touring etc. What’s out there and what’s good? I’m kinda tempted by the Cotic Escapade but never really liked my Soul and sizing seems weird, a large is 54cm, my CX is 58cm – I guess that’s why they recommend long seatposts.

So what else is there, I guess I’d really like a Singular Peregrine but they’re prolly too spendy for me. Salsa? Surly?

Genesis CdF and its big brothers.

Thanks, the CdF and the Croix De Fer especially do look good. Counts pennies. Anything else to consider?

I’m on a Singular Kite. It’s real nice for exploring the dirt back roads.

I like the look of the Whyte Dorset, used to be the Charring Cross which I have.

I’m on a Singular Kite. It’s real nice for exploring the dirt back roads

Singular Kite does look good but I’ll be selling my straight up CX bike (Focus Mares Cross 2008 in 58cm, less than 700 miles if anyone is interested) to fund this purchase just want something more versatile and comfortable than a CX race bike.

I’m in the same boat as you and I’m looking at the Rose CX bikes.

You can put a Peregrine together for less than you might think. I got the frame, forks and a selection of bits (levers, no-name bar tape, gatorskins, Open Pros, SLX hubs, spokes, chainring, chain, tubes, ) to the value of £940 from A Shoppe. Bought a couple of things cheap from . on-one – BB7 calipers, bars, headset) and a few bits from the parts bin – ST cranks, BB, saddle, seatpost.

Started SS for fun and savings. Bit later I bought a cassette, Dura Ace bar end shifters and rescued an old mech for a ride on the SDW. Oh, some knobblies too.

600 after tax (ish) + £150 in bits from On-One, + parts bin stuff for the 1st SS road build.

I can send you the spreadsheet if you’re interested?

You can put a Peregrine together for less than you might think. I got the frame, forks and a selection of bits (levers, no-name bar tape, gatorskins, Open Pros, SLX hubs, spokes, chainring, chain, tubes, ) to the value of £940 from A Shoppe. Bought a couple of things cheap from . on-one – BB7 calipers, bars, headset) and a few bits from the parts bin – ST cranks, BB, saddle, seatpost.

Started SS for fun and savings. Bit later I bought a cassette, Dura Ace bar end shifters and rescued an old mech for a ride on the SDW. Oh, some knobblies too.

600 after tax (ish) + £150 in bits from On-One, + parts bin stuff for the 1st SS road build.

I can send you the spreadsheet if you’re interested?

Yes thanks, would be very interested to see that, email in profile I think

Some food for thought here:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/let-me-see-your-cross-checks-croix-de-fers-or-similar

On the cheaper end of the scale My Kona Dew Drop is serving me well for all of the above, I had a peregrine but the sizings just don’t work for me.

I also have a 58cm Dew Drop frame and forks if you are interested…

Bought a blue 13 Genesis Cdf for £699 in the New Year sales and love it

First impressions

http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/genesis-cdf-40-miler-with-some.html

http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/genesis-cdf-58-miler-south-in-footsteps.html

I’m in same boat as ned above, though I couldn’t put a cost on my Peregrine. But, as an all purpose bike that will do 100+ miles on rough tracks , fire roads, back roads and ‘proper’ bike trails, I’m very happy.

Bonus is that, for me, it’s a lovely looking bike that just rolls along.

Here’s mine the other day, in SS guise, testing out front rack + panniers..

Specialized Tricross is a decent all-rounder

quite like my salsa vaya – bit sluggish on the road/gravel paths compared to my old jake the snake and cross check but discs are awesome and its much more fun off road 🙂

I’ve got a Norco Indie Drop which cost £600 and is great, but nowhere seems to be selling it this year…

If you’re after a complete bike, the Verenti Substance that Wiggle sell could be worth a look?

Get a Surly Crosscheck frame and build it up with whatever you like….great frame/forks 🙂

2014 Genesis Cdf here , Really great Bike. I bought It as I had a Hardtail , Full Suss and Road bike and the local trails don’t really justify a long travel hardtail and sometimes you need to ride road miles in between which I hated doing on a mtb. Also want to do some Island touring In the summer and I doubt a fully laden Giant Defy would be much fun .
Im 5’9″ with shortish legs and a 54cm frame is Spot on.

tripster arriving very soon. that should fit the bill!

Just built a stainless Croix, definitely went for ‘durable’ over ‘racey’ in the build but it does ride beautifully, great mix of comfort and stiffness when you want it.

Looking forward to some serious miles with the nipper in the Chariot this summer.

Lots of nice bikes here, (realistic) front runners for me are Croix De Fer (wish they still used BB7’s) and Peregrine.

I’ve not used the BB7 to compare but the Hayes CX brakes I’ve got on my bike are very good, so I wouldn’t let that put the you off the Croix.

I was after the same thing but with no budget.
So I am in the middle of building one out of my spares.
Frameset – Ridgeback Velocity
Groupset – 8spd 105
Brakes – Marin ?racelights
Wheels – Mavic rims on tiagra (re-spaced)
Bars – On-One Midge
Saddle – Brooks (probably change this later)
Just need to purchase some tyres, although I have a 35mm Marathon and 35 Michelin that can go on til I see if I like it.
😕

That verenti substance looks really nice and good value for money, I’m seriousl considering it, but wiggle recommend only 35c for max tyre size. Anyone got one who could comment?

A bit late to the party, but i’ve not seen much on the web for the All City Space Horse, so I thought I’d throw mine in.

Originally considered a cross-check but the geometry didn’t suit – as a bonus the All City has a few nicer touches too (rust-proofed, internal cable routing).

A proper bike I’d call it. Steel frame with all the rack and mudguard mounts you could ever need and room for 42mm tyres. Semi-horizontal dropouts. The bike feels responsive, comfortable and gets up to and rolls along at 18mph without too much effort – i.e. not sluggish.

Avid Shorty Ultimates have been a big improvement over Tektro 720’s etc, still not as good as a 20 quid V-brake though, but not a million miles off.

Fantastic to see all these proper bikes – I ride my Kinesis Tripster ATR like I rode bikes when I was a kid – anywhere and everywhere. I’ve probably done about a combined 6,000 miles on an alloy and now the ti one. Bikes fast enough to train / commute / ride out with your mates on, tough enough to bob down the bridleway you see on the way home from work or cut a corner, that’ll do around town or on proper tours with luggage and ideal for long days in the saddle. Discs are just obvious – I’m never going back. Mudguards make sense when you get to the age your dad was when he told you you needed them…

I can’t recommend the Tripster highly enough. The alloy one’s great but the ti ATR is the absolute business. Slightly different geo, light, fast, comfy, pretty, properly practical and just downright good fun.

Lots of nice bikes here, (realistic) front runners for me are Croix De Fer (wish they still used BB7’s) and Peregrine.

Buy a frameset, and build it how you want.

Probably work out the same, and better spec, than an off the peg bike if you shop around.

For example:

Frame: £375
Groupset: Shimano 105 – £299 @ Merllin
Contact points – £100 for saddle, post, bars + stem.
Decent wheels – £250
Tyres + Tubes – £25
Brakes – £120 for either Spyres or BB7s
Headset – £30

Ok, that’s £1200, but you will have a better groupset, the brakes you want and wheels that don’t weight a ton.

Kaffenback would fit your criteria.

Same situ for me ended up with a tricross and I love it

The consensus seems to be tyres are more important, yet people are stating what frames they’ve got and there’s no mention of tyres.
What type, size and pressures are people using?

For road bontrager 700×25 at about 100ish for cross Conti xking at about 35-40 good for hardpack trails aswell touring it prob go with a shwal marathon or the likes
I use the tri cross for everything from triathlons to cross racing and road events with no issues

The consensus seems to be tyres are more important

There does?

For road, I’m using 37mm Conti Sport Contacts (and could go a bit bigger if I took the mudguards off) despite my frame being rated for 32mm maximum. Bigger is definitely better with this type of bike, as you’re unlikely to be going super fast, and the extra comfort is really noticeable.

This is worth a read.

well as consensus is inevitable here I’ll do tyres 😆

ride a lot of gravel, some singletrack and a lot of tarmac

liked 32mm specialised buroughs good for handling the unexpected on gravel but found the sidewalls wore through

ran 32mm swalbe marathons and liked a lot – swopped to 28mm was riding higher percent tarmac but gone back to 32mm – pressure about 60-70psi I find any lower get pinch flats and I’m a lightweight and come from pre suspension time

probably not in budget but worthwhile when can get a second set of wheels – I run some 25mm Michelin lithion 2’s for pure road up at 90psi not something I would do other than have mates who are 100% road and means I can join in

ridden plenty of steep tracks and mud with 32mm I’d be reluctant to go wider as road sections feel too slow

Couldn’t find the other thread where someone asked if I’d post pics when I built it so will dump it here…….

Lovely ride this morning, as others have said this bike is such a blast to ride both on and off road. It climbs like a goat and and always seems like it could do more if only I were only a better rider. Not sure yet if it’s a good thing having a bike that makes you feel inadequate?

ATR Tripster by Birdage, on Flickr

On One Pompetamine for me, I use it just for commuting but I think it would be a fair option for a budget tourer.

It’s running an Alfine 11, TRP Spyre brakes, and 32c Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tyres. I have some small block 8s also that never get used. Depending on route choice my commute will take me on road, fire road, muddy footpaths, forest track. It’s very comfortable but also very heavy!

birdage – Member Couldn’t find the other thread where someone asked if I’d post pics when I built it so will dump it here…….
Tripster ATR

not seen pics of one built up – all I can say is wow that looks good and functional

(forgives the uncut grass and pond that needs dredging 8)

antigee, there’s another one a bit further up the page!

I spent a short while ogling one at the bike show. They do look good.

Here’s mine as it is now (‘cept for bags)

I’m in the same boat as you and I’m looking at the Rose CX bikes.

Still very happy with my Rose Pro DX Cross 4400

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/race/cross-bike/pro-dx-cross/