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OK folks. Looking for some help.
Torn between two bikes from Evans on their ride to work scheme. As mentioned above.
I live in Herts, and have a suitably upgraded Giant Trance 2 that I use for everything - Swinley, back home in the Highlands, local XC loops, all 4 seasons, the lot. I have it suitably upgraded to cope with everything, hope hoops, 1 x 10 etc etc.
N+1 was too good to turn down, and I have clearance from the lady to store another bike in the house.
I've never sat on a CX/adventure bike in my life until yesterday, but I like the idea of something more nimble than the trance to horse around Herts on the various bridleways and linking roads from the front door. I know the Croix de Fer is heavy being steel, but would still make the Trance feel like the titanic on a long ride.
I've sat on a CAADX (one size too small) in the shop and couldn't believe how light it was. I love the idea of tearing round the ayots on something that will make the flat bits fun. I regularly holiday in France with the family, so this will be my getaway bike too when we go there (sadly not the alps, yet.)
So - CAADX I know is a decent steed, but the Genesis gets great reviews too.
What do I order, colour irrelevant - I want the most fun for the ££.
What would you pick? And most importantly, why?
What spec is the CAADX?
Have a CAADX 105... Bloody lovely bike! Very roadbikelike to ride, doesn't vibrate too much in the rough.
Elshalimo- they have a 105 and a Tiagra. 2017 spec.
I've got a Croix de Fer and I tend to think of it more like a tourer / commuter / family towpath ride / winter road bike than a true Cx bike. It's heavy as you mention, and the geometry is not true cyclocross (at least that is true since about 2015 IIRC). However, I can't imagine a better commute/ general nobbing around bike. I suspect the CAAD would be much more adept and faster off road.
So it depends on intended usage IMO. For a general "do everything" bike, the CdF is hard to beat. For an off road performance machine I reckon the CAAD-X is probably a better bet.
A friend has a CAADX and find it's too short in the TT. I had a CDF and found it rather numb to ride.
Of the two, and provided I could borrow one for a few hours first to see what it did to my back, I'd take the CAADX.
You hit the nail on the head there, this would be a general nobbing around bike - just to make the flat sections and local haunts a bit more fun when I don't fancy a big ride.
I love the look of them both, and understand there are clear differences in their intended usage - I'd like the experience to be completely different than the big bike which is why I've leant toward a CX/nobber rig. Being faster on the road/flatlands than the MTB would be a big advantage.
Not that the trance is a slug, I'm the slug!
Shame Evans don't do full build Kinesis. Probably unhelpful but I'm a huge fan of my Crosslight 5TDisc.
I recently bought the Caddx 105. I'm loving it. No complaints from me.
I do a lot with my CAADX - CX racing, MTB trails easy and hard, plus it serves as my road bike so I've taken it on club runs, couple of sportives, even done the odd time trial on it. Unsurprisingly, I love the bike - it is a CX geometry, though. Feels quite tall sat on it at first IME. So I wonder if one of the more recent gravel things might be a more neutral shape and a better starting point?
Wouldn't mind the CdF for commuting but that's about it - steel bikes don't float my boat, though, so maybe a minority opinion.
Thanks for putting a spanner in the works!! Was planning on a B'twin 540 with 105 group set now seriously liking the CAADX 105???
Decisions. I think the Cannondale will be more versatile further down the line. Plus as much as a tart I am it'll match my Cannondale Habit
Garry_Lager - MemberI do a lot with my CAADX - CX racing, MTB trails easy and hard, plus it serves as my road bike so I've taken it on club runs, couple of sportives, even done the odd time trial on it. Unsurprisingly, I love the bike - it is a CX geometry, though. Feels quite tall sat on it at first IME. So I wonder if one of the more recent gravel things might be a more neutral shape and a better starting point?
You've described how I use my CAADX.
However, I've never felt like it's tall. It's definitely not as tall as my previous Kona Jake or Paul Milnes. It feels like I;m sat in the bike rather than perched on it.
Thanks to all that responded. After much deliberation I opted for the Genesis on the basis that it'll still be different enough from my MTB to feel special when I take it out, and that its primary use will really be, in essence, bimbling about when I'm not in the mood to be smashing through everything I see on the bouncer.
When on holiday, I'd most likely prefer to be aboard something with a more relaxing fit than the sporty CAADX. This reinforced my decision. I spent hours looking at pictures and videos of both, and the heart says Croix de Fer.
When was listening to the head any fun anyway..
Pick it up Saturday morning.
Thanks boys.
Can you still change your mind? CAADX are great bikes that make you want to ride, as all great bikes should. The Genesis is a hefty lump in comparison.
A CAADX won't take away from the full bounce as they do different jobs
On my second Croix De Fer here, a 2015 30. A great do it all bike, probably fits the description of Adventure Bike very well. Certainly too heavy for cx racing, where the Dale would score much better, but for back roads, pannier laden, or fire roads and forest trails, it is ideal. Mine does a lot of winter road stuff, touring weekends in Argyll and Highlands, forest stuff, love it 🙂