[Closed] Recommend me a CX commuter

Personally, a steel Cotic X but these are history. An Escapade would be close.

If I was buying a CX now, I'd probably need dragging away from the Giant shop. The TCX's are very nice.

I'm commuting 18 miles each way, 3 times per week on a 60% road, 20% cycle path, 20% gravel route and opted for this:

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Two reasons:

1. It can run a hub gear without sliding dropouts, has rack and guard mounts, has a full carbon fork painted in frame colour, has internal routing for Di2 and Hydralics and was lightweight.

2. It looks badass!

Thanks guys,

Daffy that looks awesome - what is it like comfort wise?

I wouldn't be commuting on that niner, far, far too nice. I have a 5 year old ridley crossbow, was £1000 on the Cyclescheme when new, and it takes a hammering, especially at this time of year with all the salt on the roads. Either that, or something similar second hand, or a decathlon one for about half that price.

It's very direct with high pressures, which I don't mind one bit. Shorts provide comfort.

NBITF - I can see where you're coming from, but I love my commute and a nice bike really makes me smile.

It's stored in the office during the day and one the guards go on, it'll be fairly well protected. Just the callipers to worry about, but they're only £100 and have a 3 year warranty anyway. The alfine (along with everything else) is sealed.

That Niner is lovely. Do you take you Mint and Parsley stand into the office for it? 🙂

The Niner looks lovely, might have to see if anywhere has demo bikes available.

Niner really do know how to make a bike

16 Miles each way three to four times a week. Either 100% road, 50:50 road:old railway/canal or 100% railway/canal depending on my mood, weather and time pressures.

Cotic X with carbon forks and a Carradice Pendle.

I love it and actually look forward to the commute on a Sunday evening, it even outweighs the dread of 'work tomorrow'.

My colleagues think I'm nuts!

17 mile commute here too .... Using a (steel) cannondale CAADX ...
Did 43 miles on it yesterday on the road ... Lovely and comfortable

*bookmarks* for future ref.

Keep it coming chaps! So basically everyone getting on fine with ally frames - I'm assuming because a cross bike has wider tyre, that then makes it more comfortable?

I've had two steel CX/Commuters, a heavily modified Genesis Day One Alfine 11 (Reynolds 853) and a heavily modified Genesis CDF (Reynolds 725)

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Both rode in a heavy and uninspiring fashion.

I've now got the above Niner and the below PnF:

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They are almost incomparably better than the bikes they replaced, despite having the same/similar components.

Hijack/

Daffy, how were the small block 8s on the road? draggy?

Hijack/end

They fine when pumped upto high pressure, but quickly wear down into an almost square profile if you're using them almost exclusively on road. In this state it makes them sketchy in the wet as you have to fight the tyre to get it off the ridge and into the corner. Countersteering is no longer an autonomic function when they're like this.

Hmm, will give those a miss then - thanks for the feedback!

I picked up an Eastway CX 2.0 for around 680GBP last summer, very pleased with it although upgraded brakes to CX77 and put an 11-32 on the back

They did a full carbon CX1.0 that was on sale as well.

Wiggle own them now, I believe, and according to their Facebook they are preparing to release more bikes.

Some for sale on wiggle just now, 30% off. Really impressed with the bike, but it is my first cx style drop bar ever

Isn't there a Fargo frameset in the classifieds? You wouldn't need it for load lugging, but it'll be very happy on the rougher stuff and take any tyre you like. Very comfortable and stable, and full guards with 50mm+ tyres possible too. But that Niner is gorgeous.

I've been commuting on my Whyte Saxon Cross for a couple of years now.
Fifteen miles each way across the Quantocks, mostly country lanes (or offroad when the weather's better) and between 12 and 14 hundred feet of climbing each way. I'm really pleased with it.
This is my second CX commuter, the Orbea Igorre I had before was much harsher offroad and the canti brakes where crap (it may have been a better choice if I was ever going to race though).

In November I accidentally found myself in possession of a Giant Revolt 1 . 🙄 It was £500 !!!! Instead of £1000 !!!!! Well it would have been rude not to 😯 Close to MTB silhouette with a radical sloping top tube , the seat stays join the seat tube rather than the TT junction . I think that helps with the back end comfort . It's also got a carbon seat post and fork plus Avid BB7 disc brakes , bargain ! It's great for commuting, hilarious in a good way off road and not too precious . Ideal ride it , give the drivetrain a quick wipe down and put it away , job done . Trouble is this is bike number FIVE !!!! Ho hum 🙄

Thanks for all the input everyone.

I've narrowed it down to:

On One Dirty Disco - £1199, carbon frame, Sram Rival 22, meh finishing kit:

[url= http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDRIV/on-one-dirty-disco-sram-rival-22-cyclocross-bike ]http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDRIV/on-one-dirty-disco-sram-rival-22-cyclocross-bike[/url]

or Focus Mares AX 2.0 = £1199, ally frame, Shimano 105, TRP HY RD brakes (cable enabled hydro brakes):

[url= http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/focus-mares-ax-2-0-22g-2015.html ]http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/focus-mares-ax-2-0-22g-2015.html[/url]

I like the idea of a carbon frame to dampen vibrations, but to me the Focus has better kit/frame. If I got the DD, I'd be looking to swap the wheels for a pair of crest probably.

Also, throw into the mix - tyre-wise was thinking that whatever bike I end up with, getting a pair of Schwalbe Sammy Slicks as these seem to have smoothish centre for the harpack/paths/road and enough knobbly bits on the sides to handle rougher stuff (bear in mind the terrain is as per my original post i.e any off road is flattish wood path, grass so no rocks/roots.

Brain hurts.....

Herself is hopefully getting her road-less-travelled type bike on Friday or Saturday - she's gone for Clement X'Plor USH in 35 size. For all-round riding probably a better bet than a compromise cx racing tyre IMHO.

On One Dirty Disco

I would have liked one of these or the XLS but (unless they've changed) no mudguard tabs means struck off the potential commuter list automatically.
For a full on committed commuter I reckon something like a day one or a pompetamine, steel frame, singlespeed, full guards, disc brakes and fitted with tubeless tyres. Little to go wrong, comfy frame/fork, not the lightest but good value. SS does limit the versatility tho which is what new style CX is all about really, I ran SSCX for 12 months (after several years of SS road commuting) then fitted gears, since adding gears I've used it for much more than just commuting but it means in mid winter I'm now grinding away a 10speed setup instead of cheapo ss setup.
I really like my crosslight pro6, it's a decent middle ground but part of me thinks I should have stuck with cheap n cheerful or splashed the cash properly on ti or carbon frame and posh kit. If you're leaving it locked up stay cheap but if you have secure storage... as Daffy says, you spend so much time on your commuter ( >80% of my annual mileage) it seems daft to do it on a naff bike.

On One Dirty Disco - £1199, carbon frame, Sram Rival 22, meh finishing kit:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDRIV/on-one-dirty-disco-sram-rival-22-cyclocross-bike

I've got a DD, though not in that spec, built up when they were selling frames and forks on eBay for 400 quid, it replaced my Soma Double Cross - steel frame, much like a Croix de Fer etc - I use it for everything from back road winter riding mixed up with easy bridleways through to the occasional full-on mtb ride.

It built to exactly 20lbs with Hope Hoops Crest 29ers, Tiagra Compact double and TSR Spyres. I really like it. I don't have mudguards fitted, but if you google, you'll see that folk have successfully added Raceblades to them. With a compact on the front and 11-32 on the back it'll go up pretty much anything, on or off road.

I really like it as a do it all thing. I have a spare set of wheels with 28mm road tyres - or ice spikes atm - for days when it makes sense. I run Bontrager CX0s, which are kind of semi-slicks, in tubeless mode on the Crests, they've just started doing a tubeless ready version, though only in a 33 for some reason. Roll reasonably fast and have surprising amounts of grip off road.

Works for me.

I've a Genesis Day-One Alfine. I've used it for probably 14 months and loved it. But a change in home requires a different commute bike now, having difficulty bringing myself to selling it though 🙁

I run a Giant TCX SLR 2 - only had since November but used it for mix of commuting (road and/or canal), some 30+ mile road rides and a few mix and match road/off road rides and done about 600 miles.

Great fun and very comfortable. Currently put on some cheap Schwalbe CX Comps (30 mm)and use Raceblade XLs which do a decent enough job when needed.

Would heartily recommend - but obviously not what you have/are settling on!

Gregmay, what size is it and where are you?! have a 52 Condor Fratello that i'll be looking at getting rid of as moving home in a month and the commute will be 17 miles each way, 80% gravel, 20% road, figure that would kill it.

Looked at the dirty disco, unfortunately its the same as all of the on-one/planet-x options, nearly but no, none of their CX bikes have mudguard and rack mounts. 🙁

BWD,what is the standover like on the DD? I like the look of it,quite road geo,but I am worried I will have the longest post in the worrld.

Not bothered about mudguards/panniers as we have showers in work, I'll be riding in full cycling kit and will have all my work clothes at work (will prob only cycle in 3 days a week, using the other days to transport in shirts etc). So only stuff to carry would be what I usually do for a road ride. Plus I'm used to wet days mountain and road biking so bring on the spray!

Pinnacle Arkrose here, 12 miles each way, half on road, half on variously surfaced tow and cycle paths

Why is there no mention of the tripster are on this thread?

I built up a 22.5lbs Croix de fer and thought it fun and lively.

Now got a tripster and it is comfier and pretty excellent, but it is slacker in the steering. Brilliant with 40c tyres.

Second hand 2014 Boardman CX Comp here, full guards and mounts. Heavy yes, but bulletproof yes. Love it, been my winter road bike also.

Most of the above bikes are very lovely but I couldn't bring myself to ride something that expensive everyday in all weathers. The roads, tracks and weather at the moment are bike destroyers. But each to their own.

Salsa Vaya for me. I only have a 3 mile commute but I also ride mine around Llandegla and have done some back country rinding on it. Very comfortable, a bit weighty but I don't go in for that sort of thing.

Charlie the bike monget has a few on offer too

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/salsa-vaya-2-complete-2015-3116-p.asp

I've got a Planet X london road and use it to commute on a very similar sounding route to the OP. It's my only experience of this kind of bike but I like it and it's been off road at the weekend with no trouble at all.