[Closed] Let me see your Cross Checks, Croix De Fer's or Similar

Mike's is a Deuter one?

Yup.

nedrapier
OCB, silver rims look good!

Thanks, they are Mavic A719's - not 100% sure you can still get them in silver now tho'. Kinda on the heavy side, but very tough. Perfectly happy running everything from 700x32 slicks to 29x2.1 Bonty XR3's (which come up big for a 2.1).

That's a far better pic of my bike than any of them that I posted 🙂

It's in focus for a start 😛

Thanks for replying Jamie. There seems to be some discrepancy on Wiggle's q & a regarding the size! Pics would be good though.

Bit later than planned, as Wiggle sent me the regular Triangle Bag instead of the Front Triangle one, so just sent it back and re-ordered from CRC.

Fits fine on my 52cm frame. However, will have to use a side load cage on the downtube, [url= http://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-accessories/lezyne-flow-cage-side-load/10841947.html ]Lezyne Flow SL[/url] pictured, and cannot use anything larger than a Camelbak Podium 610ml. Anything smaller will be fine.

So far have fitted a Lezyne pump, 28-32c innertube, iPhone and a banana in there comfortably 8)

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2013 Day One Disc. Use this for commuting most days and love blasting it around woodland at weekends. Have also spent some pretty long days in the saddle on this and will be doing a century on it when the weather dries things out a bit.

thanks for the measurements on the Jandd bag and the tip on side entry bottles - looking for something similar

Kinesis pro6, 9speed 12-34t XT on rear, SLX "touring" ie 48 36 26 chainset, ultrega STI (because I had them) BB7's but will swop to spyres when they are available and work - wheels off a cotic x, have a 2nd set of lighter wheels with 11-28 which I use for sportives and out with recreational roadies - will take a rack and panniers -only negative is sometimes get caught by toe overlap when thinking about where a route goes and do a hard u turn plus not such a relaxed riding position Edit and bar mounted levers - great for long descents and sat up in traffic but mean no handlebar bag which I miss
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Fingers crossed bike hear back from Madison on Monday...

Cheers Jamie, it looks good and you sound pleased. I've always used side entry bottle cages as they just seem easier. What size is the bottle on the downtube then? Looks larger than a 750ml one.

I will post pics of mine at some point, it's off to the lbs for something to be changed.

"cinnamon_girl - What's so good about cowbell bars?"

The drops flare out a little, this gives you a more elbow out riding position, with is much better off road, as you have more leverage. It's also comfy.

They are short drop, this puts the drops I a usable position, a little higher than normal. This is also comfortable.

Two versions one at £35, one at £55 ish, one is a bit lighter. Loads of widths inc a nice big 46cm

Cheers Jamie, it looks good and you sound pleased. I've always used side entry bottle cages as they just seem easier. What size is the bottle on the downtube then? Looks larger than a 750ml one

The big bottle is a 710ml Camelbak Podium. A friend lent me it to see how it would fit, as I would have preferred a bigger bottle. Bit too big as it goes.

The drops flare out a little, this gives you a more elbow out riding position, with is much better off road, as you have more leverage. It's also comfy.

They are short drop, this puts the drops I a usable position, a little higher than normal. This is also comfortable.

Two versions one at £35, one at £55 ish, one is a bit lighter. Loads of widths inc a nice big 46cm

Interesting stuff, Charlie. Built my Croix De Fer up with 42cm FSA Omega Compacts, and think they are a bit too narrow when off road. Might have a look at the cowbells, as seem like a good idea.

Cowbells are fantastic.
They just feel 'right'

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Hmm. So just whether to go for 42cm again, or 44cm in the cowbells.

Picked my original bars as they seemed not too big, and not too small. I guess there is a more scientific way to choose bars than using the Goldilocks method 8)

I saw a straggler in the flesh this weekend, now I NEED to get a new commuter! Looks like such a fun bike.

Who makes cowbell bars?

Salsa.

Don't know what to do first with my standard Croix.
Change to 105 shifters
New wheels (but what)
New bars/seat post

Let me see your Cross Checks, Croix De Fer's or [b](DIS)[/b]Similar

Erm... probably shouldn't be posting this here as the only steel bits on it are a few nuts and bolts here and there. It weighs ?FA and I am indeed utterly 'overbiked' on it:

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And I'm still shocked that the 20/24spoke wheels that came with it have withstood my not so delicate 15st...

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And I'm still shocked that the 20/24spoke wheels that came with it have withstood my not so delicate 15st...

Looking at that pic, it too me a few seconds to see you had spokes. Looks like your wheels are held in tension by straw.

Cheers Jamie, it looks good and you sound pleased. I've always used side entry bottle cages as they just seem easier. What size is the bottle on the downtube then? Looks larger than a 750ml one.

Just an update. This might not affect you, but round my way a lot of the riding off-road, has to be borderline cheeky to a certain extent. As such there is the odd lifting over styles/fences from time to time. The Deuter, and I guess any frame bag on a small frame, gets in the way to an annoying degree. So looks like it's going back.

Back to the drawing board for how to carry pump/tube/phone. Probably frame mount the pump and put rest in pockets....which I was trying to avoid.

*....must resist rucksack 😉 *

One of these
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Used as a bar roll? I quite like them. It's probably an age thing.

Which model carradice is that ? Wonder if it would fit with current tiagra sti's ?

Thanks to Charlie for educating me on the merits of different bars. 8)

Jamie - that's a pita as you thought you had it sorted. Dare I suggest a bumbag, OK no points for coolness but practical? Mine isn't for off road although perhaps the odd hard-packed cycle track.

I'll post a pic of mine when I next go for a 'bag lady pootle'. It's seen a couple of changes though so I may test you. 😉

[url= http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=59 ]Zipped Roll bag[/url]

14cm cm diameter x 30cm wide

Many thanks

Shame that Carradice only make the black one with white straps, not the natural leather colour. The other one is Velo Orange's.

Cheers for the suggestion, James. Will have a look.

Jamie - that's a pita as you thought you had it sorted. [b]Dare I suggest a bumbag[/b], OK no points for coolness but practical? Mine isn't for off road although perhaps the odd hard-packed cycle track.

No. No you may not 😛

What annoys me is bottles/saddle pack were just fine when on the road bike. But since get the Croix De Fer and going off road more I seem to be getting more punctures, so a pump/extra tube seems to be needed.

😆 At the weekend I used a very tiny Camelbak and didn't really notice I was wearing it. What's wrong with attaching pump to the frame? Have you tried a large saddle bag?

What's wrong with attaching pump to the frame?

Probably be the way I will go. Just would be handy to have something to chuck pump/tube/phone + food in. No saddle bag is going to be long enough for the pump, apart from the Carradice that James linked to.

Someone say zipped roll?

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Just about fit in camera, waterproof, tools & cheese sarnies.

Can you fit in a pump, Lezyne Pressure Drive measuring 23.5cm, Tinribz?

Also, how you fitting the bag to a non-Brooks saddle? Having a quick look on the Carradice website, looks like an adapter kit is needed in most cases, and costs [url= http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carradice-cyclo-bag-loops-chrome-per-pair-prod16431 ]another tenner[/url] 😐

Just ordered one of those for the bars, looks ideal assuming I can get it between cables ok

Just ordered one of those for the bars, looks ideal assuming I can get it between cables ok

I want it for the rear, but looking like a £10-30 bracket/fixings is needed as well. Which, to be honest, rules it out after spending £40 on the actual roll.

Shame, as it looks like the problem solver.

I have some bolt-on saddle hook samples from taiwan if anyone needs some and wants to be a 'tester'. 2 prs spares, 1st come 1st served etc. Will need to find them in the workshop next week.

This post is reserved for possible calling of dibs.

Are they like these, James:

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Just a few reviews saying if rails are narrow, I have a Madison Prime so no idea if narrow or normal, the bag will hang loose.

Easy to fit and secure. However, if your saddle rails are too close together the bag will hang low and swing around. Great if you have a Brooks without loops already there, but otherwise they don't solve the problem. I gave up and invested in the QR Bagman Sport support* which is brilliant.

*£25

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Count me in on that please Jameso !

Another fan of Carradice here.. I use the zipped roll as a bar bag..
I've got the green & gold one.
Love it.

Will have them next weds so PM me then.

Will do, cheers

Teetosugars - Member
Another fan of Carradice here.. I use the zipped roll as a bar bag..
I've got the green & gold one.
Love it.

What is your cable set up ? I am hoping it will fit in with conventional tiagra sti's which come out the inner sides of the hoods

They are like those, and look like they'll hang some bags a little low / narrow, got some to try out but few people I know use such old fuddy stuff. I can't sit on a Brooks tho so wanted to try them.
Bagmans seem to do a good job but at that point I'd be looking for a small bikepack-style seatpack. The Velo Orange one looks nice -

http://freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Bags%20%26%20Clothing.html

wish I'd seen that Velo Orange baguette one before ordering the Carradice at £12 more 🙁

Great link jameso and I MUST have those hammered mud guards. 8)

wish I'd seen that Velo Orange baguette one before ordering the Carradice at £12 more

It's noice, and seems to have an additional fixing point?

I am now on a personal crusade to find a roll type saddle bag, 25cm width, that will fit to a non-brooks saddle and not cost a million quid for the whole setup.

It's noice, and seems to have an additional fixing point?

wish I'd seen that Velo Orange baguette one before ordering the Carradice at £12 more

My Kite.
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Need to add my Ortlieb bar bag & sort out something for the back.

Easy fit a 23.5cm pump in a roll. But fek me £40 notes is a bit steep for a pencil case, swear I only paid half that when I got it.

I use the bagman QR but with a bit of an alu strip bodge rather than big wire pictured above, but I already had one for a camper bag.

You can also get seat post adapters for klickfix barbags, they work pretty well at the back.

On the cheap you could knock something together using a gas mask bag from an army surplus?

Carradice bag arrived - looks ideal. Straps are a bit short for oversized bars, but I phoned them up and they are sending me longer ones.

Fits a treat, doesn't mess with STi cables, looks decent.

A question for Jamie - what tyres and width are you using and how do you find them both on road and off road? Thank you. 🙂

[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-smart-sam-sport-cross-bike-tyre-wire/rp-prod106775 ]35mm Schwalbe Smart Sams[/url]. Cheap and cheerful, bit sketchy in the mud, but then any skinny tyre will be.

I bought them, as they seemed a good mix of price and all-round grip. Always going to be a compromise, but so far it seems like a decent one. Wire bead, but come of my Kinesis CXd wheels with one tyre lever, as quite supple.

CG - I researched the tyres to death and my top 2 were the schwalbe smart sams as per Jamie and the conti cross speed, also 35. The conti is faster on road but less good in gloop. I also got a pair of conti cyclo x kings 35's for proper muddy stuff.

Jamie - thank you, I'm trying to work out whether it's worth attempting to go off road with a cx bike. On the one hand I like the idea of being able to do both but worried about the drag on the road. Bike came with Conti CX Speed 35's but have put 32mm Conti Gatorskins on.

iainc - OK, thanks. Very much a compromise. I had intended to only ride on the road but after today where there was a difficult to avoid flood on the road, an off road alternative was close by. Ended up with soaking wet feet and shoes despite wearing the wrong length Sealskinz!

Really pleased with the CdF - today saw it making light work of the very minor damaged roads with those bomb-proof wheels. No way would I ride a roadie along them!

Oops, still haven't taken any pics cos I know I'll be ridiculed!

Cinnamon: I killed a set of those Contis in about 6 weeks flat when I got my X last year. Been running Razes since. The Contis were awesome off road but wore far to fast as a 'one tyre for all' for my taste.

Mine is equally happy commuting around Sheffield and playing around the Dark Peak. I took it on a 100 mile road run last summer.

Basically I run much lower pressures if I'm playing in mud and rocks than if I'm riding Tarmac or fire road/bridle way... Obviously I don't stop to adjust at the gate... :). As to the offroad, around Christmas I very nearly fitted a dropper and still might...

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I've had my Cdf for two weeks and managed 200 miles on and off road. Im amazed how comfy it is too ride and have been taking it out on road rides with my works mates and not been dropped. It seems pretty quick and assured on corners and I've even managed a few off road KOM's on strava. 🙂 . The one thing is dosen't do well is descend rough rocky fire roads but really this is what mtb's are for. All in all It's a great bike and I got It for a steal .

Here's a girlie one:

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I've taken her down some really rattly unclassified roads and she feels absolutely stable. Do get a tad concerned where there is gravel as that's what caused my roadie accident.

looks good with black and grey vs. the normal brown too

In similar vein I've taken my Peregrine round the borders of our county - Moray - on the Moray Way - basically three linked walking paths - majority of that off road in one form or another, near 110 miles, still going fine, hardest part was passing the pub near the end of the ride and not stopping.

Raze here at the moment, had been Smart Sams. Happy blasting round local woods, nothing too extreme but remarkable what can be done. I love the mix and match approach - either trails linked by road stretches, or road mostly with link sections of fire road or sturdy paths.

looks good with black and grey vs. the normal brown too

Thanks Iain. 🙂 It's a lovely shade, dove grey with a suede-like feel.

a 2008 Roadrat with the original roadhog forks (still a bit brutal)

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I could probably fit inside CG's saddle bag.

😆 @ Jamie. Only holds 2 inner tubes, multi tool, zip ties and my reading glasses. Plenty of room left! You haven't noticed what's been changed, apart from the bar tape. 🙂

Peregrine. Cowbell bars (44cm, a bit wide on road, feel right off road and 42cm just feels constrained).

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niiice thread guys. oldgit, how did you get those hydraulic brakes onto the droppy bars? Im pretty sure i prefer flat bars (fleegles at least) but drops do look prettier (and i'm secretly a tart)

853 Reynolds tubed Genesis Fugio. Lovely to ride.

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Soma Double Cross DC from the nice people at Keep Pedalling in Manchester -

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Skinny steel tubes:

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Built up with BB7s, the Soma fork and Crest 29ers with Hope hubs and various bits of Shimano drivetrain with a compact up from and 9-speed mountain bike 11-32 cassette at the back. Not light, think about 25lb, but rides very nicely on and off road.

I'm running Bontrager CX0s tubeless converted and they've been great on and off road in the Peak. They're effectively lightly treaded semi-slicks, but round here where it's mostly rock or sludge rather than pure mud or wet grass they cope with most stuff just fine. I used to run Maxxis Raze and they were good all round on the same sort of terrain.

Use it for mixed-up back lanes and bridleways, bad weather winter road rides, and stupid things. We did a 55-mile loop over Cut Gate on cross bikes last summer and it was deceptively effective.

Nowhere near as fast as a road bike if you're with someone of equal fitness, but quite happy and brisk enough for solo stuff. Doesn't like rocky descents or climbing on rubble where it simply spits traction.

Soma also does a Triple Cross version made from stainless which looks lovely until you see the price...

This is my do it all - a Chinese carbon frame with some fairly stock kit - a mix of Campag ergos with Shimano drivetrain including 96 XTR rear mech which is still going strong. BB7 road calipers though I have some TRP Spyres waiting to be fitted if I can ever find time.

Maybe worth noting is the Stans Arch Ex wheels run tubeless with CX tyres for offroad which work brilliantly.

Offroad setup
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Road
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Is the colour balance setting on your camera broken?

Well... 🙂

The frame actually changed (warranty replacement) and they're taken 6 months apart. But basically the same bike (Trigger!).

CdF owners - anyone changed their fork to carbon? Been getting a tad beaten up on the rough old, roadie free, roads.

Have you tried bigger tyres? Way cheaper than buying carbon forks!

I'm running 32's, Conti. Just curious as to whether it would make much difference.

cinnamon_girl - Member

CdF owners - anyone changed their fork to carbon? Been getting a tad beaten up on the rough old, roadie free, roads.

Only because already had them. Make the front a bit lighter but bigger tyres for more shock absorbsion IMO

CdF owners - anyone changed to hydraulic brakes? If so, what did you go for and why?

Thanks. 🙂

I find the stock Hayes CX experts lock both wheels with ease. So am quite happy with them. Only negative is that they are a bit 'tingy' noisy on release, but I suspect that's more the rotor.

Just back from a week of riding it on Arran and the braking ability on big road hills compared to roadies was phenomenal !

Built my Fargo up...
Yup.
Love this one too...

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Last week I bought a Whyte King's Cross (2013 model) from Winstanleys, put some Conti 35c X king tyres on it and must admit it's been awesome. Took rough stuff in it's stride and now struggling to find reasons to ride my Genesis Fortitude Race 29er..

Here's mine ready for its first overnighter.

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Bumpity bump. 🙂

Does anyone know the weight of the CdF Alex XD-Lite Disc wheelset?

Thanks!