Beginner Cyclocross Bike

shaunq
shaunq Posts: 9
edited February 2012 in Road buying advice
Hi everyone,

I went down to my local cycle shop today and was told a Cyclocross bike would suit my needs best! I plan on doing some longer distance rides, but going down canals and bridleways so a road bike would be unsuitable. I hope to do a long distance European trip, riding about 80-100 miles a day, so a fairly lightweight bike would be preferential!

I've spent some time looking for good brands at a decent price in the sale, but being a complete newbie in this area I am unsure which is the best value. If anyone can advise me I'd be very grateful.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... 2#features
http://www.realcycles.com/m37b0s199p245 ... ur_10_2011
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m14b0s195 ... iagra_2011
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... oss%20Bike
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... oss%20Bike

My budget is around 600, though may be able to stretch for the right bike. Do these bikes look particularly good, or are there other brands I should be looking at?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    All the bikes you list seem good individually, however for an extended trip I'd be looking at their ability to take a pannier rack. (preferably with eyelets).

    From a quick scan, the Pinnacle looks fave ...although there may be others that people will suggest.
    Cycling weakly
  • Frostys
    Frostys Posts: 277
    These got a really good write up in Cycling Plus a couple of months ago... And they are on discount at the mo..

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ross-bikes
    Ribble Gran Fondo
    Guerciotti Lyra Cross
    Trek 6000 S/S
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    I like the Cannondale

    Just because
  • disquieting_museeuws
    disquieting_museeuws Posts: 601
    My girlfriend recently got the Pinnacle from Evans and she / we are very pleased with it so far. She, like you, wants it for general riding / touring with some gentle offroad.

    Advantages of this model include a triple chainring for hills, and pannier fixings (her lower ones needed reaming out by a shop because of paint build-up before the bolts could go in, incidentally). Brakes, tyres and gears are good, as are handling and turning circle, especially at low speed. I took it up a nasty off-road hill that I didn't think I'd get up, and it handled it beautifully.

    That's my experience of the bike, for what it's worth!
  • mrbrightside
    mrbrightside Posts: 214
    PeteMadoc wrote:
    I like the Cannondale

    Just because

    What he said!

    Looks like a smart bike.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,336
    Vapour... all the way
    left the forum March 2023
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    I'm not a huge fan of cantilever brakes. People use them because V brakes require too much cable pull and calliper brakes dont have enough clearance. You either get adequate power or adequate modulation (control) but rarely both.
    Mechanical disk brakes are now much better than cantilevers and, being UCI-legal, are available on CX style bikes.
    Boardman CX positions its rear brake mount on the chainstay so you can mount a std rear luggage rack.
  • gwillis
    gwillis Posts: 998
    Shaun Im selling a KHS cx200 I have pm'd you on it here is the review and im looking for alot less that £899

    http://www.cyclingactive.com/bikesgear/bike-reviews-bikes/bike-test-khs-cx200-899-99

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