Buying advice needed after first choice disappointment

SteveEB

Hi. I've decided to treat myself to a new bike after commuting to work on my 1996 mountain bike for the last 3 years. So I signed up for my employers cycle to work scheme (Halfords) and have gone for the maximum amount allowed, £1000.

I'd decided that I'd get a cyclocross bike as it seemed like it would suit the type of road surfaces I ride on but have the versatility of the drop handlebars. I could also take it offroad occasionally. I was pretty set on decent disk brakes as the road surfaces are really gritty. I wanted a high level of componentry, like minimum Shimano 105 groupset. And I wanted to be able to fit mudguards and a pannier rack.

Top of my shortlist was the Rose DX Cross 2000 but the base price was £1012.23 and it turns out that you're not allowed to add anything to the price under the scheme. Rose wouldn't budge on the price but, after a LOT of emails between myself and the UK Rose rep they'd suggested a downgrade of some components to bring it under the £1000 mark. So I ordered the bike via the Halfords scheme. However, after weeks of not hearing anything, Halfords have got in touch with me to say that communications with them from Rose have been so poor that they are cancelling the bikes they have on order with them.

Second on my shortlist was the Pinnacle Arkose Three but, as Pinnacle are owned by Evans, I can't get that on the scheme.

Third on my shortlist was the Norca Threshold A1 but I've now discovered that Norca have an exclusive deal with Evans so I can't get that either!!

Next on my list is the Merida Cyclo Cross 4, which I could get from my LBS and seems very nice but... it just seems so green in the flesh! I'm just not sure I can get over that colour! I prefer stealthy looking bikes!

I'd rejected the Specialised Tricross Sport Disc C2 and the Trek Crossrip Elite as I didn't really want Sora components. The Saracen Hack 2 and Cannondale CAADX Disc 6 as they have Tiagra (plus the Cannondale is a bit too bling for my tastes). I've also looked at bikes like the Genesis Vapour Disc, the Giant TCX SLR 2 and the Kona Jake which I've rejected too for various reasons. So I'm not sure what else to look at.

To add insult to injury, a work colleague got his voucher on the same day as me and went straight to Halfords and bought a Boardman Hybrid Pro so has been smuggly enjoying his new bike for ages whilst I'm paying for nothing. His bike actually seems really good. It's got all the features I wanted except for the drop bars of course but it rides really nicely and looks great. The hydraulic brakes seem awesome. I'd decided right at the start that I didn't want a Boardman but I'm actually tempted to get the same as his and just keep my old mountain bike for the rare occasions I go offroad.

Any ideas? I know I'm rather fussy but I'd be pleased to get any more suggestions.

slowbike

My brother has the boardman CX bike and uses it for racing - he's pleased with it and coming from him it has to be good ... I think the worst bit about buying the boardmans is the hit'n'miss you'll get from Halfords staff in preparing the bike. So I think you need to be prepared to correct any build mistakes! Of course, you may get a decent build ...

freezing77

Why can't you get the pinnacle? Evans appear to be part of the scheme.

http://www.evanscycles.com/pages/cycle-scheme

SteveEB

@freezing77. Evans do their own scheme. My employer has signed up for the Halfords scheme. They don't play nicely together.

@Slowbike. I suppose I haven't looked too much at Boardmans really because the reputation of the Halfords build is so poor. There's a massive thread on here about the CX which kind of scares me although at least that might be better than taking it to Halfords if there's problems. That said, if the CX had Shimano 105 instead of SRAM Apex and BB7s or Hydraulics instead of BB5s I would probably be more interested. I've also already got my £1000 voucher and, as they don't give change, means I'd have to either waste £100 or buy some accessories I don't really need to make up the difference.

t4tomo

I've got a suggestion, stop rejecting things for daft reasons.

For example what's wrong with Tiagra? It's 10 speed nowadays and very little difference to 105?

SteveEB

Ha. Thanks @t4tomo. I did wonder if someone would say that. I'm prepared to take that on the chin. I AM a fussy bugger for sure and I suppose in the early days of my formulating a shortlist I'd set some acceptable levels. Perhaps I need to adjust those. The bikes that were at the top of my list seemed to tick all of the boxes so it's hard to have to compromise.

curto80

You have unrealistic expectations for your price point which is why your choice is so limited. You need to either be more flexible or you're relying on trying to find a good deal. The obvious bike not on your list that meets your criteria is the Ridley x-bow disc, but again it's slightly over your budget so you'd need to invest some time trying to find a discounted one.

curto80

By the way Tiagra is great value for money.

curto80

You could get this if you went down to Tiagra

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/1604 ... tAodsFQAuA

Focus make great bikes.

I wouldn't think of the £100 as being wasted btw. You could get some decent pedals and stock up on spares and cleaning kit - stuff you'd need anyway.

Right gonna leave you in peace now :-)

Kieran_Burns

Just to point out that you can get a bike with Tiagra and when the bike is paid off start upgrading to 105, the kits are compatible. The Tiagra groupset will easily last a year and more. Mine is still the original on my Tricross sport (look below for the age of it)

Pick what you want the bike to do and go for one that fits the needs not you being a snob

I think you should look at a CX bike from what you've said but I think the Boardman is SRAM though and I didn't personally get on with the double-tap

SteveEB

Thanks @Curto80 and @Kieran_Burns.

Clearly you're right, my expectations are too high (although I'm going to start getting a complex soon if anyone else points it out ) so I think I'll try to choose something with a good frame and build quality and then upgrade components as they go during the lifetime of the bike. I'll get back to the drawing board.

curto80

Good man. Most important thing is to get a bike and get riding. Before you know it half the summer will be gone so just find something you like the look of and go for it.

LiveGiantly

**LiveGiantly walks into topic**

**sees the words "the Giant....which I've rejected"**

**walks back out of topic furious and hopes that one day SteveEB will be a victim of the many scalps gained on his Giant!!**

SteveEB

Haha. Well... the new, reformed SteveEB might be revisiting some of the previously rejected bikes this weekend. So it's not too late for a Giant resurrection.

matt@theforce

I have last years Merida Cyclocross4 (red/black/white), its a fantastic bike and if you can get past the green on this years model you wont be dissapointed, my only advise would be to get it without the handlebar brakes fitted as they spoil the feel/power of the brakes.

SteveEB

Thanks Matt. Actually, your review of the Merida was what led me to try it out in the first place. I don't think I can get over the colour though. If this year's 4 was the same colour as the 3 I'd have probably bought it.

Initialised

Just my 2pence after riding a £1000 disc brake road bike for a year (Specialized Secteur Sport Disc), around 8000 miles and on mixed terrain. The new version for 2014 gets and Zertz frame inserts for added comfort on dodgy surfaces, it also moves the rear brake inside the rear triangle so fitting guards is easier and the brake line goes down the downtube not the top tube so shouldering the bike is more comfortable. However, the rear brake's exposure to spray is increased in this position so may accelerate wear and eventual failure. I went for it more on looks than spec as BB5 and Sora isn't great on paper at the time I was between it and a carbon fibre Carrera with 105 and rim brakes, discs, finance and not buying from Halfords swung it for me.

In practice I'm happy with Sora, however I upgraded to the 105 rear derailer when the hangar snapped as the shop didn't have anything lower with a GS cage and will eventually go 11 speed which should mean just shifter and cassette.

105 and BB7 brakes is a tough ask at this price point and only the Pinnacle had that at the time but the CX geometry and colour put me off. If you have to compromise somewhere I'd compromise on the groupset rather than the brakes. I haven't had the best experience with BB5s, both ended up with warped rotors and seized 'static' pads I believe this is down to being single sided brakes. These have been replaced with Parabox R hydraulic brakes which had been a plan since I got the bike.

If I was buying right now I'd get the Giant AnyRoad

ugo.santalucia

Initialised wrote:

If I was buying right now I'd get the Giant AnyRoad

Quite possibly the ugliest drop bars bike I have ever seen... it would like to be a MTB but can't quite do it... small rotors means crap brakes too, 'mfraid

Initialised

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Initialised wrote:

If I was buying right now I'd get the Giant AnyRoad

Quite possibly the ugliest drop bars bike I have ever seen... it would like to be a MTB but can't quite do it... small rotors means crap brakes too, 'mfraid

No... loverly looking frame, shame about the colour though, easily fixed with some bar tape and a hairdryer. The spec leaves a few components wanting upgrades, BB7s about as good as single piston, fixed road mechanical calipers get, but yeah, I'd whip them out, sell them on before they seize up or warp the rotors and fit hydraulics, and you could always fit 203mm rotors, you know, if your were compensating for something!

SteveEB

I went for the Cannondale CCADX Tiagra in the end. Took delivery yesterday. Now, whether to ride it to work for the first time in the rain!