[Closed] do i need / want a cyclocross bike?

CX bikes = adventure. Great if you need one bike to do it all. I love both my tricrosses and Mrs R loves hers. However, if I had to choose to keep only one of my 7 bikes it would be the HT 29er.

I got one 2 years ago, the novelty wore off, I sold it 1 year later, now I want one again!

Genesis Croix De Fer. Love mine. Lovely comfy steel frame.

Or the new, cheaper CDF
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The Genesis bikes (whole range!) do look very tempting.. i also like the look of the Rose DX cross bikes

and i do only have 3 bikes

Genesis CDF: fastest bike around the planet!

Went out over Cannock Chase this morning as it was getting light, it was wonderful.

I know you can do it on a MTB but not in the same style 8)

Get one you won't regret it. Heres mine:

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I thought about it one for ages, didnt have cash or space. Got one relatively cheap a few years ago, loved it then bought a cross check loved it even more. Even done a couple races, very addictive

Colnago cross bikes are a thing of beauty.

The world cup comes wit discs.

The prestige is pure beauty!

oh you Bstards!

i'm weakening

very versatile machines. Mine has been in road mode for ages, but having just bought a real road bike the cx is unleashed 😆

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I'm loving mine at the mo - feels so good carving up corners & so quick!

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That On One looks awesome. Hows the ride?

Need, No - Want, YES. Remember n+1.

Mine is the one that puts the biggest grin on my face.
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some very nice looking bikes,

whats the best wheels? Seen Hope have some 29er wheels - will 135mm width wheels fit in cx frames? or is there some roadie equivalent?

Shall I see my MTB and buy a cross bike????

I too love the thought of a cross bike.

Me too, but dunno wether to go for one with discs or not?

Just got my very own Jake after borrowing for a while. He's ace. In a go further faster kind of way.
[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/68631407@N03/6775390161/ ][img] http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6775390161_4a006d30b8.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/68631407@N03/6775390161/ ][img] http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6775390161_4a006d30b8.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/68631407@N03/6775390161/ ]Jake the Snake on sheep farming duties[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/68631407@N03/ ]BeateKubitz[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6649369379_256e5a3579_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6649369379_256e5a3579_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/warnesworld/6649369379/ ]Ridley side[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/warnesworld/ ]ian_warnes[/url], on Flickr

Any excuse. I ride mine more than all the other bikes put together.

BB

2 Jakes' on one thread 🙂 yey 😆

Will never be without one!

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6778337913_8f59f1252c.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6778337913_8f59f1252c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73773087@N07/6778337913/ ]WP_000743[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73773087@N07/ ]h4muf[/url], on Flickr

I straight barred, V braked and touring chainsetted mine....which might make it a hybrid....but it will do road, track, commuting and touring pretty well.....and I like it.

will 135mm width wheels fit in cx frames?

Most CX bikes are 130mm spaced, although a couple of new disc models (e.g. Pro 6 disc) are spaced for 135mm.

CX bikes are the awesome!

Here's both of mine,.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6526350859_d540a68854_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6526350859_d540a68854_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/6526350859/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2614/5698585055_d573f9c306_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2614/5698585055_d573f9c306_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/53067724@N00/5698585055/ ]Genesis Day-one[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/53067724@N00/ ]Jon Wyatt[/url], on Flickr

They're great if you're on your own, not so good when with a groups of MTBers.
The pro disc argument is far stronger if using it on trails.

I got my first cx about 4 years ago and I still love it. cx bikes are fantastic for lots of the uk where we have miles of bridleways and trails that aren't techy enough to be fun on a mtb but are great on a bike with silly narrow tyres 🙂 Also the joining bits of road fly by on a cx whereas I always hate riding my mtb on the road.

I reckon that I'll be upgrading my cx before my mtbs as I enjoy riding it so much. I've had a lot of bikes over the years but my cx is unquestionably one of my favourites.

As for discs, having recently upgraded to them, I wouldn't go back.

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Yey Iainc two Jakes! I have noticed the lack of social cx rides too oldgit. Maybe we should do one? I have some nice 25-40 mile loops in Calderdale if anyone wants.... And there's always the Mary Towneley loop on cx bikes.

Coming round to the idea of discs, I seem to get through brake pads at an alarming rate - you get used to the smell....

But yes, get a cx bike!

Yes. My Peregrine is easily my most versatile bike - (an' ok, I know it's not a pure CX bike, but from your description, it sounds fine ... 😉 ).

Running on Mavic A719's - so it'll take anything from 700*32 (probably 28's too) to 29*2.1's. Currently sporting 700x34 Bonty CX tires. Goes almost everywhere (obvious exceptions being rock-gardens / drop-offs and the like).

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Just built this[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/48403784@N05/6788602583/ [/img] for some non-technical off-roading. Had it's maiden outing yesterday to see how it rode and compared quite favourably with my Pompetamine.

The Lyra discs are as goos as BB5's and were cheap as from Winstanleys.

Longer chain, new saddle, some pdm 520's and bar tape and it's ready to go.

A longer fork is on the way to experiment with and I'll probably go bigger with the tyres. Built for around £300 including the impending carbon forks 🙂

Edit: Image Link : http://www.flickr.com/photos/48403784@N05/6788602583/

Dry days and long winding forest roads going up and down the hills, there's nowt to beat a cx bike, and they are more likely to take you to your riding spot.

You can even take them through your local singletrack for a bit of skills enhancement.

If I had to have just one bike, it would be a cx.

Should be one in every bike armoury.