Yet another impending bike purchase thread

Mike Howarth

Been looking at getting a new bike through the cycle to work scheme, and upgrade my old (and very cheap) Kona Smoke I purchased to see whether I would get in to commuting.

As always with these types of threads I've got a tall list of requirements but am fairly realistic that I'm going to have to make some compromises.

We've got a limited amount of space at home, so am looking at getting one bike which is capable of doing most things. The main use of the bike will be the 52 mile commute I'm currently doing, with bits of touring and the occasional bridleway thrash. Therefore I've focused much of my attention on a cx bike with a budget up to £1K.

Initially I was looking at the Specialised Tricross Sport or Kona Jake and then started to fancy the look of the Giant TCX 2.0, Ridley Crossbow.

Having spent Saturday looking at the TCX and Crossbow, I now realise that whilst they'll take racks, they both run compact chainsets which with a touring trip to NZ later in the year might not be ideal.

From what I've read changing the TCX to a triple may be prohibitively expensive, not so sure about the Crossbow. Has anyone had any experience of adding a triple with a shop - are they generally happy to oblige?

I'm sort of eering back to the Tricross Sport or Jake, but was wondering whether there is anything there are any other bikes I may have missed out along the way?

cjcp

Touring in NZ? Lovely! Whereabouts are you going? Are you doing any of the Passes on the South Island?

Ask the shop if the can fit a triple instead of a compact to the Ridley.

Also, have you looked at the Planet X Uncle John? See:

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... hn_36.html

Give them a call too re the spec and whether they have a standard finishing kit.

Mike Howarth

Still planning what we're going to do, but its a bit of a combined trip doing some cycle touring, fell running and walking as well.

At the moment we're looking at doing a combination of the Rainbow Road/Molesworth Road, and then look to do some stuff further south around the Caitlins.

Yeah I did look at the Planet X Kaffenback but they're not doing full bike builds at the moment. Uncle John isn't something I'd considered but certainly worth some consideration.

prawny

I'm going to have to stop looking on these forums, it's so depressing. I'm going to cornwall in september, not allowed to take my bike

Mike Howarth

I won't lie I'm well and truly in the dog house for leaving the mrs for 2 months especially over christmas and new year. Carpe Diem and all that!

prawny

It may well be that I'm just wet and do what I'm told, my own fault really ho hum :?

downwardslide

Am very jealous, must try and convince the missus she wants to do some cycle touring when we're next over in NZ.
I think most CX bikes will come with a compact as it gives better clearance, but from the looks of it, the tricross comes with a triple.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec016874

cjcp

You're leaving the Mrs behind! :shock: She must be livid!

Mike Howarth

Yeah the Jake and the Tricross are the only ones I've seen with triples fitted as standard.

Which has sort of seen me go back to the first bikes I picked out, but as cjcp says with a bit of discussion its possible to fit a triple to most things.

The lbs was absolutely packed on saturday though so I didn't fancy hanging round. Might be worth picking a quieter time next time.

Mike Howarth

@cjcp she can't get the time off work to come out.

One of my mates has just moved out there and sounds to be having a great time, myself and the mrs are both very jealous and considering making the move ourselves.

I've sold it as a bit of a recce trip to see whether it would be us

cjcp

Mike Howarth wrote:

One of my mates has just moved out there and sounds to be having a great time, myself and the mrs are both very jealous and considering making the move ourselves.

I've sold it as a bit of a recce trip to see whether it would be us

<looks out of the window to survey the very limited view of The Big Smoke. Turns back to the computer>

Yes. NZ will do just fine.

We looked at it too about five years ago. Very nice place. Difficult to argue with this:

Mike Howarth

Precisely that picture pretty much sums it up. Stunning by the way.

So any more for any more - bikes that is, rather than photos!

Mike Howarth

Just thought I'd put a bit of an update on this for anyone searching in the future.

I got in contact with the guys at Planet X and whilst they didn't have the stock in for one of their standard build Kaffenbacks they did have enough bits and pieces lying round to build me a bike.

Being relatively local I booked an appointment to go and see them, and spent an enjoyable Tuesday morning speccing up my new steed with them and wandering round their warehouse looking at various bits and pieces.

I'm now the proud owner of a Kaffenback shod in Ultegra, sporting some hand built wheels and some nice little Nitto bits and pieces they happened to have lying round.

Having emailed a couple of other Kaffenback owners prior to making my final decision I can easily understand why all of them unanimously urged me to get one and they weren't wrong.

Having got out on the bike a couple of times it rides really, really well and can see me and the Kaff clocking up a good few miles together. Whether that is audaxing, touring or whatever else.

Whilst Planet X may not be your polished big brand bike manufacturer, the level of customer service and choice they give you is really refreshing and I can honestly say they'll see more of my hard earned cash in the future.

Hope thats of some help for anyone looking for a recomendation of Planet X/Kaffenbacks in the future.

biondino

A heartwarming story! Nice work, Mike, and I hope you have a brilliant time with the Kaffenback.