Help a roadie make a short list please.

Dippydog2

My road bikes can take an absolute maximum of 25mm tyres, and as the clearance is so small I am thinking of a cyclocross bike that I can use for winter and the numerous cycle paths that we have locally. These are generally gritty, puddly, and a little bumpy, but not deep mud or rutted in any way.

I want something that can take up to say around 32mm tyres, could be used for Sportives like the Wiggle Fallen Leaves and when it's so cold that even I refuse to ride, I can swap out the rear wheel and load it onto my turbo. So, not too different geometry from my road bike which is a Time Fluidity 55.

I do know that I want disc brakes, but apart from that I am open to options and opinions.

I would like to know what you think I should put on my long list for consideration. No real budget restrictions at this point. I shall introduce those before short listing and discussing the project with the purse holder!

Monty Dog

Hard to see past Planet-X in the value for money stakes - you'll find little to fault for just over a grand. As it's an all-conditions bike, then discs are a no-brainer. Less sure about the need for 'road' geometry as the fatter tyres need more clearances, and you want something a little more stable if venturing offroad.

djp66

Do you want to able to fit mudguards for the winter? This was the biggest issue when I was considering what bike to build/buy. Lots of great bikes out there but I want to be able to press mine into service for a bit of light touring as well as winter duties and therefore eyelets were a must.

In which case you could think about a Rose Cross DX, this is supplied with 33c/35c tyres, has disc brakes, eyelets for guards/rack, their bike builder allows you to customise the build and they offer 105/Ultegra/Di2/Sram Force 22 setups.

I'll be able to give you a first hand opinion in 3 weeks when mine arrives http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-3000-2014

Another option is the Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6, can be bought as just a frameset as well. Although you don't get the same build customisation options, the std dealer build is based on 105.

Dippydog2

Monty Dog wrote:

Hard to see past Planet-X in the value for money stakes - you'll find little to fault for just over a grand. As it's an all-conditions bike, then discs are a no-brainer. Less sure about the need for 'road' geometry as the fatter tyres need more clearances, and you want something a little more stable if venturing offroad.

Thanks. I had a quick look at that online. Their website seems to have very few pictures and not much spec detail.

Is this all they will tell you?
http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/cyclocross-bikes

Dippydog2

I think I have found an excellent solution. For me anyway.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/specia ... -bike.html

antsmithmk

Dippydog2 wrote:

I think I have found an excellent solution. For me anyway.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/specia ... -bike.html

3000 on a bike your going to take through mud..... Not likely.

You'll be crying when you hit a bare root and then the deck!

Dippydog2

antsmithmk wrote:

Dippydog2 wrote:

I think I have found an excellent solution. For me anyway.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/specia ... -bike.html

3000 on a bike your going to take through mud..... Not likely.

You'll be crying when you hit a bare root and then the deck!

There are lots of mountain bike riders who would consider £3k as entry level and they crash a lot.

If I was going that route I have always fancied a Yeti. Matches my car and costs almost as much!

Mud is unavoidable. It's a winter bike anyway, and I am not planning serious off-road. More just cinder and gravel track where I can't take my nice summer road bike with it's very tight wheel clearance, a shiny white frame and carbon wheels with caliper brakes.