Kona Jake, Tricross Sport or Giant TCX2??

Shropshirelad1980

okay so I'm buying a bike for road/canal toepaths/commuting/credit card touring (in that order of priority)

I dont fancy a hybrid, so have got my list down to the following due to my requirement to do slight off road and have option to stick rack panier guards etc and it needning to be a year round bike.

Kona Jake (not Jake the snake)

Specialized Tricross Sport 2009

Giant TCX 2 2009

I will also have to carry it up the stairs 2 floors to my apartment so weigth a consideration for this skinny guy!

I am favouring the Tricross at the moment but i think this is because I prefer the way it looks which is probably not the best reason, 2nd place is Kona.

Any opinions would be greatly recieved.

Also I'm a smidge under 6ft woudl you go for 56 or 58 frame?

Many thanks

pottssteve

I'm 6 foot tall and ride a 54 inch frame - I was advised to get a smaller frame due to the geometry of cross bikes being slightly different to road bikes - you are more upright. I ride a Tricross and am happy with it. It's a bit heavier than the jake, I think, but I've had mine since Christmas and have enjoyed riding it. I've never ridden a Kona though. I also live up 2 flights of stairs but can get it up (pun intended) no problem.
Steve

Shropshirelad1980

tahnks Steve, yeah think I've made my mind up - you had any issues with this fork judder thing people keep mentioning on forums?

mabeleliza

I had terrible fork judder on my Comp, took it back to Specialized in the end, who were very good about it and gave me an alternative. Apparently it is worse on the larger sizes, mine was a 58cm.

Have you checked out the Croix de Fer - 700c, drops and disk brakes. Think its a Ridgeback / Genesis.

pottssteve

Yes,
I had some fork judder. Mine's better when I keep the rims clean and I always engage the back brake before the front (which is probably a good idea anyway). I don't find it a major issue.
Steve