Specialized Tricross vs Secteur Elite

pimptovimto

Went in to my LBS last week looking at the Tricross, after reading a few posts on here and some of the reviews here and other places it seems to tick most of the boxes. After explaining to the owner of the shop that I was planning a 2000+ camping tour next year and was looking for a bike to train for and do the tour on he suggested that the Sectuer Elite might be more of a better option for me, as he put it it's a bit livelier that the Tricross so that I can keep up with my mates a bit better on their full on racers.

I am now a bit stuck, I have narrowed it down to these two bikes which is pretty good as most of the time people have about 5 on a list to choose from, as I see it the only thing that is stopping me going for Secteur is that it does not have a front pannier fitting, it might fit mud guards at a push I was told, I am not sure I need a front rack anyway rears and bar bag should do me.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

PV

Satans Budgie

If you select the Tricross make sure you have mini v's fitted. This can be done by the LBS under warranty. Apart from that it’s a great all round bike. I have made some minor adjustments to my 09 Sport, over the last 5 months to fit with my desire to take up Audax type riding.

Brooks B17 saddle which I transferred off another bike.

700x28 Bonty Hard case light tyres as I found the CX a little ‘sticky.’ Less comfort, less rolling resistance, simple trade off.

Replaced the 120mm stem for a 110mm. Just for a better fit.

SPD pedals again from another bike.

Best of luck with your choice.

Andy

andymiller

pimptovimto wrote:

he suggested that the Sectuer Elite might be more of a better option for me, as he put it it's a bit livelier that the Tricross so that I can keep up with my mates a bit better on their full on racers.

As a general point I think it's always a good idea, when people make claims like this, to ask 'why?' so that you can test out the reasoning behind their claims, and ultimately help yourself to make a more informed decision.

I'm guessing that he was talking about the geometry. The Secteur Elite isn't on the Specialized website (or at least the US website), but according to Cycle Surgery it has the same geometry as the Roubaix. The Roubaix has a shorter wheelbase than the Tricross (989mm versus 1029mm). This means that in theory the Roubaix will zig and zag a bit more sharply than the Tricross. However I would very much doubt there is much in it when it comes to weight and suggest that it will make it easier for you to keep up with your mates sounds like pure BS to me. (Unless you are all very fit and racing at a high level).

Personally I wouldn't buy either bike for touring on (I'd buy something like a Planet-X Kaffenback or Cotic Roadrat and then build the bike myself), but if you are choosing between the two you might want to consider:

- the gearing;
- the chainstay length: the Roubaix has a chainstay length of 412mm versus 440mm for the Tricross. The chainstay length impacts on both the amount of clearance and therefore on the sizes of tyres you can fit (and mudguards although personally I don't think they're that important) and the amount of clearance between the heel and the pannier. 2000 miles of having your heel knock against your pannier would be deeply, deeply, annoying.

mgcycleguy

I'm lucky enough to have both a Roubaix and a Tricross Sport in my stable. If the Secteur is the same geometry as the Roubaix, I would think the Tricross would be more suitable to touring (with some tyre changes) than a Secteur. I would suggest the Secteur is more geared up to Sportive event riding (long but light) as opposed to touring (long and laden) ?

Stuck on a Giant

I can't agree with Satans Budgie re the mini-Vs - my tricross came with them and I found it was impossible to set them up to give clearance if the wheel was more than 0.5mm out of true, and still give full stopping power. I've changed mine to Tektro 520s cantis, and they are much much better. I used an 'uphanger' for the mount at the front that goes into the mudguard bolthole, rather than sitting on the steerer tube (from Spa Cycles).
I think current model Tricrosses have gone back to cantis now.

Satans Budgie

Stuck on a Giant wrote:

I can't agree with Satans Budgie re the mini-Vs - my tricross came with them and I found it was impossible to set them up to give clearance if the wheel was more than 0.5mm out of true, and still give full stopping power. I've changed mine to Tektro 520s cantis, and they are much much better. I used an 'uphanger' for the mount at the front that goes into the mudguard bolthole, rather than sitting on the steerer tube (from Spa Cycles).
I think current model Tricrosses have gone back to cantis now.

A fair and valid point.

The solution to the judder problem on the larger frames is recognised by Specialized and replacing the canti’s with mini v is the answer that is recommended by Specialised as the correct resolution to the issue under warranty.

As you correctly suggest there are other options but on a newly purchased Tricross the brake type exchange is the only cost neutral solution available to the purchaser and for which the LBS can claim reimbursement from the manufacturer.

pimptovimto

Thanks for all the advice, the stuff about the chainstay length and frame size espcially, I think in the end I will go for the Tricross, I would really like to build a bike up from scratch one day but not right now.

andymiller

A quick sixpennyworth on mini-Vs. They are intended to work with long-pull levers (eg Diacompe 287Vs - available from Spa Cycles) and I find they work a treat with these. I also have a pair set up on my Pompino with aero levers which still seem to work OK (though OK a fixie may not be a fair test) and don't seem to be that fussy about set-up. I've never used cantis so I can't say which is 'better'.

pimptovimto

andymiller wrote:

Personally I wouldn't buy either bike for touring on (I'd buy something like a Planet-X Kaffenback or Cotic Roadrat and then build the bike myself), but if you are choosing between the two you might want to consider:

- the gearing;
- the chainstay length: the Roubaix has a chainstay length of 412mm versus 440mm for the Tricross. The chainstay length impacts on both the amount of clearance and therefore on the sizes of tyres you can fit (and mudguards although personally I don't think they're that important) and the amount of clearance between the heel and the pannier. 2000 miles of having your heel knock against your pannier would be deeply, deeply, annoying.

Andy

I have been looking more and more at the Kaffenback the component spec is superb for the money but after searching and searching for info on the frame geometry it looks like the chainstay length is only 415mm I am concerned this is not enough to take a moderately sized pannier despite it having eyelets for them e.g. my MTB I am using at the moment has a chainstay of 425mm and I have to put my pannier right back on the rack to top me from hitting it.

What do you think? have you actually used a kaffenbac with a pannier?

CHeers

PV

Stuck on a Giant

If you get the Tricross with Cantis, the cost of an Kona KF uphanger from Spa Cycles or dotbike is something like £7 - so not a major outlay, and much better than have brakes that don't work properly

andymiller

pimptovimto wrote:

Andy

I have been looking more and more at the Kaffenback the component spec is superb for the money but after searching and searching for info on the frame geometry it looks like the chainstay length is only 415mm I am concerned this is not enough to take a moderately sized pannier despite it having eyelets for them e.g. my MTB I am using at the moment has a chainstay of 425mm and I have to put my pannier right back on the rack to top me from hitting it.

What do you think? have you actually used a kaffenbac with a pannier?

CHeers

PV

I've got the Kaffenback Mark 1 which has 410mm chainstays (!!!) and I have been using a pair of Ortlieb Pluses on them with a Tubus Vega rack without any problem - although the Ortlibes are pushed back as far as they will go. I've also used Creek2Peaks Vaude Discovery Pros. I have size 43 feet. People with bigger feet or other rack/pannier combinations might have problems.

I'd have thought you wouldn't have any problem with a a Madison Summit. On the other hand, clearance for big tyres might be another matter.