Down To 4 Choices - Need Your Advice

StylesTW

Hi Everyone!!
Thanks for stopping by and helping out someone new to the sport in choosing the right ride.

I have a mtb but looking for a bike I can use to race with clubs here in the city but that must be able to go through the dirt, grass, gravel, and mud of upstate NY around the climbing crags. This leads me to choosing something along a cyclocross bike. I have a low budget and must keep it under $1000 which limits my options but I've narrowed it down to these:

-Specialized Tricross Sport Disc Compact

-Jamis Nova Sport

-Cannondale CAADX 6 Tiagra

-Kona Jake

The Jamis Nova Sport is the only one under my budget but I am hoping with the September 2014 models coming in that these will be put up for sale and under $1000. A disc brake and ability to put a rack and fender for longer stays upstate are a must which further limit my options.

As someone new to the sport I could really use your advice and opinions. I want to join in the road cycle clubs and be able to keep up with the pack but not interested in a full road bike which can't be used on non paved roads or rocky surfaces.

Which of these bikes do you recommend? Any other options? Any and all advice is appreciate it.

I was offered an older model Specialized Crux for $1100 from a LBS and while it looks great, the no fender or disc brake options prevented me from buying it.

Thanks once again.

andyrr

I'll give you my opinon regards the Jamis :
I bought mine about 6 months ago as a commuter bike and it has stood me well for the approx 100miles+/week I use it for.
It came shod with 32mm CX tyres and I initially planned to keep these on until the roads were clear of snow but the rear wouldn't take the fitted tyre plus the mudguards I fitted - insufficient clearance - so I kept the front CX and replaced the rear with a 28mm road tyre and that mix was fine. A while later I swapped the front CX to the matching (but 25mm) road tyre.
It has worked well for me - the crappy FSA BB lasted something like 6 weeks before needing replaced (warrantied by the shop) for a Shimano one and it's now on it's 3rd chain plus I've replaced the pads for Clarks organic ones to reduce squeal but other than than it has not skipped a beat and for the price it is a good bit of kit. Not light but at the price I got it for, £520GBP, I really couldn't expect more of a bike that I will use in all weathers on the standard poorly surfaced UK roads. I don't plan on off-roading it so couldn't really comment on it's potential there. Light trail or gravel path use would be within it's capabilities, rougher stuff I guess also ok but I don't feel that it would take the abuse that a mountain bike would take. With faster 25mm tyres it should be ok for a club run - it has a road-biased compact gearset so it has an advantage out of the box over some CX bikes that have lower ratio chainrings.

StylesTW

Thanks for the reply and my apologies for my late reply.

I got a 2013 Jamis Nova Race. It's been great so far but changing the tires to some Continental GP 4000S for the road. The factory seat has been a nightmare and in the process of finding something more comfortable.

I'm also trying to figure out how to get it fitted to me a bit better as it doesn't seem to match any of the suggest fitting from Competative Cyclist.