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

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'

[IMG] [/IMG]

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...

[img] [/img]

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
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
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?

[img] [/img]

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:

[img] [/img]

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

[img] [/img]

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...

[img] [/img]

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 .