Cyclocross bike recommendation
Discussion
Evening all,
I'm in the market for a Cyclocross bike. I intend to use it to commute and also to ride on trails (tow paths, canals mainly).
I recently sold a Planet X Pro Carbon Stealth TT bike which I loved so on the basis of that i'm currently tempted by the Planet X Cyclocross offering (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXUJFOR/planet_x_uncle_john_sram_force_road_bike)
So, dear experts: given a budget of ~£1000 what would you recommend?
As well as a recommendation i'm interested to hear peoples experiences of cyclocross bikes? How hard can you push them off road? Given they have no suspension I would think the forks/frame/wheels would take a hammering and would easily bend? But I guess they must be constructed of stronger materials or something to cope with that?
I'm in the market for a Cyclocross bike. I intend to use it to commute and also to ride on trails (tow paths, canals mainly).
I recently sold a Planet X Pro Carbon Stealth TT bike which I loved so on the basis of that i'm currently tempted by the Planet X Cyclocross offering (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXUJFOR/planet_x_uncle_john_sram_force_road_bike)
So, dear experts: given a budget of ~£1000 what would you recommend?
As well as a recommendation i'm interested to hear peoples experiences of cyclocross bikes? How hard can you push them off road? Given they have no suspension I would think the forks/frame/wheels would take a hammering and would easily bend? But I guess they must be constructed of stronger materials or something to cope with that?
Jimbo. said:
And in all seriousness, how ~ is ~? As for £1200-£1250 you can get things like the above-featured Cotic X, Genesis Vapour Disc, CdF etc, etc. All supposedly *very* good bikes. Looking at a Vapour Disc myself as the next C2W purchase 
Thanks that looks pretty cool.Well ~ is perhaps my synonym for 'hopeful'. I would really like to stay within that price range if I can but I very often say that about many things and end up spending more..
swerni said:
I've got one of these and love it
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de...
I like steel frames bikes and am happy it weights almost as much as my car.
On looks alone that's a winner! It does seem to be carrying a little extra timber though http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de...
I like steel frames bikes and am happy it weights almost as much as my car.
I've got a Cotic x and love it, but it's a very different bike to the aluminium Planet X in the OP. If you want to race cross then any of the cheap carbon jobs (Boardman?) will do as they are much lighter. If you want to ride lanes, gravel tracks and light off road with something balancing quick and comfy then the steel offerings from Cotic and Genesis are great. More sports tourer/audax than race bike, depends what you need.
Fairly sure there are no specific cyclocross standards so Cotic had to make the x strong enough for the mtb xc one. Really wouldn't worry about it surviving anything you can do on skinny tyres.
Fairly sure there are no specific cyclocross standards so Cotic had to make the x strong enough for the mtb xc one. Really wouldn't worry about it surviving anything you can do on skinny tyres.
Edited by woots787 on Thursday 9th May 20:44
I'm a Boardman fan personally. I ride a 2008 Road Comp, but a mate has the 2012 Cyclocross and loves it. They have £60 off purchases over £600 at the mo, so £889:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
woots787 said:
I've got a Cotic x and love it, but it's a very different bike to the aluminium Planet X in the OP. If you want to race cross then any of the cheap carbon jobs (Boardman?) will do as they are much lighter. If you want to ride lanes, gravel tracks and light off road with something balancing quick and comfy then the steel offerings from Cotic and Genesis are great. More sports tourer/audax than race bike, depends what you need.
Fairly sure there are no specific cyclocross standards so Cotic had to make the x strong enough for the mtb xc one. Really wouldn't worry about it surviving anything you can do on skinny tyres.
Thanks for the advice. So do you think the planet x would be upto some rougher off road terrain? Or are you suggesting the Cotic and Genesis are better suited to that?Fairly sure there are no specific cyclocross standards so Cotic had to make the x strong enough for the mtb xc one. Really wouldn't worry about it surviving anything you can do on skinny tyres.
Edited by woots787 on Thursday 9th May 20:44
The Cotic sounds more and more like a good option - as it appears to be pretty hardy and will withstand some rough off road treatment but at the same time it will be quick on the road for when I commute. I'm planning on having two sets of tyres for each scenario..
littleandy0410 said:
I'm a Boardman fan personally. I ride a 2008 Road Comp, but a mate has the 2012 Cyclocross and loves it. They have £60 off purchases over £600 at the mo, so £889:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Outstanding! I'll be going to my local halfords to view this tomorrow and I could be ~£900 lighter this time tomorrow http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Thank you very much!
swerni said:
I've got one of these and love it
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de...
I like steel frames bikes and am happy it weights almost as much as my car.
Do you have the Croix de Fer or the CdF? Are they very different bikes or is it just a spec thing? Or is one bike with different specs?http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de...
I like steel frames bikes and am happy it weights almost as much as my car.
I've got the 2012 version of this and its an absolute dream to ride.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
Had it out today and did about 18 miles on the road then took the dirt track home and it never missed a beat
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
Had it out today and did about 18 miles on the road then took the dirt track home and it never missed a beat
JPJ said:
As you already like Planet X/On One why not have a look at their XLS or Dirty Disco offerings for about £1200-1300? I have an XLS and I am incredibly impressed with how light it is, and how tough it is.
I did and I was very tempted - it's a fair chunk more expensive though.I've put in an order for the Boardman Team CX: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
Edited by 2seas on Friday 10th May 17:12
Edited by 2seas on Friday 10th May 17:14
So, do I win a prize!? 2seas said:
I've put in an order for the Boardman Team CX: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
Good choice.I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
I've had one for about a year. It's a fantastic bike, and just so much fun to ride. I think you'll be very happy with it!
Johnny said:
2seas said:
I've put in an order for the Boardman Team CX: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
Good choice.I went to have a look today and it felt good, nice fit. It's also lighter than I expected (think it's around 9.5kg).
The main selling points were:
1) Fit
2) C/F forks
3) Relatively light (compared to other cyclocross bikes around the £1000 mark)
4) Disc brakes
5) Mounting points for mudguards and rear pannier rack
6) Decent Gearset (SRAM), I tried it and it moved through the gears smoothly
7) Price of £890!
It has two sets of brake levers - one in the normal place on the hoods and one set right in the middle of the bars. I told them not to bother fitting the middle ones - I can't see the point and they look stupid. They agreed to re-route the cables under the tape - all I had to pay for was an extra set of tape.
Apparently the Halfords bikes at that price come with a 1 year warranty and a 6 week checkup. I can take it in as many times as I need within the first 6 weeks if things need adjusting. This was a strong selling point for me as i'd read a lot about Halfords bike teams being a bit rubbish and bikes being assembled poorly.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I can't wait to nail it down the canal paths and run over some annoying little yappy dogs (joke).
I've had one for about a year. It's a fantastic bike, and just so much fun to ride. I think you'll be very happy with it!
Do you run two sets of tyres (road and off road)? If so i'd be interested to hear which work well for you and any recommended tyre pressures. I'm sure I read somewhere that 50psi was recommended on a cyclocross for trail riding but that seems scarily low. But what do I know - i'm used to running 140 psi on my TT bike!
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