ROSE PRO DX CROSS-3000 Review / Info

cookeeemonster

Hi,

As promised...ages ago, I'm putting up a quick review of my Rose and some info about ordering it and so on.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-3000-hydraulic/

I wanted:

- A bike that could take full mudguards (clip on's don't cut it)
- A bike that had disc brakes...and after some research, ideally hydraulic disc brakes
- A bike with a better groupset than I'd had before (last 2 versions of Sora) ideally Shimano 105
- A bike that could take wider tyres
- A bike that was lighter than the bikes I currently own...as due to the expense I wont be buying another for probably a good few years (well, we'll see) and I may as well get something lighter than I already have.
- starting price around £1200 but we'll see what we can do...

This was to be an all round all year main bike - commuting and the odd sportive...and a ride to Paris this year with my new club.

Did a fair bit of research...could find plenty of compromises...which boiled down to accepting a bike with either a 'lesser' disc brake or a bike that weighed 10kg or more...else what I wanted but at around £1800.

Found a Rose CX bike with most of what I wanted...delayed for a bit...then they updated their site to show me a 2015 bike with the new Shimano discs and pretty much everything I asked for

I asked them a few questions about mudguards and the ability to switch tyres and chainset and so on and was very impressed with their configuartor options. They allow you to do an awful lot on the website itself but when ordering, you can also specify extra changes which I did.

My main changes to the bike in the link above was the tyres to Schalbe Ones in 28mm, the seat to a Fizik Arione and the chainset to a 52/36 with 11-28 cassette. The groupset is Shimano Ultegra and the brakes Shimano BRR-S785 hydraulic discs with 160mm rotors.

The price came out at £1400 - £30 extra due to the saddle (all other changes including the ones I mentioned above were free). I then went through their ordering process, used their size calculator to help me with the frame size, crank length, stem length and handlebar width and pressed submit .

I initially got a basic order confirmation with a proper order confirmation (where they'd obviously gone through the options I'd selected and confirmed it would be ok) a day later. They gave me an order estimate or around 6 weeks, which matched up with what they displayed on their website.

Exactly a month later on a monday I was emailed to say it was on its way...and it arrived on the friday via DHL. I tracked it via the DHL website but bear in mind it's a always a few hours out of date.

Anyway...the review. My previous bikes to compare with are:

- A Specialised Sirrus hybrid which I had for 4 months
- A Bianchi Via Nirone Sora
- A Charge Filter CX bike (nice but HEAVY)

Put it together once I'd bought some carbon paste and a torque wrench for the seatpost...weighed it at a very rough estimate without pedals at 8.2kg (I'd estimated the weight to be 8.3kg from the info I had on the Rose website). This using the UCI approved bathroom scales method, and is accurate to within 27kg.

Out of da box:







After a nearly 2 months and around 800+ miles of riding I'll say this.

DISCS BRAKES ARE F**KING AMAZING AND I'LL NEVER GO BACK!!!!

Along with half decent wet weather clothing they have utterly changed the way I view wet riding. There is no difference to dry riding. The brakes are that good. I got no squeaking even at the start which I thought I would...and they've kept on being brilliant. It really is a game changer for wet riding...can't praise them enough. I just need to learn to fettle them I suppose as at some point I'll probably need to do something.

Ultegra - faultless so far. The shifters are much nicer than I'm used to, really comfortable. The gears changes are what you expect - light and smooth and though I should be thinking about adjusting the cables for stretch at this point at the moment there don't seem to be any need. I now have confidence changing into the big ring when pushing hard without thinking the chain is gonna come off

As to the overall ride quality I can't fault it. I knew it'd feel light and it is (compared to what I was riding before of course - it's not a race snake bike) and the ability to change to wider tyres has helped (35mm Vittoria Randoneurs set to low pressure - much nicer for my very bumpy commute). With the mudguards and pedals etc you're looking at a weight of around 9.5kg - same as my Bianchi with Zondas.

I fitted Portland Design Works 'Full Metal Fenders' as they looked great in my opinion and give the best coverage. They are also pretty light at around 500g. They are easy to fit and are fantastic in use - never had so little crap go on me. A refreshing change.

There is a bit of toe overlap with the mudguards which I've learned to live with...and I'd like the option of a slightly more aggressive riding position - I've ordered a stem to help with this (angles down a fair bit more EDIT: fitted the stem, the handlebar position is now perfect. I've also been told I could get a similar position with the standard stem by getting a slimmer top cap? - or whatever the thing is called below the stem) but other than that it's been great, really enjoy riding it. As the wheels are not the lightest on the market (DT Swiss R24 spline - 1850g I think) there's room for summer wheels and tyres too which is a bonus

Here it is in full battle dress (pics aint come out very well, sorry):

cookeeemonster

Apologies I know I bang on a bit and it's a bit 'dry' in places...ok all of it but I just wanted to brain dump for anyone searching the forum for Rose bike reviews and info

DrLex

CM,
Thanks for posting; spookily have been configuring a white one with an Arione saddle, and would pick up a set of the PDW fenders from Charlie the BikeMonger. Please update this thread later on; torn between this, a Canyon inflite or a Specialized Diverge (almost bought one last week, but the bolt through fork would make a dynamo wheel an expensive upgrade on a bike dearer than the German options). Is yours a 56?

Kieran_Burns

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

gbsahne001

Kieran_Burns wrote:

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

I think they are these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-t780-xt-mtb-spd-trekking-pedals

cookeeemonster

DrLex - yup the frame is a 56.

Kieren - LEAVE MY LOVELY PEDALS ALONE!! They are Shimano click 'r' pd-700's - basically one of the very few double sided spd pedals available on the market with built in reflectors (wanted the reflectors to stay 100% legal).

Oh I have one more minus point...I am experiencing a bit of seatpost slippage (carbon seatpost, aluminium frame). Just emailed Rose about it, will update when I know more...

Kieran_Burns

move your clamp to the back, not the front as it is... (or basically over the 'slit' in the tube)

oh, and...

asprilla

Kieran_Burns wrote:

move your clamp to the back, not the front as it is... (or basically over the 'slit' in the tube)

oh, and...

I think we can close the 2015 competition for Most specific and apprpriate use of a meme.

veronese68

KB that should be a Cookee cutter, you got his name wrong. :P
Nice bike and nice write up CM. Couldn't agree more about the discs, although mine are a cable/hydraulic mongrel using a parabox. You could get the stem a bit lower by getting a shorter top cap for the headset. I had to get one for my Kinesis, just went into the local Evans and they found a used top cap in the workshop for me. That reminds me I need to get them some cookies by way of payment.

cookeeemonster

Sorry Kieron!! :P

Cheers for the tip about the clamp - I'll try that tonight, would like to fix this without resorting to an aluminim seatpost (not that I could tell the difference anyway, but it'll be a hassle waiting for them to send me one).

Veronese68 - I've just received a Cinelli track stem from wiggle with a 25 degree angle (down)...will see if that sorts it or is too much else I'll try the top cap idea, cheers

DrLex

CookeeeMonster wrote:

DrLex - yup the frame is a 56[...]

I'm borderline 56/58, so your comment about toe overlap is making me favour a larger frame (& shorter stem).

cookeeemonster

DrLex wrote:

CookeeeMonster wrote:

DrLex - yup the frame is a 56[...]

I'm borderline 56/58, so your comment about toe overlap is making me favour a larger frame (& shorter stem).

Might be a good idea. My stem is relatively long at 120mm

timothyw

Yeah, that's a pretty enormous dust cap on the top of the headset, you can definitely save a cm or two there if the stem doesn't do the trick.

I was rather pleasantly surprised that my Crosslight Pro6 frameset didn't just come with a headset, it came with two of them, with two different heights of top cap.

It looks like a lovely bike (although I don't really like the wrap around 'Rose' logo on the bottom tube - gives me a headache for some reason!). I've falled madly in love with my 105 and TRP Spyre equipped Crosslight. I keep looking at my summer bike and wondering if I'll actually want to ride it again when the weather picks up - the rims are worn, and it seems crazy riding a bike that is barely any lighter, brakes worse and eats it's own wheels while braking.

5milestogo

Looks great. A great bike and so much for the money. I picked up a black 62cm model end of November with factory fitted SKS Bluemels and apart from a little annoying mudguard rub when powering away I cant fault it. Still contemplating the rack and panniers and possibly skinnier tyres.

curto80

Given that, in my case, "the goods are currently being prepared for assembly", the "goods" being this exact bike, I am now ridiculously excited. It's basically Christmas in January.

Where did the 8.2/8.3kg come from though? The Rose website says 8.8kg (admittedly for the 58cm rather than the 56cm) but it's hard to believe that the next frame down plus switching from Racing Ralphs to Schwalbe Ones saves you half a kilo...

curto80

Kieran_Burns wrote:

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

I'd have been asking about the bartape before the pedals. Oh and the rear reflector. And the frame-mounted pump. Mine ain't gonna look like that :?

cookeeemonster

Curto80 wrote:

Given that, in my case, "the goods are currently being prepared for assembly", the "goods" being this exact bike, I am now ridiculously excited. It's basically Christmas in January.

Where did the 8.2/8.3kg come from though? The Rose website says 8.8kg (admittedly for the 58cm rather than the 56cm) but it's hard to believe that the next frame down plus switching from Racing Ralphs to Schwalbe Ones saves you half a kilo...

Most of it does come from the tyres - the ralphs are around 500g, the ones around 225g so 550g or so saving there...plus I probably took away too much for the frame difference (may have been other considerations, can't quite remember)

cookeeemonster

Curto80 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

I'd have been asking about the bartape before the pedals. Oh and the rear reflector. And the frame-mounted pump. Mine ain't gonna look like that :?

It's a commuter - that's it's battle dress!!

I have no shame whatsoever...if I could have put a basket on the front I would've :P

curto80

Well, safety first.

Seriously though, loving it, good work.

Kieran_Burns

Curto80 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

I'd have been asking about the bartape before the pedals. Oh and the rear reflector. And the frame-mounted pump. Mine ain't gonna look like that :?

and the Garmin out front mount is on the wrong side

curto80

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Curto80 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

What the hell are those pedals??? :shock:

I'd have been asking about the bartape before the pedals. Oh and the rear reflector. And the frame-mounted pump. Mine ain't gonna look like that :?

and the Garmin out front mount is on the wrong side

Although all of the above is cancelled out by the brand-matched bidon.

cookeeemonster

Wow I'm getting trolled on what I thought was the friendliest forum on Bike Radar

The brand matched bidon came with the bike and has been replaced by a far more controversial choice - one I got at a big discount btw and which is far better and more stylish than the average pleb bidon that your mums use.

Now have a go at the sellotaped lezyne out front - JUST.YOU.DO.IT.

:P

veronese68

TimothyW wrote:

Yeah, that's a pretty enormous dust cap on the top of the headset, you can definitely save a cm or two there if the stem doesn't do the trick.

I was rather pleasantly surprised that my Crosslight Pro6 frameset didn't just come with a headset, it came with two of them, with two different heights of top cap.

It looks like a lovely bike (although I don't really like the wrap around 'Rose' logo on the bottom tube - gives me a headache for some reason!). I've falled madly in love with my 105 and TRP Spyre equipped Crosslight. I keep looking at my summer bike and wondering if I'll actually want to ride it again when the weather picks up - the rims are worn, and it seems crazy riding a bike that is barely any lighter, brakes worse and eats it's own wheels while braking.

I wish mine had come with 2 top caps. I had to get the slimmer one to fit the Parabox on.
Loving my Kinesis too, this type of bike is so versatile. It is my only 'road' bike and I don't really feel the need for anything else. With the guards off and a change of tyres it can go to being a fast road bike or a capable of roader. I did the Ride London on mine and also the London to Brighton off road. I really don't understand why everybody doesn't buy a bike with discs unless they just want a bike sunny days only or are entering events that ban them.

Kieran_Burns

CookeeeMonster wrote:

Wow I'm getting trolled on what I thought was the friendliest forum on Bike Radar

The brand matched bidon came with the bike and has been replaced by a far more controversial choice - one I got at a big discount btw and which is far better and more stylish than the average pleb bidon that your mums use.

Now have a go at the sellotaped lezyne out front - JUST.YOU.DO.IT.

:P

That's the way the cookeee crumbles....

curto80

Kieran_Burns wrote:

CookeeeMonster wrote:

Wow I'm getting trolled on what I thought was the friendliest forum on Bike Radar

The brand matched bidon came with the bike and has been replaced by a far more controversial choice - one I got at a big discount btw and which is far better and more stylish than the average pleb bidon that your mums use.

Now have a go at the sellotaped lezyne out front - JUST.YOU.DO.IT.

:P

That's the way the cookeee crumbles....

Quality bantz is that.

I genuinely liked the Rose bidon, can I have it if you're not using it?!

bendertherobot

CookeeeMonster wrote:

Now have a go at the sellotaped lezyne out front - JUST.YOU.DO.IT.

:P

Oo, dodgy ground that one. Most people on BR can't have a go because they haven't got theirs yet.

cookeeemonster

So anyway...Kieran - you are a total an utter star...and I'm a div. Thank you for pointing that out, it's one of those little things I wont forget (clamp was wrong way round of course...I didn't even think to check as that's the way it came out of the box)

Also fitted the 25 degree stem and the handlebar position is now perfect...though maybe looks slightly odd due to the steep stem angle. At some point I'll look into getting a slimmer top cap (is that what its called?) to see if I can get the standard stem to the same handlebar position.

Anyway, all good, thanks peeps.

Kieran_Burns

The only way I knew was because the same thing happened with my first CX bike. Unfortunately I found out 20 miles from home when the saddle suddenly dropped into the frame and I had to limp 10 miles to the nearest shop to get it sorted (where I found out the reason why).

Glad it worked though

djp66

And this is where I come to the defence of CM and his Rose in battledress but then again I may be biased

Loving mine although it's a 2014 model with mechanical spyre calipers.

itboffin

Tidy

cookeeemonster

djp66 wrote:

And this is where I come to the defence of CM and his Rose in battledress but then again I may be biased

Loving mine although it's a 2014 model with mechanical spyre calipers.

**nods head, gives knowing look...fist bumps**