A "do it all" disc braked road bike

A "do it all" disc braked road bike

Author
Discussion

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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I've been looking to get something to take away on hols with me, can only take one bike as the family take theirs too. This is to ride canal paths, cycle routes, woodland tracks but then I want it to be as good as possible to do 60 to 80 miles comfortably, with plenty of lumps along the way therefore it need to climb reasonably well too.

The Genesis Croix de fer looked to tick a lot of those boxes but it's nearly 11kg with a light wheelset. Its not lightweight climber. Everything else seems ok except for that, but then I'm wondering whether the latest Cyclocross bikes which have rack and guard mounts with 60mm drop BBs would be suitable for the same purpose. The likes of the CAADx or Kinesis Crosslight might be a better bet? As much as I'd love steel, the weight counts against it. Not sure what other good alternatives there are.

Piginapoke

4,736 posts

184 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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I have a CAADx with 105 and hydraulic discs. It good for all you describe. Seems tough as old boots

benny.c

3,473 posts

206 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Specialized Diverge smile

theboyfold

10,910 posts

225 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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I have a CAADX with Ultegra, and it does exactly what you describe. Could benefit from a better set of wheels, but otherwise it's spot on for an all round machine

Johnny

9,652 posts

283 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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GT Grade?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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There are so many of these now and I'm not sure the cyclocross tag is appropriate for some of them. Assuming wider tyres, mudguards and rack the Kinesis Racelight 4S would do the job. I got one as we wanted to build, rather than buy ready to ride.

Your Dad

1,926 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Mason, naturally with Hunt wheels.

rs4al

925 posts

164 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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If budget is no limit then the kinesis tripster atr would be one of the best choices but it ain't cheap !

frisbee

4,958 posts

109 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Johnny said:
GT Grade?
I got one a few years ago, aluminium, hydraulic disks, just over a grand in an end of year sale. I intended to use it just for winter but I've used it all year round.

A few extra kgs of weight just doesn't matter.

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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As above, between alloy/steel/titanium there's only a couple of kilos between any of the bikes mentioned. You could save a bit of weight with a carbon fork.

I run 35c with racks and Gilles guards on my Croix de fer that I use to commute. It would get away with 38c guarded, depends what you're looking to run, some of the options in your post could be more tyre restricted.

If you want more, Surly would be a better bet. I Only notice a couple of mph drop compared to the road bike, and it soaks the bumps up so much better.

wobert

5,011 posts

221 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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What about something like a Genesis Datum 10?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/adve...

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Thorn sound right up your street,steel frames,big clearances,rack mounts a plenty,strong wheelsets,proper gearing and rohloff hubs if you are flush.700c or 26",drops or flat bar.

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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I would have bought a Mason or a Ti bike if I had no budget but I'm limiting to £1300

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Thorn Audax?

milu

2,346 posts

265 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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On One bish bash bosh

Teebs

4,265 posts

214 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Kinesis 4s Disc

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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This looks reasonable, but may want the gearing tweaked to suit your riding style. It does get proper Shimano hydro discs which is a big bonus.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-arkose-3-2017...

A CAADX will need a change of chainset as they seem to come with a CX specific one which won't be fun on an 80 mile road ride.

The GT Grade is well reviewed, you can get 105 but with TRP HY/RD brakes instead of full hydraulic but that fits the bill too.

https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-105-2017-adve...

Personally though, I'd just buy the CDF and deal with the extra weight as it's just such a nice bike to ride. They also sell a frameset so you can build it to your own spec and it often ends up cheaper than the fully built one.

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-croix-de-fer-7...

£400 for the frameset, leaves you £800 for the other bits which should be plenty to build it with 105, some decent cable discs and light-ish wheels, especially if (like most people here) you've got a shed full of bits from other bikes you can use to keep the cost down.

dai1983

2,902 posts

148 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Have a Kinesis pro 6 frame and fork that I built into a 1x10 with MTB kit and the cx disk wheel set. I bought some Givenal hydraulic brakes but soon after more hydraulic road sti'S were released.

I use it as a commuter but weighing up weather to buy extra wheels of a second hand MTB for trail ridding.

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Tried a CaadX today, and was really impressed with the ride. Geometry seemed to be good on a 54, reach just about right and a fairly small seat to bar drop making it ideal for off road stuff (due to higher head tube than other road bikes). Tiagra worked very well, but the brakes were pretty garbage. Couldnt get the rear to lock up as much as I tried, whereas on the TRP HYrds, I could do it on top of the hoods. Would have to swap out chainring for a compact, and probably get some lighter wheels.


jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
Chicken Chaser said:
Tried a CaadX today, and was really impressed with the ride. Geometry seemed to be good on a 54, reach just about right and a fairly small seat to bar drop making it ideal for off road stuff (due to higher head tube than other road bikes). Tiagra worked very well, but the brakes were pretty garbage. Couldnt get the rear to lock up as much as I tried, whereas on the TRP HYrds, I could do it on top of the hoods. Would have to swap out chainring for a compact, and probably get some lighter wheels.
Brakes is probably just setup, they should be able to lock up with ease. With the chainset remember it's BB30 so you can't just throw a Shimano one on so you're in for £150+ unless you can swap the rings out (which I guess you can easily enough).