Cyclocross bikes - the secondhand market for a winter bike

willharris10

As you can see from my signature, I'm a bit bike-less at the moment. (Ignoring my 21 year old mountain bike with almost no brakes that's getting me to work and nearly killing me daily).

I decided that replacing my lovely old Specialized really means buying two bikes. One for commuting and winter riding and one for the summer that I'll love and fettle and mollycoddle. So the Summer bike is now looking pretty set on being a Cannondale Six. But the winter bike is much more open. My search has taken me to these bikes so far:

Specialized Tricross Comp
Specialized Tricross Sport
Cannondale CX9
Scott CX Team
Condor Bivio

I'm taking a look at the Condor tomorrow, but the others are all on eBay or have been and will be again.

Ideally I want rear pannier points, drop bars and the ability to cycle river paths and go cross country but not cyclocross. I'm not interested in racing this bike. Just want something that'll take a chunky enough tyre that the rough of river pathways are accessable and enjoyable all year round.

Wondered what thoughts people had on here. Would you consider any of these ahead of any others?

JesseD

No real experioence of the cross-bikes but I really dig the cannondale six - good choice sir.

blackhands

Thr brakes on cyclo-cross bikes are not as good as those on road bikes - they are designed not to get clogged up with mud - if they were as good they would be more widely used.

Also, you don't need cross tyres unless you are riding through thick mud and their grip on wet roads is dreadful. As to which bike - whatever takes your fancy.

Personally I'd go for a Ribble or Surosa Audax bike.

South Bound

Hmmm, have to disagree about the brakes comment above. Cx bikes are far more like mountain bikes - they need mud clearance and brakes are used far more often. They have to be able to withstand wheels going out of true as well, unlike road brakes (kinda!). They do different things, but have never noticed them not being as good...

There are some great commuting bikes out their now with road groupsets and disc brakes...

Anyway, a cx bike is a great compromise as it can do things a road bike can't while still being able to act as a road bike when you need it to. Your choices are fairly sound, have ridden the Speshes and they are pretty solid as you would expect. Hate to be seen to advertise, but have a look at Planet X as well, they might have something that fits the bill.

cougie

I dont think you need to go as sturdy as a cyclo crosser you know. I've ridden canal paths and trails on my best carbon bike as well as my steel fixed wheel. Sensible wheels and decent tyres and you're fine. I'd only go cyclocross if I was going to race it.
I use 25mm tyres max - but you could go up to 28mm here - plenty of air, without slowing you down on the road.

Have a look at some of the Planet X bikes - they have some bikes that would make great winter/commuting bikes.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... nback-9993
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... uilds.html

willharris10

Thanks for the advice chaps.

I'm looking at cyclocross bikes because I'd like to have the frame clearance to allow for thicker tyres. 35s at the most I expect, but that does take the width out beyond that which a road frame with road brakes can handle.

Also, I want drop bars, not straights and so that colours my thinking too. I don't plan to compete so the outright performance of the brakes needs to be good, but doesn't need to be formula one. I'm hoping the 'Dale will more than make up for it when I take it out. Looking for a fun bike, that'll go anywhere and do anything. Will probably run 25 or 28s for commuting and may buy some 35s or thereabout and maybe even a second set of wheels for tow paths and times when they'd help.

Braking issues on the Tricross can be dealt with, there's lots of threads about how to sort out the judder if it's a problem so I'm comfortable with that. Only really issue is whether to consider the Scott as it has no pannier points. A true competitors cyclocross design, and not a multipurpose tool.

Wondering how the Condor compares to the Specialized bikes, I guess deep down, I'm somewhere between wanting to go for one of them. Second hand is where I'm at. Something between £400 and £500 and that seems to be in the ball park for a good condition, 2007 onwards model.

matt2gee

hello i have a trex Xo2 2009 for sale with sram rival on. a bit more than your buget looking for £675ono drop me a pm if intressed
thanks matt

cougie

Dont forget to factor in the cost of new slick tyres then and you'd probably want to change the block or chainset too as the cross gears would be lower for muddy terrain.

Cyclocross bikes are great for offroad, but realistically how much time will you be offroad ? If its lots - you have the MTB anyway. If its 10% or so - get a road bike with clearances and decent wheels. Why hamper yourself on the road ?

willharris10

What road bike with road bike brakes can take a 35mm tyre?

Don't worry, I'm riding a 21 year old Peugot Puma mountain bike. Which would struggle to get over a mole hill. Anything will be an improvement. It was like getting into a Land Rover Defender after spending the last 9 years driving a Ferrari. So a cyclocross bike will be an improvement, I have no doubt.

Yes, I'm factoring the cost of bits and bobs into the whole equation. Hence my limit of £500 for the right bike in the first place. Need to spend money on peddles, cassette if the wrong one is on. Shoes, bar tape (I like 2 layers) and lights fittings etc etc. Final cost will be more than my budget, but that's allowed for. This isn't supposed to be a purely road bike, even if 96% of it's use will be commuting. It's a compromise and one I'm happy with as I plan to keep a Cannondale Six at home for dry days and weekends.

There is no such things as one perfect bike to do it all. But I do know myself quite well, so I'm comfortable with my choices.

passout

blackhands wrote:

Thr barkes on cyclo-cross bikes are not as good as those on road bikes - they are designed not to get clogged up with mud - if they were as good they would be more widely used.

Also, you don't need cross tyres unless you are riding through thick mud and their grip on wet roads is dreadful. As to which bike - whatever takes your fancy.

Personally I'd go for a Ribble or Surosa Audax bike.

I agree about the brakes although you could always change them if necessary. I ride a tricross and like it. I also hear good things about the Kona Jake.

Daimler

I'd go Tricross Sport.
Very versatile, stick some slicks on and it's quick enough on the tarmac.
Strong, well built and tested well in CP a few months back.

Had a Tricross single myself and that was great.

ex-pat scot

I'm building up a Tricross Sport at the moment, and it's going to be a do-everything-kind-of bike.
The only weakness (in my eyes) is lack of discs, but this is relatively minor and I've not seen an alternative similar bike with discs in my kind of range.
like you say, the 2007-on ones go for around the £500 mark.
I'd stick a road block on (c£25) rather than the stock 11-32 one.
A second set of bar tape shouldn't be more than £5 or £6
Can get M520 SPD pedals for £20

I've been advised to go for "Twister" 'cross tyres, for those times I want to play in the woods. £15 ea from LBS, or around £10 ea from eBay.
The stock "Borough" slick wide tyres (32mm? 35mm?) are apparently rather big and heavy. I'd probably prefer Michelin 28s that I used to use on my tourer, as everyday commuting tyres.

My general approach was to take a new Tricross Comp, sell the 9 speed kit unused and replace with 10 speed road-focused. Shifters and mechs have gone; rear rack and pedals gone; triple chainset and BB are about to go on eBay, along with cassette, carbon-wrap seatpost and saddle.
I have replaced with 10 spd road-biased kit; DA7800 shifters, Ultegra rear mech, compact carbon chainset, existing seatpost, saddle, pedals etc. Net upgrade cost c£50!

To be fair, I got a killer deal on the bike (£400) for a new unbuilt TriCross sport, with guards, rack and boxed SPDs. It would have been rude to refuse! I really wanted the bike to be 10 speed with 34-50 front and 12-27 rear, to mimic road / commute gears as far as possible yet still have enough low-end for playing in the local woods and possible further excursions.

willharris10

Sounds like the perfect bike.

I'm also looking for something in the 50-34 and 12-27 range, but if it has a 12-32 cassette I won't complain. A bit more range for climbing would be appreciated.

105 or Ultegra is much of a muchness on a heavier framed bike like the tricross. My main concern here is how easy it is to operate and 105 would be fine. Frankly, Tiagra will do at a push but 105 would be a preference. The only thing I don't want on the Tricross is the silly additional brake levers in front of the bar. If I get one, I'll get them taken off at the first opportunity. Just get in the way and spoil the look. Michelin 28s sound good. I'll investigate tyres once I've found a bike to buy. Will certainly accept suggestions. Want wider tyres than on a road only bike, as would be nice to have the wider footprint for commuting over manhole covers and rain work and nice not to have to change them over, for recreational river pathway rides etc. With a decent pressure I'm sure I'll go fast enough, even on 32s :-)

solsurf

http://www.arragonscycles.com/home.aspx had a fantastic second hand CX genesis 56cm bike that they were doing for £450 looked like great condition. I was very tempted. But my wife was with me

Basically £500 off and looked like it had done 100 miles.

Hope this helps.

willharris10

Sounds great, but I'm 5'8" so a 56 would ordinarily be too large for me :-(

APIII

Regarding tyres, I used Schwalbe Racing Ralph on my cross bike this winter. They are cheap, light and a decent compromise if you're riding mixed terrain. CRC had them for about 14 quid.

Alumin-Liam

I ride a Tricross Sport in winter and its ok but not great. The frame has proven to be pretty much indestructible, but the toe overlap is very annoying, and the ride isn't that great on the road. The brake fix is an absolute must, as are decent pads.

I have it set up for the road, with fulcrum 7s and slicks, 12-25 cassette, and Keo pedals, but like the fact that I can take it touring or off road.

Its ok but I sometime wish I had something more road orientated for winter.

cjcp

passout wrote:

blackhands wrote:

Thr barkes on cyclo-cross bikes are not as good as those on road bikes - they are designed not to get clogged up with mud - if they were as good they would be more widely used.

Also, you don't need cross tyres unless you are riding through thick mud and their grip on wet roads is dreadful. As to which bike - whatever takes your fancy.

Personally I'd go for a Ribble or Surosa Audax bike.

I agree about the brakes although you could always change them if necessary. I ride a tricross and like it. I also hear good things about the Kona Jake.

I've got the Jake. I deliberately went for a lower end frame because I wanted to race and I'm an unfit knacker compared to the mentalists who race cross. I also wanted it for the winter commute.

The forks aren't the nicest to look at and I think the brake squeal is best dealt with if the front brake cable hanger is attached to the top of the forks rather than above the head tube (I haven't done this yet though, so I'm going by what others have suggested), and it's a bit on the heavy side.

But it's great for a blast around my local park and with my cross tyres on, it handled brilliantly in the snow we had in Dec/Jan - it was great fun. It's also great for the commute although I prefer caliper brakes to cantis.

Noclue

would get my vote

turnerjohn

to throw a spanner in I bought a Planet X Uncle John (yeh I know my names John as well lol) two main reasons its cheap and it has disk mounts :-) ... win win !
Use it for fast communting aka road training in the morning, the roads / lanes I use would just trash and puncture my road bikes 23 and even 25 so can see where your going with wider tires....also wider and heavier ones are a better work out...jump on my Look or Trek at the weekend and feels like a fighter jet :-).
Anyways highly recommend the Planet X and dam good value !

Buckled_Rims

I have a Kona Jake the Snake and it's OK for the road. Not as fast as a full road bike, but feels strong and willing. I sold my Allez last year which I regretted - doh.

Anyhow, I've put 25mm tyres on and thrown away the standard 35mm. Loads of options for rack and guards. Only fault is the 105 left shifter is notchy which (if you google) is a common problem.

I fancied the Planet X Kaffenback, but hated the colour. The Uncle John looks nice and well spec'd.

ride_whenever

The scott cx team is gorgeous, really lovely ride and really nicely put together.

However no rack mounts. It is easy enough to fit a rack though (did it for a customer the other week)

N0bodyOfTheGoat

turnerjohn wrote:

to throw a spanner in I bought a Planet X Uncle John (yeh I know my names John as well lol) two main reasons its cheap and it has disk mounts :-) ... win win !
Use it for fast communting aka road training in the morning, the roads / lanes I use would just trash and puncture my road bikes 23 and even 25 so can see where your going with wider tires....also wider and heavier ones are a better work out...jump on my Look or Trek at the weekend and feels like a fighter jet :-).
Anyways highly recommend the Planet X and dam good value !

I've always wondered about the disc capability of the Uncle John, as CRC mentioned disc options, whereas Planet-X/On-One left their frame spec very vague.

Did the Uncle John fork have disc mounts aswell as the frame, or did you fit an alternative fork?