Which bike for my commute/ winter bike...

Barrzy257

Have narrowed it down to 3 bikes, I think! They are -
Genesis Croix De Fer
Tre 1.5
Boardman Comp Road

Any comments welcome, as my mind is going back and forth big time!!

Chip \'oyler

Two guys at work have the Croix de Fer. Nice bit of kit - especially because one of them lives in a farmhouse half a mile up a rutted track and the other rides to work on a canal path.

Barrzy257

My commute is pretty much all road based, but cyclocross appeals to be for sure!
Cheers buddy

twotyred

On looks and slightly better components I'd go with the Boardman. It'll probably be lighter too and more fun in spring/summer..

EdZed

If you like the Croix De Fer and Boardman's, it would also be worth considering the Boardman CX bikes e.g. the CX Team, see: www.boardmanbikes.com/cx/cx_team.html

I have the Croix De Fer and love it, it's a very competent bike but I have replaced the 35mm tyres with 28mm Marathon Plus tyres for road use. It is a little on the heavy side (especially compared to your other two choices) but I don't mind that as it'll take a lot of abuse and I think it helps my fitness more.

I do think the location of the rear disc brake is better on the Boardman CX's as it doesn't get in the way when fitting mudguards. It's also worth noting that on both the Genesis and the Boardman CX's the front brake does get in the way of the mudguard stay and required a bit of bodging to fit the mudguard; although my lbs kindly fitted a simple bracket to get round the problem. I bought the CDF as I wanted a bike for commuting with drops and disc brakes as discs really do come into their own when it's wet (in the dry there's no real stopping difference between discs and cantilevers) and the Boardman CX wasn't available when I bought my CDF.

If you can try before you buy, then do so, a test ride should help you decide which one you like the most.

Barrzy257

Thanks for the reply, that's the sort of info was after. I'm not to worried about the weight, as my good bike is a carbon ribble. And as you said the weight will only help my fitness, will certainly look at the boardman CX, but I think my heads set on the Genesis! I'm sure il find a way round the mudguard issue, which ones do you run by the way? X

prawny

When I was commuting year round I lusted after a croix de fer, now I just want one!

I've seen CdFs with guards fitted, they look mint.

EdZed

Barrzy257 wrote:

Thanks for the reply, that's the sort of info was after. I'm not to worried about the weight, as my good bike is a carbon ribble. And as you said the weight will only help my fitness, will certainly look at the boardman CX, but I think my heads set on the Genesis! I'm sure il find a way round the mudguard issue, which ones do you run by the way? X

I use SKS Chromoplastic road mudguards, in black (look better than silver or white IMO).

My CDF also has interrupter brake levers, which I think are no longer fitted as standard, but I do find them useful as they mean I have another hand position option for braking. I will also look to replace the current bog-standard brake pads with better ones when they wear out, the current pads are adequate but I will replace them with better pads in time.