which cyclocross bike?

duncster999
duncster999 Posts: 16
edited April 2008 in Commuting chat
it must take full guards, have eyelets for a rack. be less than £1k. ideally with dual brake leavers...

i quite like the look of the focus, but doesn't have chainstay bridge....

your suggestions pls!

Comments

  • Peasoup
    Peasoup Posts: 63
    specialized tricross sport has all mounts for rack/mudguard and bottles
    cost is £700 I think
  • GrantyBoy
    GrantyBoy Posts: 166
    also heard good things about the Spesh Tricross
  • duncster999
    duncster999 Posts: 16
    know anything about Kinesis Crosslight 4T? it's £650 on chain reaction and comes with 105...
  • John Stevenson
    John Stevenson Posts: 962
    If you can stretch another couple hundred, the Tricross Comp is really really nice. I almost bought one, but just couldn't justify yet another bike.

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... p-08-29161

    I'm highly under-convinced by dually levers on the road though. Or even off road. I ended up with the bike set up so the comfortable position was in the drops: great control, or or off road and proper braking.
    John Stevenson
  • BernieG
    BernieG Posts: 27
    Another vote for Tricross Sport. I have just 'invested' in one...has all your requirements.
    I bought mine from Fudge Cycles in London. He did me a good deal...worth a call.

    Having said that I agree with John about the dual brakes...bit of a white elephant and just take up room on your bars. Not much room for lights,etc

    Bernie
  • dirk_van_gently
    dirk_van_gently Posts: 826
    IMO frogleg brake levers are a must if you are going to do any kind of off-road stuff.
    If you see the candle as flame, the meal is already cooked.
    Photography, Google Earth, Route 30
  • duncster999
    duncster999 Posts: 16
    what's the reaon for the dislike of secondary brake leavers? are they just ineffective, not enough pulling power? is this true for ALL secondary levers on all bikes or just the spesh?

    i've done some X country on a hard tail and use drops on daily basis as well as for sportifs.

    in terms of body positioning for moderate off road stuff, it seems to me that using the secondary levers would be useful...i wouldn't want to be on the tops!
  • John Stevenson
    John Stevenson Posts: 962
    I never found myself using the extra levers. The pathetically narrow top section of a drop bars just doesn't feel right to me off-road.

    On the other hand, use the spacers and pro-set stem to raise the bars as high as possible and you put the drops in about the same place as the grips on an old-school cross-country mountain bike. That gives you the widest possible hand position, and access to the best braking position.
    John Stevenson
  • duncster999
    duncster999 Posts: 16
    fair enough - it's all about the feeling! i see where you are coming from...a wide grip defo feels more stable.

    think i need to test one out...
  • jedster
    jedster Posts: 1,717
    I looked at a tricross before buying a planet-x uncle john - 800 for a lighter bike with full 105.

    I'm happy with it. It doesn't have chainstay bridges but SKS make a neat little plastic substitute which seems to work just as well. It also hasn't got secondary levers but I'm not sure when I would use them

    J
  • GrumpyBear
    GrumpyBear Posts: 45
    Tricross Sport is great, just be wary of toe overlap with 'guards fitted..... This is reduced if you go clipless, it's still a great ride though.

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