Which cyclocross bike £1000

[nufcfan]

Looking to spend £1000 max on a disc brake cross bike. Currently looking at the following, any other suggestions, anyone ride any of these?

CaadX 105 - £999 well thought of frame, decent spec, probably first choice
Focus Mares AX 3.0 £999, nice looking frame, only tiagara
Planet X XLS - £999 - SRAM Apex build, carbon frame, can't try for size
Planet X London Road - £999 SRAM Rival, good spec, looks more liek a commuter though, and intended use is roads, bridleways, gravel tracks, some off road but nothing too heavy.

Thought about the Boardman CX but seems to be numerous reported niggles with the 2014 model, if the 15 model is released soon then would consider.

Cube cross bikes are not out yet, although quite like the brand.

[D1bram]

My mate was recently searching with the same criteria and ended up with the CAADX 105, concluded it was superb VFM.

He's only had it or week or two but seems very pleased. It does look great too.

[nufcfan]

Trying to find one is stock in a 58 seems to be difficult at the moment. Although most stores seem to be expecting stock soon.

[S10GTA]

I've a boardman cx, only issue was halfords screwing it together.

[Steve vRS]

Giant TCX SL2.

Great discs brakes, 105 levers and shifters. I love mine.

The geometry is quite aggressive though but I'm almost as fast on this on the road as my road bike.

I love mine and it will be seeing a lot of use through the winter.

Steve

[TheLemming]

nufcfan said:

Thought about the Boardman CX but seems to be numerous reported niggles with the 2014 model, if the 15 model is released soon then would consider.

There is no 2015 model, 2 year model cycle.

Given the 2014 is the previous generation model with a respray I'd go as far as to say "avoid it" - and this is from someone who until recently was a big supporter.

It's a bargain - but there's a reason it's cheap and it doesn't stack up against what you could have from planet X with a grand in your pocket.

There is an elite range CXR 9.0 - which at £1500 might be worth looking at although its a big budget stretch.

[Freakuk]

I fancy an Orange RX9 which isn't in your list and within budget.

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/rx9/

[S10GTA]

TheLemming said:

nufcfan said:

Thought about the Boardman CX but seems to be numerous reported niggles with the 2014 model, if the 15 model is released soon then would consider.

There is no 2015 model, 2 year model cycle.

Given the 2014 is the previous generation model with a respray I'd go as far as to say "avoid it" - and this is from someone who until recently was a big supporter.

It's a bargain - but there's a reason it's cheap and it doesn't stack up against what you could have from planet X with a grand in your pocket.

There is an elite range CXR 9.0 - which at £1500 might be worth looking at although its a big budget stretch.

Fair point, but with assorted discounts its £729, nearly £300 is a big difference when compared to the planet x for a grand.

Edited by S10GTA on Friday 12th September 14:24

[Leeds220]

I was facing the same question for a cycle2work bike and was ready to go for the CAADX 105 given that I already had a CAAD10 105 road bike.

Then I saw the Pinnacle Arkose 3 2015 at evans and went for that as it apparently has better brakes from reading around online? For hacking to work it looks like it'll be fine. Just waiting for the voucher to arrive...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkos...

Edit: It depends what you're looking for too. The Plant X XLS won't take a pannier rack for example.

Plus the CAADX has BB30 which I wouldn't want to subject to lots of water and muck through the winter.

Edited by Leeds220 on Friday 12th September 14:24

[TheLemming]

S10GTA said:

TheLemming said:

nufcfan said:

Thought about the Boardman CX but seems to be numerous reported niggles with the 2014 model, if the 15 model is released soon then would consider.

There is no 2015 model, 2 year model cycle.

Given the 2014 is the previous generation model with a respray I'd go as far as to say "avoid it" - and this is from someone who until recently was a big supporter.

It's a bargain - but there's a reason it's cheap and it doesn't stack up against what you could have from planet X with a grand in your pocket.

There is an elite range CXR 9.0 - which at £1500 might be worth looking at although its a big budget stretch.

Fair point, but with assorted discounts its £729, nearly £300 is a big difference when compared to the planet x for a grand.

Edited by S10GTA on Friday 12th September 14:24

True, however I wish I'd bought the planet X.
I've spent a lot more than the difference between the two on upgrading mine and it's still running 10 speed apex...
If you cant (or don't want to stretch the difference) its the best you'll get for the budget but it's definitely a budget choice.

Next up is replacing the rusting stem bolts... at this rate there will be nothing left but the frame!

[bakerstreet]

I have a Planet X SLX. Had it since March of this year and done just shy of 2k on it. Mine is the Flanders colours with 105.

I use mine for commuting and the odd canal path.

The standard speeding CX tyres aren't great. Not chunky enough for when it gets really muddy, poor puncture protection and heavy too.

IMO the finishing kit on the SLX isn't great. The bars are a bit thin and a lot of paint has been rubbed off on the seat post from where the saddle bag has been attached. My giant seat post is perfect and it's done three times the mileage with a saddle bag attached.

Cannondale generally keep the weight of their frames out of the public domain, but it wouldn't surprise me if the ali CADX frame is actually lighter than the SLX carbon frame.

Cable routing on the SLX is a mess and attaching mud guards is tricky/impossible too due to the cable routing. I'll probably resort to those hideous guards that clip onto the seat post

It's a great commuter though. I run mine with 28mm gatorskins and it's perfect.

Actually one of the biggest downsides of me buying the SLX was Planet X's appalling customer service. its been discussed on here several times and even more on the bike radar forums, so I'm not going to repeat myself. if the OP does go for. Planet X, just keep chasing them. Also there is a shop just outside London called tri-zone who will do a bike fit and order the right size based on the bike fit. They got it spot on for me.

[Kell]

Leeds220 said:

I was facing the same question for a cycle2work bike and was ready to go for the CAADX 105 given that I already had a CAAD10 105 road bike.

Then I saw the Pinnacle Arkose 3 2015 at evans and went for that as it apparently has better brakes from reading around online? For hacking to work it looks like it'll be fine. Just waiting for the voucher to arrive...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkos...

Edit: It depends what you're looking for too. The Plant X XLS won't take a pannier rack for example.

Plus the CAADX has BB30 which I wouldn't want to subject to lots of water and muck through the winter.

Edited by Leeds220 on Friday 12th September 14:24

I was just reading about these the other day - Evans, apparently, aren't calling them CX bikes, they reckon the Pinnacle invested a whole new category called Adventure Road bikes.

http://blog.evanscycles.com/new/adventure-road-gra...

[Gizmoish]

S10GTA said:

I've a boardman cx, only issue was halfords screwing it together.

Agreed.

And the cables will stretch a lot.

But I paid £630 for mine, all discounts and cashback accounted for.

[Gizmoish]

And now... Do you really need a CX bike? I've ridden mine maybe 50km properly off road. The gears are road-biased so off road there are hills you can't get up. It's a kilo heavier than a comparable road bike. I've run it on road tyres since January and they're fine for canal tow paths etc.

[SoliD]

What sort of cash do you need to get a CX with hydraulic brakes? Seems mad how you can get a good set of Shimano Hydraulics suspension etc on an MTB easily for a grand or half this, yet can't get hydraulic discs for a CX for this level.

[Fluffsri]

I took the BB5s off mine and fitted TRP hyd discs for £160. Help off a difference on a long ride, no rubbing and pad wear is dead even.

[benny.c]

I've got a Cube X-Race Pro. I've not ridden another cross bike but I can't fault it. (except for the uncomfortable OEM saddle).

[Barchettaman]

SoliD said:

What sort of cash do you need to get a CX with hydraulic brakes? Seems mad how you can get a good set of Shimano Hydraulics suspension etc on an MTB easily for a grand or half this, yet can't get hydraulic discs for a CX for this level.

They're coming. The technology is on the market, it just hasn't trickled down to a reasonable price level yet.

There is a work-around with the Gevenalle Hydraulic road levers, which is a clever re-work of the Tektro TRP Hylex road brake system.

The TRP HY/Rd thingies would be another option.

If you were really clever with a soldering iron I'm sure it's possible to install Di2 buttons on the Hylex levers. The grooves for the cables are already in the plastic lever body.

[Leeds220]

Kell said:

I was just reading about these the other day - Evans, apparently, aren't calling them CX bikes, they reckon the Pinnacle invested a whole new category called Adventure Road bikes.

http://blog.evanscycles.com/new/adventure-road-gra...

I kind of get the point. CX seems to be used for anything that's between road and MTB these days. I wanted something that could handle the commute in wet weather better than the road bike which made the main requirement disc brakes. The chunkier wheels and tyres also mean I can jump up and down kerbs which I really don't like doing on the roadie plus the occasional light off road route.

Oh and all the above meant I could justify another bike to the Mrs. Up to 3 once the arkose arrives!

[bakerstreet]

Barchettaman said:

They're coming. The technology is on the market, it just hasn't trickled down to a reasonable price level yet.

There is a work-around with the Gevenalle Hydraulic road levers, which is a clever re-work of the Tektro TRP Hylex road brake system.

The TRP HY/Rd thingies would be another option.

If you were really clever with a soldering iron I'm sure it's possible to install Di2 buttons on the Hylex levers. The grooves for the cables are already in the plastic lever body.

They are here all ready. The top of the range CaadX runs SRAM with hydraulic disc brakes. Shimano have also launched 105 road shifters with hydraulic disc brakes.