CX bikes under £1000

[Steve vRS]

Following on from other popular 'What bike for...' threads, I thought I start this one.

I think I want a CX bike as it will fill the following roles and criteria:-

1. I can use it to follow the kids around parks, tow paths, trails etc. allowing me to sell an old Diamondback hard tail I've been using.

2. I can use it as a more sturdy commuter bike that my current Giant Defy 1.

3. I can use it to ride at night, in crappy weather where the stronger wheels, chunkier tyres and grip will give me more confidence.

4. I know the n+1 rule but I can't have a pure winter road bike as 3 bikes does start to create storage problems.

I'd like disc brakes and a good group set but not better than Tiagra as it won't be ridden in ideal conditions and so will get mucky.

I know the Boardman Team CX gets good reviews but I'd prefer to buy from my LBS who says he can get all makes bar Boardman at a good price.

Steve

[Dixie]

http://www.buckinghambikes.com/2014-giant-tcx-slr-...

Mate of mine has just bought one. Not from here mind. They come very highly rated so I believe.

Personally i'd be tempted to throw another £100 in the pot and get a CAADx 105.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...pcrid_19994924576_kword__matchplid_&gclid=CK-IxoSC_rsCFUtP3god0CUAyA

[Steve vRS]

Am liking the Giant....

Steve

[TwistingMyMelon]

What put me off most CX bikes was the 46 top ring, I appreciate it is great for CX but not for my riding style

Not all have guard and pannier mounts, which for a "practical" bike is a bit of a PITA

I appreciate the above can be rectified, it just adds to cost and hassle.

I

[anonymous-user]

I'd get a Genesis Day One, there is probably something in the range for you, Day One is available as s/s or Alfine, has sloping top tube too so not too race-orientated, You're built for comfort not for speed!

[donfisher]

I need to go into a shop to find out if they can get one of these in a 60. Online they've only got the 1.3 in a 60

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/feather-c...

[itsnotarace]

I'm going to budget creep by £12 plus £30 delivery, but you get 105 and discs. You can spend £26 more and swap to 50/34 compact 105 crank from the 46/36 that its supplied with

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-...

Best value bike I found that didn't weigh over 9.5Kg inc discs and will take full length guards

Edited by itsnotarace on Tuesday 14th January 16:15

[Rob_T]

Please see my comments…...

Steve vRS said:

Following on from other popular 'What bike for...' threads, I thought I start this one.

I think I want a CX bike as it will fill the following roles and criteria:-

1. I can use it to follow the kids around parks, tow paths, trails etc. allowing me to sell an old Diamondback hard tail I've been using.

Recommend a Genesis Vapour - have used it for the last 3 years now on bridleways, tow paths, woods and trails.

2. I can use it as a more sturdy commuter bike that my current Giant Defy 1.

Recommend a Genesis Vapour - have been commuting on it for 3 years on road, bridleways and paths. Have also ridden long distances (120 mile +) in comfort

3. I can use it to ride at night, in crappy weather where the stronger wheels, chunkier tyres and grip will give me more confidence.

Recommend a Genesis Vapour for a sturdy ride, strong wheels and chunky tyres (Schwalbe Marathon Plus 28x700 - 1 puncture in over 10,000 miles use), allowing you to get through floodwater some 13 inches deep should you suddenly need to:





4. I know the n+1 rule but I can't have a pure winter road bike as 3 bikes does start to create storage problems.

I'd like disc brakes and a good group set but not better than Tiagra as it won't be ridden in ideal conditions and so will get mucky.

I know the Boardman Team CX gets good reviews but I'd prefer to buy from my LBS who says he can get all makes bar Boardman at a good price.

Steve

Mine is an older model without discs brakes, but that's by the by.

Either way, hope this helps!

Here is a picture of my Genesis in full commuter regalia on my ride into work:

Edited by Rob_T on Tuesday 14th January 16:22

[Steve vRS]

pablo said:

You're built for comfort not for speed!

Cheeky bugger. Check your mail tin ribs!

[Roman]

The Vapour & CAAD X look good to me, I'd discount the Giant and Rose for commuting as neither seem to have rack mounts.

Also consider these from Merida and Forme:

http://www.cyclesupreme.com/Merida%20Cyclo%20Cross...

http://www.ridedirectcycle.co.uk/bikes-c1/cyclocro...

[TheLemming]

We haven't had one of the Boardman Cx fans in yet?

Ok Boardman Cx Team.
Sram Apex ten speed group set, oversized bars with chicken levers.
Crank is a standard compact double, so definitely more road biased with a 50-34 - does more than fine offroad.
Sram apex wifli rear mech takes anything up to a 32 tooth rear - standard rear cassette is a 12/32.
I've been using mine with Gators on road and swapping tyres for offroading.
Disc brakes are amazing when it gets wet of muddy, on or offroad.
This is my default bike I use for damn near everything - its even been out on an offroad mountain biking evening and acquitted itself quite well. I'd do better now I'm much more used to it.

Mines quite heavily modified but I'm upgrading it because I genuinely love it - my favourite bike and until its big crash just after new years I'd just under a thousand miles on it since mid November.

British cycling is a 10% off at halfords, so the standard £900 rrp is 810 to start. There are also frequent other discounts....
I spent a lot of time looking for something approaching the same spec and I couldnt find anything to touch it for under £1300...

[benny.c]

I can thoroughly recommend the Cube X-Race, the disc model of which comes in at £1,099. Failing that there is a large selection to look at here with some decent savings on 2013 bikes:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/category/1546/Al...

[anonymous-user]

I'm sure the Boardman is far superior than the others supplied by so called LBS ( Halfords is my LBS, it's closest and the staff are more knowledgeable than closest independent..)

[TheLemming]

Jimboka said:

I'm sure the Boardman is far superior than the others supplied by so called LBS ( Halfords is my LBS, it's closest and the staff are more knowledgeable than closest independent..)

I'm lucky enough to have a great halfords (at least three members off staff are great with bikes) while also having some awesome independents (Buckingham bikes and corley cycles) within ten miles.

Halfords is my default stop, its five minutes from my house and I know most of the staff quite well lol
There are good ones and bad ones, ironically my experience with Evans has been totally negative....

[Gizmoish]

I'll just leave this here.

[BadgerBenji]

If i was buying a cross bike at the minute, it would be the giant, great spec for the money, and loads of mud clearance, no seatstay or chainstay bridges. Spoken to a couple of owners with them, both very pleased.

What other brands do your local bike shop do?

[mikees]

itsnotarace said:

I'm going to budget creep by £12 plus £30 delivery, but you get 105 and discs. You can spend £26 more and swap to 50/34 compact 105 crank from the 46/36 that its supplied with

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-...

Best value bike I found that didn't weigh over 9.5Kg inc discs and will take full length guards

Edited by itsnotarace on Tuesday 14th January 16:15

That's pretty.

[mikees]

itsnotarace said:

I'm going to budget creep by £12 plus £30 delivery, but you get 105 and discs. You can spend £26 more and swap to 50/34 compact 105 crank from the 46/36 that its supplied with

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-...

Best value bike I found that didn't weigh over 9.5Kg inc discs and will take full length guards

Edited by itsnotarace on Tuesday 14th January 16:15

That's pretty.

[Steve vRS]

I'm tempted by the Giant. It's geometry is almost the same as my road bike, I don't need panniers and the components appear good.

A couple of people have advised against mechanical disc brakes. Any views on here?

Steve

[dai1983]

I find myself in the same boat as you with pretty much the same budget. I did start looking for a £500 road bike but now desire a 1k cyclocross. The current short list:

Giant (has brakes where both pistons operate on the disk instead of one fixed piston and one moving)
Cannondale 105
Ridley x-bow 105 (-12% on wiggle if your a British cycling member)
Rose pro dx 2000
Planet X xls carbon frame but doesn't have mudguard mounts
Canyon Inflite pushes the man maths slightly


This week my current obsession is the Rose as it seems a good spec and is a bit different. I wanted the giant last week and the ridley the week before.