Specialized Tri-cross. I am ordering one. Thoughts & advice?

[pappa lurve]

The links are both to the Specialized Tri Cross. I want it as my first proper road bike but as I do cycle over curbs, a bit of rough paths etc I don't want something that is very delicate. It is as un upgrade from my ridgeback cyclone and at some stage I'll probably splurge a bit and get something really nice but with the accessories I want and as I want to buy through the cycle to work schemes my target was around £700-£800. Cycle surgery recommended this and it looks good to me. I am hopefully going to order it tomorrow for delivery on Friday. Any thoughts from those in the know?!

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=7925

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=7925

[pdV6]

Thread on that very bike here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=371907

[Roman]

Cross bikes are excellent all rounders.

These are both good cross bikes:

www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/Product_arborescence/cycle-and-rolle/bikes/roadbikes/road-competitio/product_3184094/index.html

www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60214

[pappa lurve]

So the tricross is sold out for the year and I need to buy through cycle surgery cos I get all the cycle 2 work benefits. A straight road bike is just not going to be strong enough as the roads in london are not always the best place tyo ride so I do find myself on paths and going over curbs sometimes.

Suggestions please?!

[Roman]

Easy:

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=8009

or if size & price ok..

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=9842

[pappa lurve]

Roman said:

Easy:

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=8009

or if size & price ok..

www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=9842

Looks cool. Cycle surgery going to see if they can get one at a decent price for me. I really want a road bike but just worry that in London they are not going to take the knocks.

[bigandclever]

pappa lurve said:

So the tricross is sold out for the year and I need to buy through cycle surgery cos I get all the cycle 2 work benefits. A straight road bike is just not going to be strong enough as the roads in london are not always the best place tyo ride so I do find myself on paths and going over curbs sometimes.

Suggestions please?!

I thought practically all bike shops could cater for the cycle2work scheme?

[Roman]

Sorry thought your links were to the shop in question, just checked out Cyclesurgery website, they do Genesis Vapour at same price which looks good or a Giant cross bike at £1k

[pappa lurve]

Roman said:

Sorry thought your links were to the shop in question, just checked out Cyclesurgery website, they do Genesis Vapour at same price which looks good or a Giant cross bike at £1k

Yeah, the giant cross looks cool but only just getting into this and not convinced i want to spend the cash right now. If I realy enjoy it then fine, I'll upgrade again in a year. Vapour - under recall for a new chainset. No idea when it will turn up but could be ages. You ever ridden one? What do you think of that compared to the Jake?

[pappa lurve]

bigandclever said:

pappa lurve said:

So the tricross is sold out for the year and I need to buy through cycle surgery cos I get all the cycle 2 work benefits. A straight road bike is just not going to be strong enough as the roads in london are not always the best place tyo ride so I do find myself on paths and going over curbs sometimes.

Suggestions please?!

I thought practically all bike shops could cater for the cycle2work scheme?

Nope! Weird system, there are a bunch of different schemes. Evans do their own, so do CS. Althought there are other shops on it, CS are the best of the ones on the scheme I am on, have been amazingly helpful and are local to both home and work so I want to go with them if I can.

[Roman]

Not tried the Vapour but I have built and raced a couple of cross bikes and I did think the Genesis MTBs I've seen looked good.

[Pappa Lurve]

Stuff me!

Specialzed are out of stock as I mentioned and will be for some months. Cycle Surgery don't supply the others and the vapour is about to have a product recall. They can sell them but they need to go back for a new chainset. As I understand it though, the specilised is a better bike but I was about to go for the vapour anyway and get a new chain in a couple of weeks. Called cycle surgery head office to tell them that thier store had been really helpful and hppened to mntion that the bike I wanted was not available so they had tried very hard to find me something else and I was terribly impressed. An hour later, they call to say they have got me exactly the bike I want and it will be available in the next few days. Don't know where they got it but I rather get the impression that they pulled a favour from someone.

Hats off to them - top job!

Doubt I will have it for this weekend but next weekend I shall be out enjoying my new toy!

Thanks for the advice, very helpful indeed.