Discussion
Not a 'What Bike?' question as such. I'm not looking at racing, just leisure riding with potholes, the odd canal path and a few kerbs and suchlike.
Given the assumption that I've considered most of the alternatives, and that I want alu frame carbon fork (would ideally like disc brakes but that's only for show), is there any reason why I shouldn't buy a Spesh Tricorss Comp with the upgraded fork and full 105 groupset? The price is good. These bikes seem to have been around for ages, but does that mean they're yesterday's news?
TIA
Given the assumption that I've considered most of the alternatives, and that I want alu frame carbon fork (would ideally like disc brakes but that's only for show), is there any reason why I shouldn't buy a Spesh Tricorss Comp with the upgraded fork and full 105 groupset? The price is good. These bikes seem to have been around for ages, but does that mean they're yesterday's news?
TIA
They're fine. You can get lighter alternatives at the RRP (Boardman etc) but it depends what you're paying.
60cm bargain CAAD X here:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...
60cm bargain CAAD X here:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...
Roman said:
They're fine. You can get lighter alternatives at the RRP (Boardman etc) but it depends what you're paying.
60cm bargain CAAD X here:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...
That CAADX is too big (I'm a 56).60cm bargain CAAD X here:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...
The Boardman is a competitor, certainly. I'm a bit bothered by the BB issues with those, but then the Spesh had a fork problem, and that doesn't bother me...
The odd hunred grams here and there will make little difference to me, as I'm a fatso anyway, and the Tricross rides and fits well. I hear good things about their customer service, but don't know any owners
personally i would go for a Cotic X or a Charge Filter instead. I can only go on what i see at CX and other similar races and no one has a specialised tricross, to me they are tough commuter bikes with slack angles (which may be what you want?) but the Cotic and the Charge are far superior frames and will encourage you to push on a bit over the rougher stuff, consequently they are infintely more fun to ride on unsealed surfaces. have a look at what Dolan offer too.
Dont get hung up about groupsets, frame, wheels and forks matter most on a bike. groupsets can be upgraded accordingly over time.
to be honest, a good road bike with handbuilt 32h wheels will be more than suitable. just look at the sort of abuse they get on the Paris - Roubaix... people assume road bikes are too fragile to ever leave tarmac but they can take a lot more abuse than people imagine.
Dont get hung up about groupsets, frame, wheels and forks matter most on a bike. groupsets can be upgraded accordingly over time.
to be honest, a good road bike with handbuilt 32h wheels will be more than suitable. just look at the sort of abuse they get on the Paris - Roubaix... people assume road bikes are too fragile to ever leave tarmac but they can take a lot more abuse than people imagine.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 12:59
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 13:00
pablo said:
personally i would go for a Cotic X or a Charge Filter instead. I can only go on what i see at CX and other similar races and no one has a specialised tricross, to me they are tough commuter bikes with slack angles (which may be what you want?)
I originally said:
I'm not looking at racing, just leisure riding with potholes, the odd canal path and a few kerbs and suchlike.
I also said:
I want alu frame
to be honest, i ignored your criteria because asking why you shouldnt buy something suggests that you have made up your mind and dont want to consider anything else but are seeking approval of your choice. however i am incredibly obtuse and highly opinionated 
you asked why you shouldnt buy the tricross, i told you, the tricross is many things but it isnt a cx bike. for the stuff you describe, a road bike with a good wheelset/tyre combo will be more than capable of gravel and a few kerbs. my point was that if you get a bit more adventurous, the tricross' limitations will show hence the alternatives which are cx bikes
you asked why you shouldnt buy the tricross, i told you, the tricross is many things but it isnt a cx bike. for the stuff you describe, a road bike with a good wheelset/tyre combo will be more than capable of gravel and a few kerbs. my point was that if you get a bit more adventurous, the tricross' limitations will show hence the alternatives which are cx bikes
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th March 13:32
I have just bought a CAADX (having spent a couple of weeks researching what was on the market). I took it for its first ride last night, a 32 mile mix of road, bridleway, gravel footpath along the Thames flood channel and some nice slippery, muddy singlerack - even with a high headwind I don't think there is a time when I didn't have a silly grin on my face.
The alloy frame is lightweight and extremely responsive, the geometry is quite nice and relaxed when you are on the hoods but feels quite aggressive on the drops, and bloody fast! BB30 bottom bracket so no worries there, full 105 (bar the canti brakes), carbon fork not only looks great but is nice and stiff and conformant. The gear ratios make it very easy to ride on the road, and there is more range than most people would ever need off road, especially if you are not racing. It does not have discs which does not worry me and seemed to stop well enough in the muddy single track last night when I rounded a corner at speed to be confronted by a fallen tree!
My only criticism is the wheels, for the cost of the bike Cannondale could have put a set of Fulcrum CX wheels on it, but I will do this in time.
I guess it all comes down to cost. The entry level Tricross is much cheaper than the entry level CAADX, but once you start looking at the 105 spec bikes they are more or less the same cost.
If possible have a quick ride on each of them, what works well for me might be a really uncomfortable setup for you!
The alloy frame is lightweight and extremely responsive, the geometry is quite nice and relaxed when you are on the hoods but feels quite aggressive on the drops, and bloody fast! BB30 bottom bracket so no worries there, full 105 (bar the canti brakes), carbon fork not only looks great but is nice and stiff and conformant. The gear ratios make it very easy to ride on the road, and there is more range than most people would ever need off road, especially if you are not racing. It does not have discs which does not worry me and seemed to stop well enough in the muddy single track last night when I rounded a corner at speed to be confronted by a fallen tree!
My only criticism is the wheels, for the cost of the bike Cannondale could have put a set of Fulcrum CX wheels on it, but I will do this in time.
I guess it all comes down to cost. The entry level Tricross is much cheaper than the entry level CAADX, but once you start looking at the 105 spec bikes they are more or less the same cost.
If possible have a quick ride on each of them, what works well for me might be a really uncomfortable setup for you!
pablo said:
to be honest, i ignored your criteria because asking why you shouldnt buy something suggests that you have made up your mind and dont want to consider anything else but are seeking approval of your choice. however i am incredibly obtuse and highly opinionated
you asked why you shouldnt buy the tricross, i told you, the tricross is many things but it isnt a cx bike. for the stuff you describe, a road bike with a good wheelset/tyre combo will be more than capable of gravel and a few kerbs. my point was that if you get a bit more adventurous, the tricross' limitations will show hence the alternatives which are cx bikes
No, you're bang on. I have more or less decided, and whilst I wasn't necessarily looking for endorsement, I was asking for reasons as to why it would be a bad decision.you asked why you shouldnt buy the tricross, i told you, the tricross is many things but it isnt a cx bike. for the stuff you describe, a road bike with a good wheelset/tyre combo will be more than capable of gravel and a few kerbs. my point was that if you get a bit more adventurous, the tricross' limitations will show hence the alternatives which are cx bikes
I've considered carbon, alu and steel. I've considered road bikes and CXs. I've looked at flat bars and drops and I've thought about colours, finishing kit and pose.
I had ruled the Tricross out as I wasn't looking to spend £1,400. I decided upon CX as I'm new back to road cycling, and I need to work on my fitness and fatness primarily. In time, if I stick with it, I'll buy a road bike, and when that time comes I'll spend more - because it'll mean I'm sticking with cycling, and I'll have a better idea of what I need and want from a road bike. The CX will still be useable though. If I were to buy a roadbike now, then when I replace it in a year or so, I'll lose money on the deal, and only have one bike. So a CX now, and an additional bike later makes more (man)sense.
Given the above, I was decided on something like a Whyte Charing Cross (except I can't find one to test), a Boardman (see my earlier comment about the BB), a Rose Pro (see my previous comment about the Whyte) or a Cube X Race. Then the Tricross popped up, and spec-wise it beats them all, except the Rose, which also has Avid BB7s, but the key thing is that it's real, and I can try it out.
So with the above in mind, and back to my original question; would I regret buying it?
Answer: Probably not, as long as I can hum loudly enough to drown out all the people telling me I should have bought something else
Doofus said:
So with the above in mind, and back to my original question; would I regret buying it?
You won't! We all have our favourite brands, and reasons for buying what we buy - most of them personal! I think your reasoning for buying a CX bike is sound but I would urge you to try before you buy! Either way, get a bike, get out there and 'just ride'
Coming from a HT MTB on semi slicks, and my previous roadbike (a 501-tubed Peugeot), it was a bit of a revelation!Just to update this; in typical PH/Man/Cyclist fashion, I've done an arse-about-face and bought....
A Cube Streamer.
It's a 2011 with Ultegra/105 kit and Easton wheels, and it should do me for a while. I got the last one at CRC, down from £1350-odd to less than £900.
I'm happy so far, but I don't have it yet...
A Cube Streamer.
It's a 2011 with Ultegra/105 kit and Easton wheels, and it should do me for a while. I got the last one at CRC, down from £1350-odd to less than £900.
I'm happy so far, but I don't have it yet...
pablo said:
might work out ok, i'll bet he gets the road bug and be riding sportives before the end of the summer....
ORbecome one of the best wheel truers and puncture repair men the peleton has ever seen..
(on a serious note it makes you wonder about the worth of contributing to such forums... you can spend ages coming up with links and pictures to suitable bike that WOULD be much better suited / priced that the OP's need... only for them to get something completely different... Of course everyone should choose what they want to spend their own cash on but the likes of you and Roman do put a lot of effort in placing good advice for posters often to be completely ignored..... do you not wonder... What's the point??? )
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