Genesis Croix De Fer alternative

Long story short, I want a new comfy but fastish, mudguard compatible road bike for my commuting and general winter road duties.

A year ago I had to sell my 2014 Croix De Fer, I loved it but I needed the money. I miss it a lot.

I bought a cheap Kona Paddy Wagon SS instead, I also love it but the lack of gears is starting to become a bit tedious with head winds and more hilly route options.

So I’m just after a few opinions on alternatives, up to the £1500 mark but the cheaper the better. The current Croix De Fer just isn’t doing it for me in the looks department. So far the On One Kaffenback looks good but I’d prefer shimano.

Frame only kaffenback and build it up yourself? You’d put something nice together for that money…

Genesis CdA? Ally frame and carbon fork for under £1k

This is probably going to be a CTWS purchase (up to £2.5k) over the next couple months. The latest Genesis CDA and CDF bikes really don’t do it for me. If I was going aluminium then maybe something more mainstream like the Spesh Diverge?

Can you do Evans? You’d get full hydraulic brakes on a Arkosse for 1000.

£300 extra gets a bolt through fork and sealed bearings

Cotic Escapade looks good, not sure you can get that on CTWS though. I’ll check out the Arkose

Norco threshold with cable brakes. Hydraulics are a pita in comparison to cables.

Kona Sutra Ltd floats my boat

Hydraulics are a pita in comparison to cables.

I tend to take exactly the opposite view!

My mtb brakes keep,having seized pistons and need bleeding etc

Cx bike has needed a bit of tweaking, but way cheaper and easier to keep running. (Hayes brakes on my norco).
Just ordered a crosslight with trp spyres, will see how they fare….

Charge Plug 5 2015 Tamge prestige steel (just below 853).

I’ve used Shimano XTR and LX hydro brakes for years. Stops 5hit on a stick.

Tried BB7 and BB5 cables. Prefer auto adjust from hydro and the lever feel.

Currently trying out Rival 1 hydros, but can’t bed in my front brake in.

I like the look of the GT Grade.

Speciaized Awol, I love mine! Or, depending on what size you are, this is a great bike for the money: Norco Search at Evans.

Kinesis 4S Disc? I’ve got a non disc and use it as a wet weather bike and commute 80 miles a week on it.

Hydraulics are a pita in comparison to cables.

yeah, that’s just what the MTB industry has proved for the last 20 years, which is why only high end road bikes come with cable discs.

You have a duff set of hydros, your experience is not representative. I have both hydro and cable disc equipped road/CX bikes, the hydros (Sram Rival) have had zero maintenance, the cable is on it’s second set of calipers and they need regular adjustment to account for pad wear.

GT Grades look nice in the flesh (apart from XL sized) – not sure about mudguard compatibility?

CFH of this parish has a Specialized Diverge, which I think looks great with mudguards fitted (Specialized plug’n’play ones)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2015-diverge-expert-first-ride-review

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/road-bikes/specialized-diverge-elite-a1

Mud guards do seem to fit on the GT Grade

https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/152013311921

Singular Kite?

Would any of these bikes suit a flat/MTB style handlebar set up?

I took my aluminium Defy out for a ride today, and after a winter of riding the heavier Kona SS I have to say that the Kona is very obviously a more comfy ride so I am definitely looking at steel again.

So my current shortlist is Escapade, Kaffenback and Kona Honky Tonk which appears to be a geared version of the Paddy Wagon.

I really like the new Escapade in green, I like it a lot.

andcarson – Member
Frame only kaffenback and build it up yourself? You’d put something nice together for that money…

+1

The most important thing on a bike is the wheelset. For the money you’re talking you could bling up a Kaffenback to the nines and have a really nice bike. Maybe even a custom paintjob.

When/if you get fed up of it, then it’s simply a frame swap.

Thanks, I really appreciate that idea as its what I’ve done with my MTB for the last 4 years, but this bike will be a cycle scheme purchase

Bucko – Member
Thanks, I really appreciate that idea as its what I’ve done with my MTB for the last 4 years, but this bike will be a cycle scheme purchase

In that case may I suggest you’ll never regret buying a Singular. Talk to Sam. 🙂

I had a 14 Croix De Fer and liked the feel a lot. Brakes were woeful (Hayes discs). Replaced it with a 15 version Croix De Fer 30 which is better in every way, especially the brakes (shimano hydraulics). If I was doing one on C2W it would be hard to see past an Arkose.

£1k 2016 arkose here with Shimano hydraulics.
Very nice bike (love the frame) my only slight gripes are the brake levers are an odd shape (and not as nice as my 10-speed 105s) and sometimes the front end feels a bit stiff/harsh.
Despite this I’d buy again..

clodhopper – Member
Would any of these bikes suit a flat/MTB style handlebar set up?

Yeah most would be OK. Planet x do decent spec cheap kaffenback builds with flat bars.

epicyclo – Member
In that case may I suggest you’ll never regret buying a Singular. Talk to Sam.

Who’s Sam?

CFH of this parish has a Specialized Diverge, which I think looks great with mudguards fitted (Specialized plug’n’play ones)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2015-diverge-expert-first-ride-review

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/road-bikes/specialized-diverge-elite-a1

Bit late to the thread, but here’s a pic with mudguards fitted.

It will also take SKS Longboard or PDW.

Have you considered the day one 20?

That Diverge looks lovely, and if I was after one single do-it-all bike then it would be ideal, but I already have a Defy for road duties so I’m after something different. I did look at the Day One but at 12.5kg it’s the same weight as my MTB so not really fast enough to keep me happy

Ti Alpkit Sonder Camino at 1500?
https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/bikes/sonder-camino-ti-sram-rival1

Mango point AR? I disliked mine but others like it

Whyte Suffolk? Available in all hydraulic 105 or in cable Trp HyRd for slightly less, all under £1500 though. Plus takes mudguards and a rack.

Those Mango Point AR look great value, neat and simple. If I decide on alu then that would be high on the list, especially at half the price of the Whyte Suffolk

That Sonder looks great, but why no rack mounts? 🙁

Kona looks nice

That Sonder looks great, but why no rack mounts?

Because bikepacking.

AKA Touring plus marketing.

Because nothing screams poverty like practicality.

Apparantly.
🙂

In true recommending what you own STW fashion.

Take a look at the Jamis Renegades. You have to buy from Evans though.
https://www.evanscycles.com/search?text=renegade

I have the “Expat” and I can’t fault it really.

Right, my CTWS opens for applications tomorrow. I’m so tempted by the Escapade, and I think if i don’t get one then it will always be in the back of my mind. I would be sticking 28c tyres on the Cotic but I’m just unsure if i maybe want a lighter and faster bike for the year round commuting. Other bikes i’m considering are the Mango Point AR and Whyte Dorset.

Any further opinions?