotramp]

Jesus, you must have a short body and arms? I'm running 100mm, can't imagine going shorter! 😳

[@ACTIVEPAIR]

@@mokotramp prefer more upright position on Gravel bike👍🏽

[@mokotramp]

@@ACTIVEPAIR Do you not find it too twitchy and cramped?

[@pshotton3752]

Thanks for the video, thinking of buying one of these, can't find a better spec for the money, after you've had it for a year - any problems or things you like / dislike?

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. I'm actually planning an update video but my thoughts on the bike are that I'm still totally in love with it. Honestly, it hasn't missed a beat - it's comfortable, capable and I think it still looks really good. I've upgraded the saddle (that would probably be high on most owner's lists) to a FiZIK one and the OE tyres went after about a month because they seemed highly puncture-prone. But these are all things that would probably get swapped out by most people anyway. About the only very minor niggle I've got is that the oddly shaped bottom bracket area of the frame makes it impossible to put in my Park Tools workstand. But that is totally nit-picking. Honestly, it's a great bike and cracking value. One thing I would say is that if you can get to a Planet X shop that would be better than using their delivery agents. I've had two bike from them recently - the first one I watched the van driver literally drag out the back of a van - dropping the box in the process and the Free Ranger was 'delivered' by a DPD driver, who drove right past and pretended we were out....I got the whole thing on camera. That lost me a day of annual leave, waiting for the re-delivery. Planet X customer service is always great though.

[@pshotton3752]

@@TheImprobableIronman Thanks for the reply, sounds like I'm going to be giving them a call and investing. Cheers again.

[@robertwalkerdine1178]

I've always wanted to try a 1x. Never pulled the pin on one in case I didn't like the gaps between gears. Be interested to see what you think 👍🏼. I love planet X bikes too, brilliant value

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. The first ride was great. I totally understand what you say about 1X - but I really like it. Personally, I don't notice too much of a gap between ratios - but the low gear is definitely lower than my roadies and I have found myself spinning out in top on the road. I guess I might need to play around with a couple of different cassettes to find one that's right for my personal types of riding.

[@robertwalkerdine1178]

@@TheImprobableIronman I love the idea and I'm not particularly fast downhill anyway (previous crashes have put me off lol) so it wouldn't worry me about spinning out I don't think. I definitely need to try and see.

[@mokotramp]

Don't even hesitate going 1x, it should have been thought about 30 years ago! 😁

[@sabra1066]

​@@mokotrampdon't you spin out on the flats?

[@Outback10]

Brilliant review. I'm 6'1 would a large be big enough. Thanks 👍

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for watching and commenting. I'm pretty much the same height as you and find the large frame fine for me. I go into it in a bit more depth in the One Month In video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3O7Y35uhNxmrtE If you're ever in doubt, it's always worth giving Planet X a call - I've always found their customer service to be great.

[@GogglesTyresandTrainers]

Great video mate! I love On One as well, I had the original Scandal which was a rocket of a bike. The Rival kit is excellent IMO.. wishing you many happy miles and adventures!!

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Many thanks for this Ian. I love how the Rival feels - so absolutely sure I'm going to love it on the road / trail too.

[@sweeneyTodd-de4by]

Great video I'm unsure on size I'm 6ft 1" not sure weather to order medium or large?

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m about 6’2” and the large feels right for me - even with plenty of adjustment left. I think for you it would be worth a call to Planet X Customer Services to see what they advise - I’ve always found them really helpful and they’ll have a much better idea about frame sizing.

[@chrisclarke4211]

Hi, I don’t know if I recognise you from around 25 years ago!? Did you go to uni in Loughborough by any chance?

[@TheImprobableIronman]

Hi Chris. No, that was not me. In fact, I don't think I've ever been to Loughborough.