Which Cyclocross Bike?
Discussion
Having not ridden serious for years, I've decided get back into it and I'm looking at getting a CX.
Round my way and the riding I'll be doing is a mixture of road and bridleways/woodland walks so want something that will handle both, but not with suspension etc
Budget is up to £1k, must have discs, ideally carbon forks, gears as good as I can get (105?), i'd also like cables in the frame although not essential.
I tried a Giant AnyRoad 1 yesterday and was quite taken with it, looks superb in the flesh, and was quite comfy/fast. I'm also considering the Revolt 1 and the TCX SLR 2.
Others I'm considering are Boardman CX (although the mate I'm going to be riding with has one!), Specialized, Cube, merinda, Focus etc
Not being in the know, are there any favoured models? I'd like to get the best I can of course.
Thanks
Round my way and the riding I'll be doing is a mixture of road and bridleways/woodland walks so want something that will handle both, but not with suspension etc
Budget is up to £1k, must have discs, ideally carbon forks, gears as good as I can get (105?), i'd also like cables in the frame although not essential.
I tried a Giant AnyRoad 1 yesterday and was quite taken with it, looks superb in the flesh, and was quite comfy/fast. I'm also considering the Revolt 1 and the TCX SLR 2.
Others I'm considering are Boardman CX (although the mate I'm going to be riding with has one!), Specialized, Cube, merinda, Focus etc
Not being in the know, are there any favoured models? I'd like to get the best I can of course.
Thanks
This ticks all your boxes and you won't see another one in a hurry, be different
Sutton said:
Having not ridden serious for years, I've decided get back into it and I'm looking at getting a CX.
Round my way and the riding I'll be doing is a mixture of road and bridleways/woodland walks so want something that will handle both, but not with suspension etc
Budget is up to £1k, must have discs, ideally carbon forks, gears as good as I can get (105?), i'd also like cables in the frame although not essential.
I tried a Giant AnyRoad 1 yesterday and was quite taken with it, looks superb in the flesh, and was quite comfy/fast. I'm also considering the Revolt 1 and the TCX SLR 2.
Others I'm considering are Boardman CX (although the mate I'm going to be riding with has one!), Specialized, Cube, merinda, Focus etc
Not being in the know, are there any favoured models? I'd like to get the best I can of course.
Thanks
Planet X SLX ticks all your boxes and has a full carbon frame attached to the carbon fork Round my way and the riding I'll be doing is a mixture of road and bridleways/woodland walks so want something that will handle both, but not with suspension etc
Budget is up to £1k, must have discs, ideally carbon forks, gears as good as I can get (105?), i'd also like cables in the frame although not essential.
I tried a Giant AnyRoad 1 yesterday and was quite taken with it, looks superb in the flesh, and was quite comfy/fast. I'm also considering the Revolt 1 and the TCX SLR 2.
Others I'm considering are Boardman CX (although the mate I'm going to be riding with has one!), Specialized, Cube, merinda, Focus etc
Not being in the know, are there any favoured models? I'd like to get the best I can of course.
Thanks
I should be collecting mine on Friday or Saturday. Its been a bit of a fraight ordering process if I'm honest and I will post up a ride report as soon as I have a few hundred miles under my belt.
If you don't want to wait, then the Boardman Team Comp is worth a look along with the Kinesis Pro6 (as others have said) The Rose offering is also pretty good too.
I've ridden a friend's CaadX and liked it, but £1000 tends to get you Tiagra.
The Planet X hasn't been out for long and seems popular on the bike radar forums.
The Boardman and Pro6 don't have cables in the frame. The Planet X does. However, Planet-X's reasoning was it kept them out of the way when you had the bike on your shoulder. Nothing to do with aero.
pablo said:
This ticks all your boxes and you won't see another one in a hurry, be different
That looks rather lovely Sutton said:
Budget is up to £1k, must have discs, ideally carbon forks, gears as good as I can get (105?), i'd also like cables in the frame although not essential.
This works out about £30 over budget when you include shipping but componentry can be customised to an extenthttp://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-...
I'm very tempted with the pearson to be honest but its half a new frame and I think thats my long term plan.
I wouldnt worry about groupsets for a cx bike, tiagra or apex will be fine, grit from unsealed surfaces will increase wear on drivetrains and anything posher than tiagra will need replacing more often, its also harder to get the right sort of rations as 105 will be a compact chainset and with an appropriate cassette which may not be wholly suited to the intended terrain/use.
I wouldnt worry about groupsets for a cx bike, tiagra or apex will be fine, grit from unsealed surfaces will increase wear on drivetrains and anything posher than tiagra will need replacing more often, its also harder to get the right sort of rations as 105 will be a compact chainset and with an appropriate cassette which may not be wholly suited to the intended terrain/use.
pablo said:
I'm very tempted with the pearson to be honest but its half a new frame and I think thats my long term plan.
I wouldnt worry about groupsets for a cx bike, tiagra or apex will be fine, grit from unsealed surfaces will increase wear on drivetrains and anything posher than tiagra will need replacing more often, its also harder to get the right sort of rations as 105 will be a compact chainset and with an appropriate cassette which may not be wholly suited to the intended terrain/use.
PX offer a choice of CX chainset (FSA) or a compact chainset. I chose compact as my CX will spend a lot of time on the road. I wouldnt worry about groupsets for a cx bike, tiagra or apex will be fine, grit from unsealed surfaces will increase wear on drivetrains and anything posher than tiagra will need replacing more often, its also harder to get the right sort of rations as 105 will be a compact chainset and with an appropriate cassette which may not be wholly suited to the intended terrain/use.
A CX chainset isn't expensive. I think they are only about £90, so its easy to change if you want to go racing
Rose could probably give you a compact if you asked, but I think you have to then use a 105 FD rather than a CX FD.
The Rose and The Boardman also offer Racing Roo tyres, which are meant to be pretty good
To add another opinion, I am awaiting delivery of one of these:-
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/20...
Steve
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/20...
Steve
Thanks for all the replies
The Pearson I'm not sure on the look, Kenisis seem sold out everywhere for my size and the website didn't work last night.
Planet X looks interesting as does the Rose, but as ever, it's such a pain not being able to try these first.
Be very interested to hear about the TCX SLR 2 as been considering that.
My LBS who I tested the AnyRoad with don't carry it in stock as apparently it was "too racy for this town" lol!
The Giant line up is interesting, AnyRoad 1, Revolt 1 and TCX SLR 2 all the same price. Hard to choose!
The Pearson I'm not sure on the look, Kenisis seem sold out everywhere for my size and the website didn't work last night.
Planet X looks interesting as does the Rose, but as ever, it's such a pain not being able to try these first.
Be very interested to hear about the TCX SLR 2 as been considering that.
My LBS who I tested the AnyRoad with don't carry it in stock as apparently it was "too racy for this town" lol!
The Giant line up is interesting, AnyRoad 1, Revolt 1 and TCX SLR 2 all the same price. Hard to choose!
The only way you will be able to try a Planet X is by going to either of their places in Sheffield or find a current owner who will let you out on theirs. Theshop down south doesn't let you test ride the bikes!
Even the test rides from the place in Sheffield were dependent on who you spoke to.
You might be able get a ride in the car park of a Boardman Comp from Halfords. You should also be able to get a test ride of a CaadX from a decent bike shop too.
I haven't ridden the Planet X that I have on order, but at £1000, I was willing to take a punt. Would I buy £1800 road bike with out riding it, god no!
Even the test rides from the place in Sheffield were dependent on who you spoke to.
You might be able get a ride in the car park of a Boardman Comp from Halfords. You should also be able to get a test ride of a CaadX from a decent bike shop too.
I haven't ridden the Planet X that I have on order, but at £1000, I was willing to take a punt. Would I buy £1800 road bike with out riding it, god no!
bakerstreet said:
Would I buy £1800 road bike with out riding it, god no!
I bought a £1400 (reduced from £2300) road bike without trying for size back in January. Took it out at the weekend for the first time and it fits nicely.If you've already got a bike that you know the geo of then it's possible to at least compare.
Sutton said:
Planet X looks interesting as does the Rose, but as ever, it's such a pain not being able to try these first.
There is a 30 day right of return on the Rose, just don't throw away the box it arrives in. They will even collect it for free.Providing the geometry suits and you can wield a spanner then go for it.
Sutton said:
Be very interested to hear about the TCX SLR 2 as been considering that.
My LBS who I tested the AnyRoad with don't carry it in stock as apparently it was "too racy for this town"
Had my TCX for about a month now and I bloody love it. Only had a mountain bike in the past so can't compare to any other road / cx bike. Managed about 300km so far, seems as happy on the road as chucking it down rutted / mud filled bridle paths. Riding position OK for me and doesn't feel too 'racy'. Internal cabling and good spec for the price. Early days, but so far no niggles and feels a great go anywhere bike.My LBS who I tested the AnyRoad with don't carry it in stock as apparently it was "too racy for this town"
I managed to get a go on my mates Boardman CX Team bike today. I have to say it felt heavier than the AnyRoad1 I tried on Sunday.
I love the spec/look of the Boardman, but so many complaints about cracking on the frame and also my mate seems to have issues with the gear adjustment. Its just gone back again today to have everything set up again.
Planet X is tempting....
I love the spec/look of the Boardman, but so many complaints about cracking on the frame and also my mate seems to have issues with the gear adjustment. Its just gone back again today to have everything set up again.
Planet X is tempting....
Had my Boardman CX Team for a few months now and done plenty of miles. I've not had any issues with it at all, and that's despite me dropping it 3 times on black ice! Like any bike, gears started slipping a bit as the cables stretched, but that was an easy fix. I've not had any of the brake issues with the BB5's others have reported - they've just worked from new without any excessive noise or drag. Changed the bars, stem, and seat on mine to suit me a bit better. Only other upgrades planned are a set of slicker tyres for those days when I know I'm going to be doing mostly on-road riding, and possibly a set of replacement wheels to lose a bit of weight from the relatively heavy standard set. I'd have no hesitation recommending it to others.
The_Gza said:
Had my Boardman CX Team for a few months now and done plenty of miles. I've not had any issues with it at all, and that's despite me dropping it 3 times on black ice! Like any bike, gears started slipping a bit as the cables stretched, but that was an easy fix. I've not had any of the brake issues with the BB5's others have reported - they've just worked from new without any excessive noise or drag. Changed the bars, stem, and seat on mine to suit me a bit better. Only other upgrades planned are a set of slicker tyres for those days when I know I'm going to be doing mostly on-road riding, and possibly a set of replacement wheels to lose a bit of weight from the relatively heavy standard set. I'd have no hesitation recommending it to others.
I've no problem recommending it at all - the only problems with mine are setup and that's down to me being too busy/disorganised to take it back to the shop and too hamfisted too fix it myself yet.Other than that - running very nicely. It's a smidge heavier than a top-notch road bike (but still within a snip of 10kg) and if I were to be hyper critical I'd say the forks are a bit flexy, but it's a great buy, especially at the price I paid.
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