Cube Cross Race vs Ridley X-fire 20

piotrone
piotrone Posts: 9
edited October 2015 in Cyclocross
So my choice is between Cube Cross Race Disc
http://www.cube.eu/en/bikes/road-race/cross-race/cube-cross-race-disc-blacknrednblue-2015/
and Ridely X-fire 20
http://www.ridley-bikes.com/ie/en/bikes/4/217/134/cyclocross/x-fire-20-1502b
Ridley is carbon frame and Cube is alloy
Cube has disc brakes and Ridley is unfortunately cantilever
I can get Ridely at a very good scout ca 1500 E and cube is ca. 1250 (I'm OK with 250 extra if one bike is really much better than the other)
It seams Ridley is a bargain at 1500 E as carbon bikes go usually around 2500E but I read the choice between alloy and carbon is not that obvious as it seams.
Do you think Ridley is superior bike on not really, which one would you choose?

Comments

  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    So my choice is between Cube Cross Race Disc
    http://www.cube.eu/en/bikes/road-race/cross-race/cube-cross-race-disc-blacknrednblue-2015/
    and Ridely X-fire 20
    http://www.ridley-bikes.com/ie/en/bikes/4/217/134/cyclocross/x-fire-20-1502b
    Ridley is carbon frame and Cube is alloy
    Cube has disc brakes and Ridley is unfortunately cantilever
    I can get Ridely at a very good scout ca 1500 E and cube is ca. 1250 (I'm OK with 250 extra if one bike is really much better than the other)
    It seams Ridley is a bargain at 1500 E as carbon bikes go usually around 2500E but I read the choice between alloy and carbon is not that obvious as it seams.
    Do you think Ridley is superior bike on not really, which one would you choose?
    At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, what will you be using it for?
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    60-100km rides on road 2 times a week
    every now and than off roads (like 10-20%, but I want an universal bike as I can't have 2 bikes)
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,166
    60-100km rides on road 2 times a week
    every now and than off roads (like 10-20%, but I want an universal bike as I can't have 2 bikes)

    Then you want discs rather than cantilevers... canti's are no good for road cycling, where you need good braking action.

    That leaves the Cube (among many other options you have not mentioned).
    left the forum March 2023
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    You need a gravel racer rather than a cross bike. :D
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    60-100km rides on road 2 times a week
    every now and than off roads (like 10-20%, but I want an universal bike as I can't have 2 bikes)

    Then you want discs rather than cantilevers... canti's are no good for road cycling, where you need good braking action.

    That leaves the Cube (among many other options you have not mentioned).
    Agreed.

    If you were after a pure race bike the Ridley might be the more appropriate bike, depending on a bunch of other factors (the canti vs disc decision is not clear-cut for a race bike)
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    You need a gravel racer rather than a cross bike. :D

    I was advised that but i want a universal bike and i think road bikes are no good for even a little offroad
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    60-100km rides on road 2 times a week
    every now and than off roads (like 10-20%, but I want an universal bike as I can't have 2 bikes)

    Then you want discs rather than cantilevers... canti's are no good for road cycling, where you need good braking action.

    That leaves the Cube (among many other options you have not mentioned).
    Agreed.

    If you were after a pure race bike the Ridley might be the more appropriate bike, depending on a bunch of other factors (the canti vs disc decision is not clear-cut for a race bike)

    Why would Ridley make better road bike, unfortunately the disc version is not discounted, so only cantilevers on Ridley
    I don't care about weight to much as I'm 80 kg so i think less than 2 kg difference in bike weight makes no difference, correct me if I'm wrong. I heard carbon is more efficient but also breaks so is it worth to get carbon if price difference over alloy is very little
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    You need a gravel racer rather than a cross bike. :D

    I was advised that but i want a universal bike and i think road bikes are no good for even a little offroad

    Well now, that depends on what "off road" means.

    The Ritchey Road Logic, for example, with 28c tyres would eat up a cycle path, canal path and possibly even a gravel trail. Ditto something like a Fratello Disc etc. Tyre clearance and tyre choice will be more relevant to off road than the bike, per se.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    You need a gravel racer rather than a cross bike. :D

    I was advised that but i want a universal bike and i think road bikes are no good for even a little offroad

    Off road ability it's purely tyres, as long as the gravel bike has clearances which to the best of my knowledge most if not all do then CX tyres will fit for muddy bridleways, and slicks for roads.

    Or be lazy like myself and (probably 99% of others) and fit one type, I like fast CX tyres slightly slower on the Tarmac but fadt grippy on the bridleways.
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    The Ritchey Road Logic, for example, with 28c tyres would eat up a cycle path, canal path and possibly even a gravel trail. Ditto something like a Fratello Disc etc. Tyre clearance and tyre choice will be more relevant to off road than the bike, per se.

    Ritchey Road Logic seams a great choice but unfortunately Ireland has limited choice in most goods and there's not a single store selling Ritchey's bikes here

    Anyways would you advice Cube or Ridley out of the 2? Some other alternatives I have are e.g. Cannonade Caadx 105 disc or Giant TCS SLR2 disc
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    60-100km rides on road 2 times a week
    every now and than off roads (like 10-20%, but I want an universal bike as I can't have 2 bikes)

    Then you want discs rather than cantilevers... canti's are no good for road cycling, where you need good braking action.

    That leaves the Cube (among many other options you have not mentioned).
    Agreed.

    If you were after a pure race bike the Ridley might be the more appropriate bike, depending on a bunch of other factors (the canti vs disc decision is not clear-cut for a race bike)

    Why would Ridley make better road bike, unfortunately the disc version is not discounted, so only cantilevers on Ridley
    I don't care about weight to much as I'm 80 kg so i think less than 2 kg difference in bike weight makes no difference, correct me if I'm wrong. I heard carbon is more efficient but also breaks so is it worth to get carbon if price difference over alloy is very little
    No, the Ridley might make a better CX race bike. I haven't got time to look at the specs in detail, but Ridley have a strong CX heritage, and the carbon frame may be lighter/stiffer. Canti brakes are generally lighter than discs, which might make them preferable on a pure race bike (depending on your views on rim wear) but for general tooling around you're probably going to be better off with more powerful/reliable discs.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    The Ritchey Road Logic, for example, with 28c tyres would eat up a cycle path, canal path and possibly even a gravel trail. Ditto something like a Fratello Disc etc. Tyre clearance and tyre choice will be more relevant to off road than the bike, per se.

    Ritchey Road Logic seams a great choice but unfortunately Ireland has limited choice in most goods and there's not a single store selling Ritchey's bikes here

    Anyways would you advice Cube or Ridley out of the 2? Some other alternatives I have are e.g. Cannonade Caadx 105 disc or Giant TCS SLR2 disc

    But what do you mean by off road? This, for example, with strong 28c tyres, would be perfect for even a fairly uneven path.

    http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/road-disc/equilibrium-disc-10
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    off road is gravel, forest roads, a bit of mountain tracks but not MTB type of off road riding, on easy side I'd say
  • piotrone
    piotrone Posts: 9
    and what would you think of Trek Ds 8.5
    http://www.trekbikes.com/ie/en/bikes/mountain/dual_sport/ds_series/8_5_ds/
    would this bike be suitable for 60-100km distances as an alternative to the cross cycling bikes. It's much more universal and supposedly makes a good bike for roads as well (at least I've been told so in bike store). Does this seam like a viable alternative or not at all. I never had a classic road bike before and used MTB once the questions, maybe they are dumb ;)?
  • Just a comment on the Ridley - I have the disc x-fire 20 with SRAM Rival. It's a great bike - I am happy taking it down mtb red runs but mostly play on single track or gravel toads. I also use it as a winter training bike and race cyclocross as well.
    Be very careful on the sizing with a Ridley - they measure the tubes differently to other manufacturers and it's a pretty no-compromise race bike. You really need to sit on it and play with different stems etc... there's a lot of foot overlap, the bottom bracket is pretty high.... absolutely great if that's what you want.... :-)
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    and what would you think of Trek Ds 8.5
    http://www.trekbikes.com/ie/en/bikes/mountain/dual_sport/ds_series/8_5_ds/
    would this bike be suitable for 60-100km distances as an alternative to the cross cycling bikes. It's much more universal and supposedly makes a good bike for roads as well (at least I've been told so in bike store). Does this seam like a viable alternative or not at all. I never had a classic road bike before and used MTB once the questions, maybe they are dumb ;)?

    I'd call that a hybrid to be honest but semantics aside, it's a fast bike with decent kit, on the whole your money goes further with flat bar bikes than drops, simply due to the cost of shifters it seems.

    if your going to have suspension i'd go for a XC MTB chuck some Racing Ralphs or simular and it will zing along forrest trails and roads, but if you do try something more adventurous it will more than cope.

    equally if just the occasional off road trip then a CX with it's drops probably makes more sence.
  • So i got as Ridley but the guy in shop talked me into 56 frame (actually I asked for 58 but only released latter back home that despite that they got me 56, as this was the only frame left in large size) and unfortunately it feels a bit odd,I'm not sure if it's misfitted (I'm 6,3" or 193 cm and Ridley says thats 58 frame on x-fire), but it's not comfortable especially on my palms really hurt after even relatively short ride.

    I'll be probably switching it to Giant TCX SLR2 as this is the only alternative in that shop and I can't just return the ridley :(
  • On_What
    On_What Posts: 516
    I bought a Xfire recently, and was interested to find the larger of the two sizes I could of had felt more comfortable. I think you should push for your shop to get you a 58cm frame...
  • andyrac
    andyrac Posts: 1,123
    Saw a video on GCN of the Ridley X Trail bike; classed as a 'gravel' bike. More road bike geometry than a CXer, but with 40mm tyres. Sorely tempted by it, instead of the Mares CX 105 I was after.
    All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."