It’s probably limiting ones choice, but I just prefer Shimano. Evidently Giant do as well, as all their 2015 hydro road/cx bikes use the RS685s.

Anyway, the 2014 TCX being 30% off and still being £1,574.99 just shows how over priced that model was. Who is going to spend that when for £1400 you can have any of the following with full Ultegra, RS685 hydros and half decent wheels:

Placing the order this week. After a lot of pondering, I am 99% sure I am going to go for one of these:

….then next year, if the RS685’s have had good reviews and gotten any recalls out of their system, upgrade from the 105/Spyres fitted.

Worked out it should only cost an extra £200-ish, after selling on the Shimano 5800 STI and Spyres, to make the switch.

I did like the Arkose 4, but figured that in real world use, a carbon post, Shimano chainset and ultegra rear mech would probably be of more use than hydros. Plus I can get 10% off the TCX, which makes it £1170.

…however, if any of the German bikes listed above had been available before December, then I would have probably taken a punt on one of them.

Odd that Rose have got rid of the config adjustment on the CX range.

Config is go!

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road/cross-bike/