Finally got my newly built Croix De Fer and just did a brief maiden voyage this evening.
Now although the ride feels proper comfy it does feel a little sluggish, would that be solely down to the extra weight of it being steel or would a change of tyres make a difference? I currently have conti cyclocross 35 fitted, thinking maybe something a little slicker like GP4000s or something, mainly riding gravel paths and road at the moment. Also cannot get my SPD shoes to click into the pedals for the life of me, any tips would be very much appreciated.
Cheers
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Those tyres aren't too heavy but racing tyrews will cut a lot of weight. Rims no the lightest, nor the frame, IMO you are largely stuck with it.
Need more info re pedals
Thanks for the reply, I've had it built with magic aksium one rims so shouldn't be too bad on that front. Using the single sided shimano spd pedals a530? Not sure if I have them set up right as really struggling to lock into them
I suppose it depends what you mean by sluggish. It's not a race bike and it's pretty heavy so it's always going to be a bit slower than an all out race machine. I'm sure that putting weeny tyres on would make it a bit faster, but surely that entirely misses the point of a CdF? With the GP4000s, all you would have is a slow, heavy road bike. With semis on, you have an incredibly versatile go (almost) anywhere machine.
I love mine. I'm sure it isn't going to win in any local crits (especially not with me aboard) but I think of the weight as extra training. I've never done a head -to -head but I'd be surprised if it's was more than 5% slower in real terms than my road bike (giant defy alu).
P.S. I reckon the tyres are what makes it comfy. The frame (to me) feels too thick -tubed to contribute to the ride quality. Ie I wouldn't change 'em.
If you haven't managed to clip in, you can't really decide it is sluggish yet 🙂
Check tread on shoes is not fouling pedals.
Point toes down, keep heel up and slide foot forwards until cleat is resting in the correct position and won't go further forward. Then press heel down... Click 🙂
If you haven't managed to clip in, you can't really decide it is sluggish yet
Yep. As above and also check that the pedal tension isn't wound right up to the tightest point. Makes getting into them harder if you're not experienced, and getting out of them a challenge too.
The conti 35 tyres are good on that bike, fast rolling on roads, decent on gravel and tracks.
As above, no point in trying to lighten it down into a road bike. It's designed as a gravel/adventure/tourer.
Thanks for all the comments, don't get me wrong I bloody love the bike, it soaks up the bumps beautifully I'm just used to riding a road based Alu hybrid with flatbars and normal pedals so a big change and just wanted to make sure I was getting off on the right foot(if I can ever get it to clip in!). Only just really getting into my cycling so the build was done purely on research and advice from lbs. Will be covering many happy miles together so wanted to check I had it right from the off.
Is it the steel or carbon forked one ?
They are great Bikes IMO, I had a 2014 one and moved it on at Christmas time for a 2015 CDF 30.
It's carbon forked, burnt bronze with magic aksium wheels, brooks c15, 105 5800, hydraulic brakes and flared drop bars. Took months debating and very nearly went for the 30 but this colour matched my campervan
Colour is important 😀
Sounds a nice build and Askiums will be a good bit lighter than the stock wheels on the 30. I'd suggest you try stick with the tyres. Folks either love or hate them, the latter group finding them puncture prone, which seems to depend where you ride. I have done a few thousand miles on them between the 2 bikes, with a fair amount of Singletrack and fireroad as well as road touring weekends and only had 1 puncture. I have them around 70 psi on road and 60 off and weigh about 12.5 stone
Cheers iainc, appreciate the info, gives me a bit more confidence in the ride now. Let's see if that extra stone they are going to be carrying makes a difference
Managed to get clipped in over the weekend. In my eagerness to get going i had fitted the cleats upside down!! 😳 Had a lightbulb moment half way on a ride, luckily carrying my toolkit, turned the cleats round and hey presto! 😀 I genuinely cant believe what a difference it makes, feels like you have twice the pedal power. As for the bike, i soon got used to the different feel and absolutely love it, cant stop riding. It soaks up the bumps, feels solid on and off roads and is outpacing my old bike all over the shop according to Stava.
I would definitely recommend a Croix de fer to anyone considering one.
Now am planning a few sportives, should i stick with the conti cyclocross or get some something slimmer and slicker? Answers on a postcard.
You'll probably notice a bit of a difference with lighter tyres.
I have a second set of wheels for my Tripster - an indulgence, but the difference with lighter tyres and tubes is very noticeable. Utterly unquantifiable finger in the air I reckon 10-15% faster (actually going on Strava data, but some is pure road, some a mix of tracks and road mile) or easier depending on your whim for the day.
My Look pedals also seem a decent amount lighter than XTR - not enough to change every ride but on a big day out I'll fit the 'appropriate' pedal.
Thanks for the advice both, just out of interest Brassneck what tyres are you running on your spare wheelset? I'm doing the Bristol to London sportive next month so considering options, the cyclocross tyres are perfect for my daily training rides but might not be ideal for a 114 mile road run especially with my limited ability
I'm sure that putting weeny tyres on would make it a bit faster, but surely that entirely misses the point of a CdF? With the GP4000s, all you would have is a slow, heavy road bike.
1000 times this. Don't put skinny tyres on it. 32mm would be as low as I'd go, and I reckon the Conti Cyclocross tyres it comes with are perfect.
Unless you are riding slippery but hard surface like wet grass CX tyres are not the best. A good puncture proof road tyre is better for gravel, run at a decent pressure. I go for about 60psi. Grip is not an issue, at that pressure comfort is still there and the bike rolls well. Moving to tarmac isn't compromised. A mostly tarmac ride will see me run at the maximum in my tyres of 80psi. I have some Conti Contacts of some unknown version. Kept me happy for about 20,000 miles of mostly gravel, some mud and maybe 20% road.
http://www.velovitality.co.uk/products/compass-barlow-pass-tyre-700c-x-38-mm supposed to be very good.
I have been pondering the opposite to you after a number of punctures on my conti cx speeds. They roll fast and are decent on dry bridleways but they seem a bit fragile. Im thinking of going for something more puncture proof but with a central belt for road rolling and some side grips so i dont compromise the bikes all round use but are a bit more resistant. Shame they are twice the weight 🙁 maybe I'll just run some duck tape inside the tyre or slime tubes. Though in truth that will probably weigh the same as a dedicated tyre and not work as well. But the cx speed really do roll well