Looking to get a cyclocross bike.

Predominantly going to be used for commuting on, on and off road.

Really needs to be able to take mud guards, racks would be a bonus.

Don’t want to spend more than about £1500.

Been looking at the genesis vapour disk: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/vapour/vapour-disc

What else should I be considering?

Dirty Disco

Did you see this thread?
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cyclocross-disc-frames

CAAD-X Disc?

I got the non-disc version on Cyclescheme and it’s excellent – just wish i’d been able to go up to the disc model! Use it for pretty much the same thing as you.
Don’t think you could go wrong with the Genesis though.

Dirty Disco doesn’t take racks or guards, according to the video website

Looking at the Tredz site I linked to, they have the Genesis for £1200.

Cheers for the replies.

The dirty disco looks great, but as Moses has said it doesn’t take guards.

Looked at the canondale, I’m probably need a 52cm frame (I’m 5foot7), which tredz don’t have, not sure if anywhere else has them.

Need to try a bike for size really, not sure if I will need a 52 or 54cm frame.

Ill check out the other thread.

Crosslight pro 6

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/kinesis-pro-6-new-project

See mine with guards on near the Bottom, mine cost about £2k, but could be built much much cheaper!!

I am 5-8 and got a 54 crosslight

I think the Cannondales are out of stock until late Feb.

I was seriously considering either the Cannondale or this until I decided to definitely keep under £1000.

Moda Calore

19.79lb
£500 wheels
BB7s
Mud and guard racks

Available from Cyclocross specialists, Zepnat

(only downside is Sram Apex – although a few £1500 bike have this to keep the weight down, trek, specialized, etc). Personally, I’d much rather have 105, but YMMV.

Boardman cx? Mine’s pretty good. I think it ticks all the boxes.

Look at Dolan CX bikes. I’m on my second now. Great value. FWIW, discs a bit OTT and cud interfere with mounting racks/mudguards.

The Pinnacle Arkose from Evans has had some great reviews and has a very nice spec.
About £500 less than the equivalent Boardman.
The Boardmans are starting to look a bit pricey this year.

Need to try a bike for size really, not sure if I will need a 52 or 54cm frame

Definitely a 52 in the ‘dale. The sizes are weird – I went from a 58cm road frame to a 54cm Cannondale!

That Moda looks very nice.

Predominantly going to be used for commuting on, on and off road.

Really needs to be able to take mud guards, racks would be a bonus.

Don’t want to spend more than about £1500.

You don’t want guards off-road, they’ll make it hell as the mud will clog them in a few seconds. That’s why cross bikes don’t have guards. If you want to use it for cross then you’ll have to take the guards off. And Cross tyres feel horrible on the road, very squirmy. For everything else you’ve said, get a tourer with 32mm slicks and full length SKS chromoplastics.

A) cross bike and accept squirmy handling and a wet arse/legs on the road (best if you want to race/ride cross)
B) cross bike and remove/fit slicks and guards when you want to commute on the road (not such a bad option if you want cross bike for raceing in winter and a summer commuter)
C) tourer and only use it on gravel paths (best if you want to comute all year round)

Really needs to be able to take mud guards, racks would be a bonus.

Whilst to some extent I agree with TINAS above, if you really want to fit proper guards and/or racks, take a look at the Whyte Kings Cross and Charing Cross models. They are about as versatile and utilitarian as CX bikes get, they’re almost lightweight touring bikes with a double chainset that you can take offroad if you want to. They’re very popular with people who want a CX bike for the same reasons as you do…

If your off road commuting is not on muddy gloop then mudguards will be fine.
I’ve just picked up a secondhand Croix De Fer for a winter road bike with guards and for summer mixed on / off road rides. If it works out I may upgrade to Pro 6 in the future.

I bought one of these for exactly the type of use described.

Merida Cross 4

Fitted with 35mm chromoplastics.

Just perfect. And very good value too, even before the excellent discount negotiated…

rosebikes cx disc, rack/guard mounts. £1000ish for 105/slk finishing lit/bb7 or 1300ish for ultegra/crossrides
think you can do your own spec with them also.

Loving my Cross-check but I use it mainly as a roadie.
Changed group set to 105. Canti’s seem plenty of braking for me.

I enjoy my Spesh Tricross disc but wouldn’t use it for cyclocross, it’s more cross-purpose.

Makes a great tourer and winter bike though.

Kona Rove.
Steel kona, yum yum.

Planet X Uncle John.
Particuarly of you have long legs and short torso as it has a long headtube.

I got a Whyte Saxon Cross a few months ago to replace my previous Cyclescheme CX bike (Orbea igorre). The Whyte is much more forgiving off-road (I commute across the Quantocks) and it’s a pleasure to have brakes that I have some confidence in (unlike the canti’s on the Orbea).
If I was interesting in racing the Orbea would be my choice, but for commuting the Whyte is ideal.

As mentioned, also look at touring bikes. I would certainly get some touring tyres on there as cross tyres are not very good on the road, can puncture and wear easily.

I use my cross race bike with clip on guards and take them off if I’m going to race or ride somewhere muddy. I also have a few wheels so swapping between commuting, racing and training tyres isn’t such a pain.

I’d prefer discs for commuting as I think they’d last better. I also would have a relatively cheap groupset on because commuting wears stuff out.

Some top suggestions, thanks!

Ill have a proper look when I get in, hard to follow all the links on my phone.

I appreciate that it’s not ideal to have mudguards on when riding of road. At the moment my commute is just on roads, it’s dark both ways. But when it lightens (and drys) up it will be nice to mix it up.

Tempted to build my own, the crosslight pro six looks great. I just know that it would end up costing me more this way, perhaps not in the long run though.

Keep the ideas coming, much appreciated.

£449 for a red or white crosslight here: http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/22281/products/kinesis-crosslight-pro-6-cyclocross-frameset-white.aspx

£529 for the black.

Go on, you know you want one……………….

in fact i am tempted to get another…………

Thinking of going the build you own route.

The crosslight pro 6 (£449)
shimano 105 groupset (£420),
BB7 brakes (£100),
superstar wheels (£320)

Leaves £200 for tyres and finishing kit.

Seems like much better value than most of the bikes I have seen above. If I can pick up bits second hand can save even more.

I’ve just ordered one of these.

Although the price has mysteriously went up by about £200 since I ordered (I must’ve bought it during a xmas offer or something).

focus
boardman?

As so many have already said, I’m building a Kinesis Pro 6 at the moment. I have purchased nearly all the parts in the sales and should come in under budget even with a touch of bling.
Check out my latest post!

You’ve got the budget for a reasonable build on a Singular Peregrine…

The 2013 Focus Mares. 105 disc at Primera Sport for £870 is oh so tempting…

Decided to go for a Genesis Day One Alfine, as I can get them direct from Madison through work and they seem perfect for what I want it for.

Have started a new thread on sizing over here any help greatly appreciated!