[Closed] Recommend a Tricross Bikes

do you mean a cyclocross bike?

a cyclocross bike is really just a slightly beefier version of an audax bike which is really just a comfortable version of a road bike.

Ok was looking at Specialized Tricross! Cyclocross the same Tricross?

Do you mean the Specialized Tricross?My mate has a singlespeed one for commuting and likes it.
Ian

a Tricross is "Freeroad", cyclocross is different

the tricross is a cyclocross bike

i use mine for winter road and touring as well though

great bike for the money

😆 @ JoB

I have a singlespeed Tricross - it's fine off road. Like a fully rigid mtb, but faster on the flat bits. I wouldn;t want to do anythign too tech on it but if I take my usual mincing approach to obstacles it'll get me over/around most stuff.

Is more suited to 'aggressive freeroad', or 'all tarmac' JoB?

I like my Tricross it's a pretty good do anything bike. The brakes are rubbish though...I'm still working on getting a good set up.

"The brakes are rubbish though."

compared to most road bikes they're ace.

I've got xtr v's on mine and as long as you use the 'real' brake levers they're as good as v's on an mtb (within the grip of the tyres anyway).

the mini v's mine were supplied with were rubbish

I use tektro frog leg style brakes and they are far better

I just want something, for the road which is more conformable than a racer. Got my santa cruz heckler for off road!

I was looking at some options on this as well yesterday and like the look of the Genesis Vapour. I think that the 2010 one is red and retails at around the £800 mark.

[url] http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/vapour [/url]

"something, for the road which is more conformable than a racer"

not trying to be funny but have you tried a modern road bike?

I've got a Planet-X Superlight which is a 'race' frame but it's as comfortable as the TriCross.

daz123

if you don't want drop handlebars then something like the cannondale fatboy, ie a lightweight mountain bike with slicks and higher gearing.

with drops then there is a big choice of audax bikes or cyclocross bikes

compared to most road bikes they're ace.

Not really, the dual pivot calipers on my singlespeed commuter build are great...I switched to a set of cantis from the v's and I still can't get them set up to give consistent stopping power without having to pull the lever almost all the way to the bar (which could be me being crap I know). I'm wondering whether to switch back to the v's with a 'travel agent' or get a more adjustable straddle cable (rather than the standard shimano one) in order to increase the mechanical advantage.

I've been told the riding position on a racer is different, on a Tricross your more upright!!!

I'm running normal xtr v's on the standard brake levers and lever travel and braking are both good (albeit that the suicide levers don't offe rmuch modulation), sounds more like a setup issue for you, tbh.

daz123 - have a look at 'audax' bikes - they tend to have a taller steerer tube and slightly less reach (although you can mimic most of that with stem and spacer setup on a standard road bike).

best bet is to ride a few different types of bike and see what you find best,really.

[i]daz123

if you don't want drop handlebars then something like the cannondale fatboy, ie a lightweight mountain bike with slicks and higher gearing.
[/i]

As above - How about a Sintesi hardtail with a decent headset 🙂

"on a Tricross your more upright!!!"

...more being the operative word there. To be blunt, if you're used to riding a full suspension mountain bike you're likely to find any sort of drop-barred bike uncomfortable initially.

I'd also observe that you seem to have decided that you want a Specialized Tricross, which isn't a bad thing...just go and buy one!

If on the other hand you're looking for a road bike which isn't a race bike then there's a wealth of options open to you from true sit-up-and-beg hub geared dutch style bikes right the way through to something like a Cannondale Synapse which is a road bike which is ALMOST but not quite a race bike...

Oh...and whilst I'm here ctznsmith...are you sure you've got dual pivot callipers on your ss commuter? Your description sounds very much like a set of cantilever drakes...

I run a Cannondale CAAD9 CX bike, it replaced my road bike that was killed by a white van!

The 'dale is much more fun than the regular road bike but just as fast, maybe a little heavier (1-2lbs) but you dont have to swerve to avoid any ripple on road, and can blast along cycle paths etc.

I do a 22 mile commute on mine no probs. I wouldnt plan to use for CX racing, just wanted a tough road bike and something not too lightweight that would take a daily pounding and some touring.

All I did was to swap the 'off road' 32c tyres with some schwalbe marathon supremes (never puncture and fast as f...), and get the juddery brake sorted with a fork mounted hanger - I got mine for £1k (rrp £1200) with 105 kit - a little dearer than a road bike but worth it, plus the Cannondale CAAD9 frame is so good.

I ride this much, much more than my MTB now.

Thanks guys, thats very useful info! the Cannondale CAAD9 CX looks great in Jet Black!

DezB, a Sintesi hardtail with a decent headset, that sound like a nice hard tail £££££ loads of money!!!

Oh...and whilst I'm here ctznsmith...are you sure you've got dual pivot callipers on your ss commuter? Your description sounds very much like a set of cantilever drakes...

Yes.

Description of canti's was on the Tricross.

wwaswas - what 'year' is your Tricross? e.g. '08 or '09

Slightly OT, but is anyone else a bit scared by the obvious might of the Spesh mareketing buzzwords department?

ctznsmith - tbh, I have no idea - I bought it off the classifieds earlier this year. Guess it must be an '08 (unless they made them earlier than that?).

daz123 if your anywhere in the North west ( Manchester Area) yer welcome to have a go on either my CX Bike, or road bike if you want...

Assuming you can fit a 54cm and 56cm repectivley...

Just to see how they both "feel"..

Teetosugars - he's not (unfortunately!). So you have a CX bike in 54 and road bike in 56cm... is that the norm? ie that a CX frame will be a bit smaller?

wwaswas - Member
I have a singlespeed Tricross - it's fine off road. Like a fully rigid mtb, but faster on the flat bits. I wouldn;t want to do anythign too tech on it but if I take my usual mincing approach to obstacles it'll get me over/around most stuff.

Pfftt... I find the tricross to be a very capable bike.

Even find teh brakes to be good. For general city duties, and tow paths your more than covered with a tricross. Get the SS version, the best, and most fun 🙂

As I said, you can mince your way through most stuff 😉

one of the clearest on the bike films I've seen - very good.

Daz on a singlespeed. Now I am laughing..!

Many thanks wwaswas 🙂

I find surprisingly easy, makes you really push yourself, which surley is only a good thing? Also for commuting you can now was/clean/maintain the bike for basically the whole of winter, and it will still run. Mine is in the garage still with huge amount of mud on from 2nd september, still works fine 🙂

Dunnoif it's the norm Dezb.. But I know a lot who do choose a smaller cx frame than their road bike..

I have just done my first cycle (a 10 mile commute) on my brand new Tricross Sport Triple 2010...

I love it! 😀

Riding drops is new (and a bit scary going downhill) and I don't need the triple for the commute, a double would have been fine, but I do plan to tour on it next year anyway!

Also the Tricross comes with a reversible stem and a shim in the stem to allow you 4 different choices of angle on stem - the dude in the shop reckoned that coming from a MTB to a road bike I would want to slowly lower the bars over time as I get used to the drops and this gives me the options I need.

Also the 2010 has fixed the front brake judder on the 2009 models (certainly I have not noticed it myself and the shop guy explained how they had added a widget to resolve it).

I could have got a higher specification bike from the internet for the same price, but as I had no idea about sizing etc I bought from my LBS (Dales in Glasgow) as they have never let me down before! I got free SPD pedals, cheap mudguards, discount on a lock and a huge discount on a demo rear light as I'm waiting for new cateye light mounts as the bars and seatpost are wider than the ones on my old commuter so in the end I got a great deal! I also got left alone for 30 odd minutes on Saturday with the demo bike outside the shop to play with it and make sure its what I was after. Which was very cool!

I'm 5'11 and 31" inside leg and I have a 56cm frame. I was between the 56cm and 54cm and the 56cm felt better. I ride a 19" rockhopper as well if that helps for size.

David.

Thanks dmiller for the info! Need to get down to the bike shop to test!

wwaswas you might be right, I may have the 'wrong' canti's.

I'm reliably informed some Tektro CR720's and a [url= http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b17s101p0 ]Kona style uphanger[/url] may give me a better setup.

Glad to hear they've sorted the brakes on the 2010 model though, they're a good frame/bike.

Tektro CR720's and a Kona style uphanger may give me a better setup