29er or CX bike

[anonymous-user]

I've got a cycle to work voucher through Halfords and was looking for another boardman CTW scheme £1,000 bike.

I've got a couple of road bikes a hybrid (previous CTW bike) and a knackered old 26 Hardtail.

I mainly use the road bike for training/turbo and the stty old Hardtail, for going to the gym or at work. I won't be using either bike for commuting but might try using the CX bike for winter training on the road.

I'm not really planning on doing much serious off roading just perhaps some bridle path and light off road stuff.

Are CX bikes ok on the road? Or are they all rubbish compared to a road bike.

thanks

[Jorrocks]

I bloody hope they are! I've just had an eBay moment and bought a Kinesis Pro 6 cx bike that I want purely as a road winter trainer.

[anonymous-user]

Jorrocks said:

I bloody hope they are! I've just had an eBay moment and bought a Kinesis Pro 6 cx bike that I want purely as a road winter trainer.

Was that just a random purchase or did you do any research?

[WinstonWolf]

Pop road tyres on a CX and you'll hardly be able to tell the difference if you're an average rider.

[Jorrocks]

el stovey said:

Was that just a random purchase or did you do any research?

Research? Wassat then?

WinstonWolf, I am a VERY average rider!

[m444ttb]

I've just taken a Cannondale CAAD X Tiagra CX bike to ride to work and do some winter training on. Figured it would be a good option for a elite that's 2/3 shared cycle pathes covered in wet leaves and 1/3 compacted (to a varying degree) gravel.

[TheLemming]

el stovey said:

I've got a cycle to work voucher through Halfords and was looking for another boardman CTW scheme £1,000 bike.

I've got a couple of road bikes a hybrid (previous CTW bike) and a knackered old 26 Hardtail.

I mainly use the road bike for training/turbo and the stty old Hardtail, for going to the gym or at work. I won't be using either bike for commuting but might try using the CX bike for winter training on the road.

I'm not really planning on doing much serious off roading just perhaps some bridle path and light off road stuff.

Are CX bikes ok on the road? Or are they all rubbish compared to a road bike.

thanks

My Boardman team - previous model but same spec - was bought as a winter road bike for last year. It then spent 2500 miles on slicks over the winter.
Basically fit fat road tyres and its a perfect winter bike.

Disc brakes "just work" regardless of the conditions. I've been on road rides where people have descended slowly and carefully and I've shot past knowing my brakes are going to work.

I've done both road and offroad centuries on it, taken it out with the MTB crowd (with mixed success) and now raced it to three top ten finishes in CX events (admittedly in novices).

It's not perfect. I've upgraded wheels, seat post, saddle, brakes, front mech and bars and shaved over a kg from the weight but its not a lightweight by any measure. The bb5 brakes are fiddly to adjust (instant switch to bb7r fixes that).
The frame isn't the lightest.

It is however a bargain for spec at price - however planet x is worth looking at given the older 10 speed groupset on the Boardman.

If it wasn't CTW I'd implore you to spend the extra and get the elite 9.0 or the planet x CX (wish I had) but with a few judicious upgrades that bike will do anything you throw at it (with a change of tyres)

If I could have only one bike and had to lose the restof the fleet I'd be torn between my best road bike and my CX - the CX would likely win the toss.

So summary change the front mech before you leave the shop, learn to adjust bb5 brakes (or upgrade to bb7r) and you won't regret it.

Sounds like a mixed review - its not, its an awesome do it all bike and for the price there's not much that comes close.

[anonymous-user]

TheLemming said:

So summary change the front mech before you leave the shop, learn to adjust bb5 brakes (or upgrade to bb7r) and you won't regret it.

Cheers for the info. What is it about the front mech that you didn't like and what did you change it to?

[TheLemming]

el stovey said:

Cheers for the info. What is it about the front mech that you didn't like and what did you change it to?

The current front mech is a microshift that just doesn't seem to work well. I couldn't get it right, my mechanic couldn't get it right and the shop couldn't get it right (and unlike some others my local Halfords has three competent bike mechanics).

Excessive rub and just couldn't get it "right".

Swapped it for a Rival I had lying around and instant fix. It's now perfect.

Shift quality is very subjective - but 5 people couldn't get it right on the Microshift and the rival was perfect from the moment it was fitted. It's also a cheap swap.

Edited by TheLemming on Wednesday 26th November 09:39

[MiseryStreak]

CX bikes generally run 32C tyres at as low pressure as possible (typically around 30psi) to maximise grip and traction. You can put normal road tyres on a CX bike (you might need to watch putting 23C on the CX wheels as they have wider rims) but then you've got to wonder what's the point of getting a CX bike?

As you've got two roadies and a hybrid and your MTB is getting on a bit, I'd go for a nice 29er or 650B hardtail.

That's what I did in May, I've even ridden it to work three times!

http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/650_0005_...

[Dixie]

I had a similar decision to make a couple of months ago. It was a very close call and even after i had ordered the bike i was still uncertain I'd made the right choice.

I went with the CX bike and I can honestly say I love it. It does everything. I have 3 sets of tyres, 1 for good condition riding (some old road tyres) a set of Sammy Slicks for general winter commuting use and a set of Racing Ralfs for racing\off road.

It's equally as good as an old rigid MTB for off roading really. Unless your thinking of doing some sort of full downhill course.

CX sounds perfect for you. And the Boardmans come highly praised.

[jimjamm]

From the sounds of it you have no need of a 29er and the CX bike will suit your needs better. since you don't intend to do any serious off roading the cx bike will more than cope with what you've described.

[tuffer]

I just bought a couple of CX bikes for me and the wife to fit between MTB and road. Felt F4X, I am amazed how good it is off road even in deep mud, just pedal hard and it seems to follow its nose and just get on with it, a lot more front end grip than I was expecting. Some surprises, it is harder work on road than I was expecting. I put this down to running the tyres at 40psi but need them like that to soak up some of the bumps and sharp flint on SPTA. Which leads me on to....bumps and rough stuff, after an hour or so I really start to feel it in my Kidneys. The gravel tracks round here are pretty unforgiving, grass and mud is fine but an hour on bumpy flint/chalk and it hurts. Gearing, I have a 1X11 set up and that makes things hard work, came with two chain rings but to my disappointment I am already using the smaller of the two, I need to MTFU. Overall its brilliant and my favorite bike but I do feel a hardtail 29er would be easier.

In summary, if you want to see what the inside of your lungs look like, buy a CX bike. If you want to just go for a bimble, get the 29er.