Hi, I am looking to get a CX bike I can ride around my local trails. I have the chance of getting a singlecross, and a tricross at a good price.

My question is what are the limitations of a single speed bike such as the Singlecross in terms of gradient you can pedal. I live in Ludlow, so its very hilly, but not like the peaks or mid wales etc. Does anyone reckon the sinlgecross would be OK.

If it's hilly go for the Tricross??

Surely a bit more versitile??

"what are the limitations of a single speed bike"

you

Yeah, thats what im thinking, but the singlecross seems fun, and somthing a bit different, extra motivation etc…

where would you like to go today ?

The Monitor im looking at this on is not the best, is that a singlecross in your pic?

yes

Wow, cool. So how much walking/shouldering did that ride involve?
Im takinmg it for granted that you are a normal cyclist, and not some sprint specialist monster? 🙂

Terry if you rode that trail (up or down) on a rigid single speed bike I am very impressed. Frankly I'm impressed that you even consider it. Gears every time for me around Loch Muick.

trail_rat is a sprint specialist monster- there are lots of miles in them legs!

hehe – i rode up to the monster rocks on the climb then shouldered from there to the top of the S bends …

then rode down the entire walkers path and along the east/south east side of the loch and rode back over the lightening strikes into glendoll – albe it SS iirc – didnt have a big enough fixed cog. 42:21 on the ss side

i find riding the cross bike brings me back on par with the missus on what i can/cant ride

Don't care what anyone says, but a long wet grassy muddy slope is a mare on a s/s crosser. Just too hard to finesse without slipping. Same slope in the dry easy peasy.

Would you reccommend the singlecross or a tricross, to run alongside my mtb? Are they good as a training aid?, or more just a bit of fun when bored with mtb?

i would get a tricross – i got the singlecross for commuting and would swallow drive trains whole on gears !

do watch the weight – they are porky bikes –

Are they a good training aid? I'd say so, a mixed on/off road session on a crosser gives you a good workout, though that's probably on part due to the battering you get.
And IMO you'll not feel the benefits of a cross bike if you buy one this time of the year. I'm not saying they're rubbish in the dry as they're still great, but they come into their own in the winter big time.
I think in all honesty if you're asking all these questions then you really need to get gears.
I'm going to buy a s/s crosser this winter as a second race bike and general foul weather do it all bike, but looking back on what I've done on my crosser i.e CX races, sportives, reliability trials, training runs and general trail rides I'm glad I've had gears.

get a surly crosscheck then run gears or ss 🙂

Thanks for the advice,

I think I will defo go for the greared crosser.

whats a 'greared' 😆 crosser… sounds evil..id get that one 🙂

Whatever you buy it'll be good. I've seen just about every make on the start line of races, even been beaten by Job on his singlespeed. I think the Giant is probably the most popular though.
Just make sure you don't buy one with a non compact chainset, 34 will cover everything off road and the 50 will get you to where you're going. Well that's my opinion anyway.

I have the Singlecross. Can ride almost all stuff, persoannly think gears would be a waste of time/take the fun out of it. But like Jo said, the real limiting factor is you!

Just guys thanks for the advice.

Just need to stop dithering and mke my mind up!

Be assured that whatever you finally choose wont be available in your size 😡