Cx Bike - 4 choices

smiley_boy2501

Sorry for another one of these.

Rode my as a kid, ride Road now and have done so with purpose for several years now but with no racing experience. I'm looking to start racing cx asap although I will use it for off road jaunts throughout the year. I have the funds to invest around a grand. I've narrowed down my choices to 4:

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Specialized-Crux-Sport-Disc-E5-7100-52-0.html

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5171/CANNONDALE-CAADX-105-2013

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/65793/Raleigh_RX_Comp_Cyclocross_2014_Bike

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-cross-pro-rs-2000-2014/aid:691861?forcedefaulttemplate=true

Any advice...the ones under a grand will leave me money for brake/wheel upgrades.

Currently ride a 57cm Kinesis Racelight with a 110mm stem which is used year round so Road riding is covered.

Thanks in advance

FransJacques

Rose all the way for me. Nice parts. Nice frame. No idea how it rides tho. Cannondale is a great race bike and better value but defo lower spec as price reflects. .

which ones have you test ridden? Cross requires a smaller frame than your equivalent rode size. Dont buy a fence gate..

smiley_boy2501

Test rode the cannondale in ultegra guise and liked the handling and stiffness of the frame. Rode the Raleigh as my mate has one and it was ok but has discs and looks nice. Neither was ridden off road though.

For racing and general off road use will cantis/v-brakes suffice? Plan to use it over winter when I cba with ice on the roads and idiots driving in the rain.

The dale may have lower spec but gives me 250 over the rose to upgrade brakes/wheels to my liking.

I was looking at a 54/55cm frame as I'm usually 56 if frame sizes allow.

FransJacques

Cantis and V-Brakes are fine for racing and for noodling around on MTB trails so long as you don't expect car-like deceleration. For racing you don't want brakes that are too powerful - brakes are the enemy of speed - otherwise you'll just p1ss off those behind you. Enjoy the flow, enjoy carving corners, enjoy the momentum.

When you show up at your first race you'll quickly learn what works. Only on the pages of BR, C+, and CN do you see a world where one CANNOT love without leccy shifting and discs. In the real world, practice is different from theory. (sorry about the soapbox bit)

smiley_boy2501

Thankyou very much. Can't equipped it is. Looking more at the rose now. Looks lovely in real pics too. I'm young and flexible so fit shouldn't be all too bad.
One last question....would upgrade to rose rs1400 if I got the rose. They are lightweight hand-built alu wheels with 20f 24r satin cx rays. I only weigh 75ish but how low can you go on wheel weight without seriously compromising the longevity.

FransJacques

75ish is a good mid-weight for a cyclist. Even at the low-level of Cat 3s where I compete there are riders in the 65- 68kg range who are small and climb well.

If your budget can stretch then defo go for lighter wheels. Wheels always help with performance, much more than lighter stems or saddles or the difference between 2 levels of components. i.e. for the same money I'd rather race a 105 bike with RS81 wheels than an Ultegra bike with RS30 boat anchors.

You're lucky you're young and have a strong back, means you can work - gradually and in steps of course - on a long stretched out position. Again, best thing about cross is you can stick around and watch the Seniors race, look at the leaders carefully and how they're set up.

smiley_boy2501

Thanks for all the advice. Rose will be duly ordered with lighters wheels. My position at the moment is relatively aggressive and I work on my core year round so hopefully I'll have no probs. Look out for pics! Oh and come the end of cross season I'll be starting my road career. Looking forward to it all!

Now just to choose bar tape colour....