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Cyclocross bike/frame advice

33 posts & 17 voices | Started 1 year ago by 29erKeith | Latest reply from 29erKeith

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29erKeith - Member

I'm sure it's come up a few times in the past but I can't find any with the search, so...

I'm looking for advice on options for a £1000 or less Cyclocross bike
not for racing more commuting and occasional off road jaunts,
with rack mounts
I have been thinking of a LeJog too which it could get used for (obviously with different tyres)
or would I be better off getting a Sturdy road bike/tourer
and keep the MTB's for offroad

What's out there that'll fit the bill?

I like the look of the Genisis Day 1 Alfine Discs and the no faf gears
Maybe a Kona Jake
Any others that should be in the running?

Posted 1 year ago #
Merak - Member

I really like the Alfine equipped Genesis, nice colour too. Decent price, it has all the bits on it you need. I cant see past it tbh.

Posted 1 year ago #
29erKeith - Member

Seems to be spot on for what I'm looking for tbh too
just wanted to check I'm wasn't missing something

Posted 1 year ago #
Merak - Member

I saw it in a branch of Evans looks shit hot. It was a toss up between that and a Cotic X, I like the idea of the Alfine.

Posted 1 year ago #
AntLockyer - Member

My opinion is that a cyclocross bike is good for cyclocross and not much cop for anything else. A road bike would be much better for your main usage IMHO

Posted 1 year ago #
29erKeith - Member

I've never had any sort of road bike other than my Charge Plug which is my daily commuter

I was sort of under the impression that a CX bike wasn't a million miles away from the geometry of a road tourer but just with more room for bigger tyres + canti's/discs

Is that completely not the case?

I was sort of leaning on the cx side of things as I'm not sure how much use I'd get out of a Road bike
CX seemed to be a bit of a best of both

Posted 1 year ago #
oldgit - Member

I can't see the point of spending on Alfine for what you require....essentialy a road bike with 28c's.
After all a F&R mech set up is going to last some time for your intended use.

I slightly disagree with AntLockyer, in fact I posted about this sort of thing yesterday. There are a few cross frames that cross!the line between cross, road, tourer and commuter. Something like a Crosslight can be dressed up and down to suit many needs from race day to euro tour.

Discs on road don't make an awful lot of sense to me 'yet', plus I can't get past how damn ugly they make a road bike look.

Personally I'd look to see how much a cross frame like a Crosslight or a 'training' frame like a Condor Fratello would cost to build up.

Posted 1 year ago #
c - Member

I'm a fan of my surly crosscheck. Use it to get to work and back and for canal towpath / round delemere etc. I'm thinking of doing lejog on it this year (if I can afford the time off work) but don't know how it feels properly loaded up.

Posted 1 year ago #
oldgit - Member

Alfine, I'm thinking of Rolhoff when I talked of expense.

Posted 1 year ago #
darrell - Member

this is not ugly

Posted 1 year ago #
Duc - Member

Cotic X looks a good bet

Posted 1 year ago #
AntLockyer - Member

BB height and chainstay length on a proper CX frame would be a compromise for anything else and very wrong for touring with paniers.

Posted 1 year ago #
aP - Member

If I was going to ride it on the road a lot I'd choose a canti equipped bike over a disc bike - based on having ridden cx bikes for 15 years and also owning a disc'd Trek Portland. When I had my first cx frame built for me in 95, I had mudguard and rack eyes added and it was great for racing cx, road rides and it did several week long tours (with panniers).
My current cx bike has mudguard eyes in case I want to use it as a road/tourer although the Portland is good when loaded up (I also use it to pull a bobyak).
If you're interested I have a 54cm BMC CX02 frame/forks + stem + seatpost hanging up which I'm looking to sell (also have 105 rear + front mech).

Posted 1 year ago #
oldgit - Member

this is not ugly

Indeed it transcends ugliness. If you saw that hanging up in Halfords with a £199 price tag you wouldn't take a second glance.
And the seat stay/wishbone affair is possibly the worst I've ever seen on a bike. Same for the fork crown. And graphics by Poundstretcher?.

Anyway what is it, and what's it's pedigree?

Posted 1 year ago #
roger_mellie - Member

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago and got some helpful suggestions: LINK
Am leaning towards the Cotic X.
Mate at work has an Alfine Day One and says he could do with a few more gears on the roady bits of his commute.

Posted 1 year ago #
oldgit - Member

I know the Cotic X seems to be the new darling of STW, but again for me....no.
For me it hasn't left it's mountain bike roots far enough, in fact that's what it looks like, a drop barred MTB.
Not seen any good reviews on yet either.

Posted 1 year ago #
cynic-al - Member

Ahh my pet subject...

aP - Member
If I was going to ride it on the road a lot I'd choose a canti equipped bike over a disc bike - based on having ridden cx bikes for 15 years and also owning a disc'd Trek Portland. When I had my first cx frame built for me in 95, I had mudguard and rack eyes added and it was great for racing cx, road rides and it did several week long tours (with panniers).
My current cx bike has mudguard eyes in case I want to use it as a road/tourer although the Portland is good when loaded up (I also use it to pull a bobyak).

You've not said why you'd avoid discs - I love mine, mostly because I don't wear rims out any more nor bring as much dirt into the house.

AntLockyer - Member
BB height and chainstay length on a proper CX frame would be a compromise for anything else and very wrong for touring with paniers.

Heaps of folk happily tour on cx bikes no?

Not seen any good reviews on yet either.

Have you seen any?

IMO Alfine would have too wide ratios for road riding but not an issue if you don't train/race.

That pure thing looks nice, my next want is a light steel cx bike with discs.

Posted 1 year ago #
Andy - Member

a light steel cx bike with discs

Pick any two

+1 for a Surly Crosscheck

Posted 1 year ago #
AntLockyer - Member

Heaps of folk happily tour on cx bikes no?

I'm not so sure. My definition of a cx bike probably differs from most here. I for one cringe at bottle mounts, I want a high BB, short chainstays, low front end (one thing on my CX bike it I can't get low enoguh at the front).

Posted 1 year ago #
Smarty - Member

Boardman Pro CX Cyclocross Road Bike Medium 2010
.
or
.
BeOne Chase 2010

I'm looking for the same thing and have these on my list. Not for racing, my commute is 10miles and can do 75-80% of it on canal bank. MTB takes me about 45mins, thought a cross bike might reduce that time slightly, if not make it a little easier.

Posted 1 year ago #
aP - Member

I've found the road discs a real faff. I've ridden about 2,500 miles on the Portland this year and had to replace one disc because it warped and meant the bike was unrideable, both sets of pads because they went off and wouldn't brake satisfactorily. Oh, and the ringytingy noise most of the time as I ride along unless they're adjusted just, just right.
Cantilever brakes are so much easier to live with.

Posted 1 year ago #
oldgit - Member

Have you seen any?

Yeah loads....well one and that didn't rate it.

Posted 1 year ago #
cynic-al - Member

Sounds like you need to work out how to use Avids aP, 4 years on road here with no issues.

Posted 1 year ago #
aP - Member

They're shimano cable disc brakes - I wouldn't buy any more.
As I've been using disc brakes for 13 years, it's just possible I know how to set them up.

Posted 1 year ago #
cynic-al - Member

Don't blame disc brakes for Shimano problems then (I had no issues with mien either btw )

Posted 1 year ago #
AlasdairMc - Member

I'm looking at the Cannondale CAADX 105 myself - far too many compromises on spec on the >X< Weekday and it's quite heavy too.

Posted 1 year ago #
thomthumb - Member

get some discs, you'll be pleased in the long run.

Posted 1 year ago #
foxyrider - Member

Mate uses a Giant XCR with Ultegra 6600, and pOen pro's on Hope Pro3's if that's any use!

Posted 1 year ago #
dobo - Member

built me a crosslight 5t as a do it all bike, well under 1k with mostly 2nd hand bits including the frame.. its a bit harsh but couldnt be doing with a heavy steal bike.
using canti are fine, you only really loose that emergency breaking factor and makes your riding smoother and less stop/starty.
used the 5t round swinley with no major breaking issues. when i jump on my mtb now the disc breaks feels better than awesome..
probably get discs in a few years on a cx when lighter packages come out and i need a new frame/fork/wheelset..

Posted 1 year ago #
qwerty - Member

good deals to be had on ebay right now on new KONA Jakes - and there is a 52cm Major Jake (one ride old) for £1000

Posted 1 year ago #
Merak - Member

AlasdairMc

I'm looking at the Cannondale CAADX 105 myself - far too many compromises on spec on the >X< Weekday and it's quite heavy too.

Yep I like that one too. For me discs is a must though, spec is v similar on the CAADX and Cotic X

Posted 1 year ago #
aP - Member

There's an interesting review of the coticx on road.cc

Posted 1 year ago #
29erKeith - Member

thanks for all the ideas and comments guys

I take the comment about gear range of the alfine
but still really like the idea of discs, the brakes on my Charge plug are shocking in the wet

I hadn't looked at it before because of the price but the Genisis Croix De Fer looks pretty good too.
and after looking about it can be had for £1000

plus

It’s even the holder of a Guinness World Record since in 2010, in pursuit of an often-contested record, Vin Cox rode his Croix De Fer around the world faster than anyone has managed before

sounds like a pretty good confirmation that it's a very capable tourer too.
tbh looking at it, it isn't really a CX bike at all is it, certainly not one for racing on anyway, but i was never looking at the racey end of CX anyway with rack mounts

So I think I may have made my mind up. Just a shame it's not the same colour as the Day 1, I really liked the look of it.

Posted 1 year ago #