Procrosstination !!!

Stuww

I'm so close to buying a specialized Tricross,but i keep spotting other cross bikes that may serve my needs ( a daily 20 mile commute and weekend cycle paths \ leisure rides).

I'm now just going round in circles and struggling to make a decision, can anyone help.

This is my first drop bared bike and it needs to take a rack and guards and handle a hefty rider.

The Focus and Uncle John also look nice and what about a Boardman hybrid........ aaahhhhh.....

i'd go to £900 tops.

but what should i get ?????????

Cheers

Stu

BUICK

I've got the Spesh tricross and can vouch for it being a great bike. I've commuted on it, gone offroad on it, and travelled on canal towpaths and it's done everything I wanted it to surefooted and true. I know it can take guards etc but I haven't fitted them (despite riding throughout the winter) - no problems at all with the bike. I haven't had any other cross bike though - but for the cost I think the Specialized is hard to beat

BentMikey

I like the spesh, but that's purely personal taste. Love the topic title, btw!

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

I reckon the 'feel' when you ride it is the most important thing of all. Personally, I'd be cautious of 'blind buys' like the Planet X and the Focus simply because i couldn't test ride them.

Having said that, the other thing is that might sell it for me would be disc brakes (for braking modulation and reliability in the wet) - which might put the Focus into play again.

tardington

Ive just got a Tricross Sport, and I really like it! It has the 'safety levers' which I was unsure about, but use lots - when I'm in a bit of traffic, and I switch to the tops of the handlebars, they are really good. I was going to get rid of them when I got the hang of the drops, but I think I'll keep them long term as I like them so much.

Am even getting the hang of toe-ovelap, now!

Stuww

Thanks for all your feedback folks.

What's toe-ovelap tardie?

I've seen it mentioned but I'm not 100% sure what it is...

Cheers

Stu

tardington

Toe-overlap, even, oops!
If you're turning the bike, your toes can hit the back of the front wheel (or mudguard on it in my case) as you pedal. Only a problem on sharp corners I have found, and am getting the hand of stopping pedalling momentarily and leaning into the corner further... And as far as I can tell all drop-barred bikes have it. :?

phil_ss1

Hi,

My Specialized Sirrus (flat bar, road type hybrid) has overlap, only catches me out when slow manoeuvring aorund bollards etc after a while you get to feel when to stop pedalling and avoid ripping the mudguard off!

Phil

Stuww

Procrosstination is over!!!

I picked up my Tricross this afternoon from the very helpful folk at Bike Shed in Exeter.

Have already done 19 miles on it today and I love it!

One little incident made me jump though, they bike was parked in my back garden and a huge bang resonated from it. On closer inspection the inner tube had ruptured and blown the tyre off the rim, lucky I wasn't doing 40 mph at the time!!

The mechanic must have pinched the tube when the shop fitted my schwalbe marathon pluses on before collection, as there was no foreign body in the rim or tube!

Any way a great bike and a really easy transfer from flat bars to drops.

The change from under bar gear levers to combined brake \ gear levers was also a breeze

Lets see how my first week of commuting on the Tricross shapes up.

Thanks for your input and advice folks.

Regards

Stu

tardington

Stuww wrote:

One little incident made me jump though, they bike was parked in my back garden and a huge bang resonated from it. On closer inspection the inner tube had ruptured and blown the tyre off the rim, lucky I wasn't doing 40 mph at the time!!

The mechanic must have pinched the tube when the shop fitted my schwalbe marathon pluses on before collection, as there was no foreign body in the rim or tube!


Stu

:shock: :shock: :shock: That can happen?! Can you take it back and get them to check the wheel etc?

Glad you like the rest of the bike though!

tardington

Slight woe with my Tricross Sport - I chained it up with a D-lock, and it has dinged the paintwork! :x That lovely matt effect doesn't seem to be very hard wearing.

Besides that, am loving it still!