proper CX this is, none of your soft core crushed aggregate riding malarky. 1hr at 190bpm, around a playing field, while Willy the groundskeeper weeps at the sight of grass becoming mud.

This will be my third season of cx, been riding a pretty heavy sora equipped Ridley, and now I’m stating to get the hang of it am thinking about getting something lighter for next season.

Requirements:
1) tubeless ready wheelset
2) a front derailleur
3) zero percent finance
4) significantly lighter than existing bike (its around 11kg I think)
5) ideally sub £2k

Any thoughts? need to weigh up options and then negotiate with the keeper of the purse

its around 11kg I think

😯

My SuperX is more like 8kg.

a front derailleur

puts you in a minority which might be to your advantage, as everyone is 1x now there might be some bargains about?

Contrary to STW traditions I am going to recommend NOT buying what I own, a bargain new-old-stock C’dale SuperX. Brilliant bike with appalling mud clearance at the chainstays. They’ve sorted it for 1017 but any bargain older models will suffer and I wouldn’t buy again.

I have a Norco Threshold. Had a SuperX before this.

Prefer the Threshold.

No recommendation (Ive a Planet X XLS, around 8.1kg with 1x and better, non-anchor wheels) but a lot in my Club have Ridley ‘cross bikes (the shop which we are associated with stocks Ridley). I have noticed they are very heavy (in all but the higher end frames)

appalling mud clearance at the chainstays.

Ah yes, thats another requirment – good mud clearance as I don’t have a pit crew!

re. the front derailleur, one of my favourite things about cx is hitting a flat section shifitng up into the big ring and going for it. There’s something pschological about it i think i’d miss 😆

edit. I’m tempted to blow my budget as its money i don’t own anyway and get a stevens superprestige for £2.4k

Rose, Canyon, Ribble

Kinesis bikes are really sorted. I wouldn’t go front derailleur though. 1x is much cleaner and doesn’t trap grass/mud.

Go tubs for the ultimate performance upgrade but a pita.

Kinesis CX race frameset with planet x carbon tubs good enough for the podium. Challenge tyres on normal wheels with tubes were good enough as well.

Main thing is the rider but you need a machine that’ll get you to the finish line.

Kinesis Pro6 is nice
Hunt wheels or maybe kinesis HD CX wheelset
Shop around using voucher codes, Offers and cashback to get the best mix of shimano 105 / ultegra drive train bits and brakes.

Consider going 1×11 and get a NW front ring (were very cheap on superstar the other day)
Could always get some 2nd hand parts like cranks, stem, bars etc

Could always get the frame of choice and a set of Stans Grail buit at superstar in their 33% off wheel sale. Mine have been faultless

Focus are ace. Well worth a look.

Giant TXC, maybe?

Some of those Specialized ones come in pretty colours.

Giant tcx slr1 or advanced. Loads of mud clearance and plenty around for pretty much any price point.

Buy my Giant tcx slr2 if you’re medium/large, it’s a new/unused 2016frameset means no finance! 😀 £220 includes new bb,headset. Also very good condition bars,stem, seatpost,chainset and saddle.
Has LOADS of mud clearance, handles well, comfy and sprightly.

You can then go 1 x 11 and spec your own wheels & tyres 😉

As it’s a race bike and both weight and cost are a factor, would you consider rim brakes? Most suggestions so far seem to be disc framesets…

nothing amazing to say other than I have a 3 yr old Fuji and it is excellent

and fairly cost effective

no idea what the new ones look like but as a brand don’t dismiss them

@cookeaa, no disc only I think. Am used to riding with discs at the mo and also canti’s seem to be another clog point.

Focus are ace

will have to look at them as local shop sells them

Hadn’t really thought of Giant.

I do like the look of the kinesis a lot, initially had thought didnt want to build up from parts, but if i went down the route of getting an interest free credit card for the purchase could use my existing wheels (stans iron cross), get a discount groupset and some decent finishing parts for a reasonable amount.

Anyone riding a Boone? Seen a good interest free deal

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-05EFHTRShY[/video]

The Crux , top of the range Alloy version

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/5280/2017-2017-crux-sport-e5/

Sell the Ridley, add it to your 2.4k budget and buy two identical bikes at around £1500 each.
Sack off the tubeless and go tubs (factor this in to the budget, so maybe 2x £1250 bikes), you can pick up very nice s/h tub wheels for £100 and a pair of Dugasts or FMBs will be around £150 per bike.

There’s no point at all having one superbike and one ratty spare.

There might be a 2015 Giant tcx1 slr in the for sale section 😀

My Canyon had excellent mud clearance but was harsh to ride and a real pita to work on. Wouldn’t recommend.
Current XLS is pretty good for mud and easier to work on. Both came in at 8.2kg.
Both 1×10.
Tubs Tubs Tubs Tubs.

Having now broken my back I’m looking at a Boone purely for the sloppy seatpost.

How is the recovery going? They look to have lots of mud clearance and I reckon the seatpost woul really help places like Foxley in the dry.

@LS, I’m not convinced I can get away with two cx bikes (as much for garage space as anything) so would probably sell Ridley to fund new one, though after being thrashed for two seasons and commuted on it’s probably only worth a few hundred quid.

Fair enough! But please don’t spaff 2k on a cross bike and then not run tubs. You’re throwing the biggest performance gain straight out of the window.

@ferrals Recovery is going ok I think. Back in for X-ray Wednesday to see how the breaks are doing. Hoping I can take the brace off for sleeping then.

Make sure you get Tubs.

Do you put sealant in the tubs or just accept if they puncture they puncture? I’m [edit] sub nine stone should be sub nine stone by cx season so can get away with sub 20psi in tubeless but i guess tub casings are much more supple.

edit 2. didnt see your post thom, good to hear, hope x ray is positive

I only put sealant in if and when they puncture, it doesn’t happen very often (cursed myself for next season now of course!) unless it’s a bonkers course like Bieles.

Budget been reduced a bit, and lots of bikes now seem totally out of stock till next season. Thinking about the focus bikes. How’s the mud clearance? I was hoping for bridgeless seatstays but not vital, however from what I can see there is a big ledge behind the BB? That’s a bit of a poor design imo

Another vote tubulars – and stretch yourself to two pairs of wheels if you don’t want to to have 2 bikes e.g. a pair with mud tyres and a pair of intermediates. If the courses are muddy, a front mech only functions as a mud-collector, better go with a 1X transmission. I run sealant in my tubs.

Also.. whats happened to Ridley in the UK? seems like very few stockists now?

Also.. whats happened to Ridley in the UK? seems like very few stockists now?

I thought they were quite big in the UK at the moment? I work in a shop that stocks them. There are still a few 2017 bikes available – X-Ride 105, X-Ride Rival 1…

Ah really, I couldnt find many places online via google shopping, was thinking about the X-night 105.

Another vote for Boone here and good deals at the moment on a 5.

I’ve only just started cross racing but loving the handling and ride of Boone even with prolasped lumber disc! Just me thats too slow!

and good deals at the moment on a 5

Thats what i was thinking but unfortnuantely local dealer said they didnt have one in my size and none showing up in trek stock either. Might have to phone around a bit and see if any shops have them in stock. See them advertised for £1750 which would be an absolute bargain.

So what you getting then ferrals?

Focus Mares 105, should have picked it up last week but when it arrived there was a rub in the paint through to the carbon through shipping so had to go back and get a new one shipped. Wheels aren’t great but they’ll do and frame is same as their top of the line one so will be worth upgrading in due course.

Problem is I now have to find some fitness and cx skill both of which have deserted me!

Nice that. Idly browsing CX bikes here for a winter’s racing.

Wheels… get some tubs… apparently 🙂

What are you shortlisting? If i lived nearer london I’d find it hard to see past a trip to pedalon to look at the Trek booones which are reduced by 30% there. I didnt go for one because its collect in store only.

For anyone in the market:
https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannondale-caadx-apex-1-cyclocross-bike-2017-p304752

Plus 10% off using the Tour10 code making it £899! Unbelievable!

What are you shortlisting? If i lived nearer london I’d find it hard to see past a trip to pedalon to look at the Trek booones which are reduced by 30% there. I didnt go for one because its collect in store only.

Just down the road from me. I’m tempted. Hesitation is post mount and future hassle. There’s always a reason something’s heavily discounted 😕