[Closed] CX Bike Curious

A Kona Private Jake is also SRAM Rival 1, I've just brought one and love it. It's vastly different from my long/low/slack hardtail and makes me appreciate the characteristics of both. You should find a 2016 one for that price.

Boardman looks incredible value, if you get the deals right, it's even better.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-cx-team-bike

I would wait for 20% off and add in quidco and British cycling discount.

Boardman cx team for less than a grand 1x11 rival, versatile bike takes racks and guards. Only negative is wheels are on the heavy side if you were wanting to race it.

Ive always been a bit sceptical of Boardman frames. After working at Halfords for a while it kind of put me off. It is amazing value though.

I know they had problems with the paint cracking, other than that I think they are pretty good aren't they? I've not heard of many horror stories.

I've got a CX bike, it doubles up as a winter trainer for me. If you aren't venturing onto gnarmac I'd go single up front but if you were I'd definately keep both up front.

I bought a hardtail about 4 years ago and it absolutely crippled me, I didn't enjoy it at all, I wheel d out the CX bike that I bought in 2011 and hadn't ridden. I did thousands of miles on that bike over winter last year.

Ive always been a bit sceptical of Boardman frames.

why? I've got a CX pro (canti) and a CX team (disc) and both are great. The CX pro is a bit lighter and more lively on the roads, but I use it as a winter road bike so it's built up with relatively light bits.

The CX team is nice as well - stiff, solid and well made.

apparently the Boardman bikes aren't CX bike geo, they are closer to road bikes (long TTs), and a few people on here have been underwhelmed by them.

I wouldn't limit my search to 1x; converting only needs a 15 quid Superstar N/W ring and 10 minutes spannering. In my experience with my 1x converted SuperX Rival, CX bikes (or at least, Sram-equipped CX bikes) don't need 1x specific clutch rear mechs as the return spring is sufficiently stiff to retain the chain. Raced it last winter, a summer series where it was dry, hard, fast and bumpy, used recreationally in the summer and now into the second winter race season I have never come close to dropping a chain, nor is there any chain-slap damage to the stay with my bog standard Rival 22 rear mech. And if you wreck it in a muddy winter ride it costs £35 to replace not £80...

I was CX curious this time last year too. Bought one, hate it. Absolutely hate it. Had grand ideas of using it to strike out and explore far away trails but in reality I've used it for off-road rides twice in 12 months and apart from that, used it for 200 miles of commuting a few miles a day now and then.

Its odd, the only bike I've ever disliked this much was a Dialled Bikes Love/Hate (ironically) which felt like it was made from concrete filled scaffolding tubes.

Want rid of the damn thing now - tried to shift it a few times without much success but think it might be time to give it a proper go and get something that you can actually ride off-road and not have some half arsed road bike thing.

We had our cx bikes stolen a couple of months ago, and I am missing them like crazy (cant afford to replace them at the moment). A few years ago the OH bought a Kona and I just didn't get it. Then I got myself a Rose and absolutely loved it. Easily my most used bike. Have a look at Rose - value is excellent (whilst they haven't changed the £ prices) and you can spec the drive chain as you want via the bike builder.

Crashtestmonkey, that's really good to know. I was considering upgrading to 1x after buying the bike thought a clutch mech was a must.

As to why I want 1x, I love the simplicity and just don't need two chainring. After running 1x11 for 18 months I can't go back to front derailers.

fwiw, i see a much wider range of speeds and laden-weights on my cx/gravel/tourer than on my mtb.

from walking-pace climbs with tired legs, to fast tarmac descents. i do need 2 chainrings.

I turned my old Road bike to 1x8 last year and never looked back. I guess it depends on where and how you ride. I love climbing so tend to use big gears there anyway.

Cannondale CAADX?
http://m.startfitness.co.uk/cannondale-2015-caadx-105-disc-cyclocross-bike-bycdm5caadx105.html?gclid=CMT06J6aitACFeYK0wodacIORA

mjsmke - Member

Crashtestmonkey, that's really good to know. I was considering upgrading to 1x after buying the bike thought a clutch mech was a must.

As to why I want 1x, I love the simplicity and just don't need two chainring. After running 1x11 for 18 months I can't go back to front derailers.

I recently ditched the front mech. £15 superstar narrow/wide and the existing Rival 22 rear mech, no clutch. I've been giving it a good go but it all feels solid. Actually the chain messing with the chainring feels more solid than with a front mech

Bought a Boardman Cx team a few months back and value wise (Halfords 20% off + 10% British cycling) at £700 its a steal and I love it. Bought it as a winter training bike but so far I've done, off road trails, an 80 mile road sportive and showed a few members of a local road riding club up on a 50 mile blast.

I had a Boardman CX secondhand last year, and it was OK- I liked the riding possibilities it opened up (gravel/towpath, etc) but it ended up with slick tyres and wasmore of a commuter. It was then nicked.

I've done something similar now, and bought a Raleigh RX frame and built it up. it's a great ride, for sustrans/towpath/gravel/smoothish bridleway riding. The postive differences are:

Bolt through front and rear is much stiffer and predictable on roots, etc. (142x12 and QR15 front)
Shorter top tube is good in twistier stuff and in town.
35mm tyres (Cross Boss) are a lot more comfortable.

However, it is debatable whenever it's any quicker, more efficient or comfortable than a rigid 29er with skinny tyres....

got my cx bike last year my first one got a genesis croix de fer planed on doing a few races mostly training on it through winter done 1 race got the bug. recently upgraded to a planet x xls for the money i paid 999 for it and it has carbon wheel i can't see any better deals. id have a look on planet x website they do flash sales you could get a bargain. my mate has a boardman really nice bike and quick as well for the money.

I wouldn't have a CX bike for purely off-roading. Mine gets used for road rides with gravelly short cuts and links. If I take it properly off road I'm invariably slower than on any of my mountain bikes because 35mm tyres can't be launched over roots/rocks/pot-holes with the same degree of confidence as bigger knobblies.

It would be for general winter riding. I have a rigid single speed for off road over winter which is great but fraustrating on the road.

Had an explore this evening with a mix of road and bridleways and cheeky routes on the XLS with some Compass Barlow Pass 38s on. Braking on the muddy descents was interesting but apart from that it was great.
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It's quite an adaptable bike. Bike packing, racing, club runs, titting about. Have fun OP.