CX Bike WANTED !!!

[multi coloured]

Anyone know the best place to buy a CX Bike to get started on

[Hanneke]

What size? Friend of mine has one to sell, but he is a short @rse

Anyone know the best place to buy a CX Bike to get started on

[multi coloured]

What size? Friend of mine has one to sell, but he is a short @rse

i'm about 6ft so told a 56"

[Hanneke]

Nope, that won't work... as I said, my friend is a short @rse... shame...

i'm about 6ft so told a 56"

[joeyd]

short arse here in need of two wheels.

[wheezing donkey]

Google, Planet x bikes and have a look at their "Uncle John". Bear in mind that on a 'cross bike, you should be looking at a seat tube maybe 1cm shorter that what you'd want on a pure road bike. But there will be a link to a sizing chart from the Uncle John info page. They do "Cycle to Work", if your employer is in to that and you are prepared to go for a sub £1000 spec.
Alternatively, go and see the spotty young oicks at Halfords for a Boardman, but they are all (cheap BB5) disc brakes now, my mate could not get on with his and sold it on. They are also sub £1000 and do Cycle to Work.
If you are not bothered about uber-lightweight and want something solid that will see you out, google the US firm Surly ( all their frames are 4130 Cro-Mo steel ) and find their UK dealers, see if they've any deals on a Cross-Check - what my mate, above, now has, he's chuffed with it and it's not noticeably heavier than my old Islabike 'crosser in Reynolds 531.
Genesis is another firm that do a range of cross bikes in aluminium and steel ( derailleur, hub gear and single speed / canti and disc brakes ). Again, google them for the model range and there should be a list of dealers.
If you are looking at bikes with cabled operated disc brakes, they will most likely be Avid brakes. The BB7's are better than the BB5's.

Ian.

Anyone know the best place to buy a CX Bike to get started on

[emmilou]

IAN,

I was going to mail you direct but thought your answer may benefit others too?

I am trying to source a CX bike for my sister. She lives in Norge. She has a budget of MAX 1k but would prefer to spend around £850. This is not for competing but commuting but imagine extreme commute!! She lives in Oslo and has to cycle 100km up into the forest to her place of work. She has a road bike atm and she can't put the pyg tires on it (those ones with the metal spikes for the snow) some pleb in Norway saw her coming and sold her one without any size up etc or asking what she needed it for although it'll come in handy I suspect for the Norseman although that's me digressing again.

I've just been over there and had to re-adjust it all for her (spacers, stem, saddle, seat post etc) - much to her amazement, she never knew I had such skills (I was taught well!) and it's more comfy now but on messaging her last night she has no idea what size it is. I have been left with the task of ordering the 'right' cx bike for her.

She is not bothered about disc brakes or how uber light it is as it will get some abuse. She's much taller than me and nearer 6ft when she stands properly but I could do to know what to ask her in order I get the right size. She or I also have to fly it over to Norway but I don't want to have to build a bike from scratch as I don't have the tools and she is not bike savvy at all in this way so it needs to come built.

I have found 3 - these are all obtainable through my LBS of which he will give me a discount bringing the price under 1k they are.....

Genesis - Vapour/10
Merida Cycle Cross 3
Cannondale CAADX 105

Are there any better ones for the money do you think where you can steer me to look? Sadly her budget won't stretch to the Guerciotti!

Thanks you

Em xx

ps she has just 'said' "It's going to be a hefty winter which is until march, so the more robust and less to go wrong the better"

[Hanneke]

The CAADX Emmi!

I have several friends who have one and give it raving reviews...

I have a Specialized Tricross which I bought for 3 peaks years ago and it has proven to be absolutely bomb proof and is a great allrounder. The advantage of the Tricross being that you can fit panniers and mudguards to it as well, so have a look at that as well. Comes in well under £1000 is a tad heavy, but reckon suits your sister down to the ground. Totally bomb proof! I have a 56 cm one, she would want one size up if she is 6 ft, and go for 58.

Good luck!

IAN,

I was going to mail you direct but thought your answer may benefit others too?

I am trying to source a CX bike for my sister. She lives in Norge. She has a budget of MAX 1k but would prefer to spend around £850. This is not for competing but commuting but imagine extreme commute!! She lives in Oslo and has to cycle 100km up into the forest to her place of work. She has a road bike atm and she can't put the pyg tires on it (those ones with the metal spikes for the snow) some pleb in Norway saw her coming and sold her one without any size up etc or asking what she needed it for although it'll come in handy I suspect for the Norseman although that's me digressing again.

I've just been over there and had to re-adjust it all for her (spacers, stem, saddle, seat post etc) - much to her amazement, she never knew I had such skills (I was taught well!) and it's more comfy now but on messaging her last night she has no idea what size it is. I have been left with the task of ordering the 'right' cx bike for her.

She is not bothered about disc brakes or how uber light it is as it will get some abuse. She's much taller than me and nearer 6ft when she stands properly but I could do to know what to ask her in order I get the right size. She or I also have to fly it over to Norway but I don't want to have to build a bike from scratch as I don't have the tools and she is not bike savvy at all in this way so it needs to come built.

I have found 3 - these are all obtainable through my LBS of which he will give me a discount bringing the price under 1k they are.....

Genesis - Vapour/10
Merida Cycle Cross 3
Cannondale CAADX 105

Are there any better ones for the money do you think where you can steer me to look? Sadly her budget won't stretch to the Guerciotti!

Thanks you

Em xx

ps she has just 'said' "It's going to be a hefty winter which is until march, so the more robust and less to go wrong the better"

[emmilou]

The CAADX is the one she likes the 'look' of more. The 105 retails at £1099.99 so it would be hard to get it under the 1k mark even with discount from the LBS it seems well spec'd though?

She's 5ft 11 - how tall are you?

I'll look at the Specialised too thanks - she's entrusting this task to me so I have to get it right.

The CAADX Emmi!

I have several friends who have one and give it raving reviews...

I have a Specialized Tricross which I bought for 3 peaks years ago and it has proven to be absolutely bomb proof and is a great allrounder. The advantage of the Tricross being that you can fit panniers and mudguards to it as well, so have a look at that as well. Comes in well under £1000 is a tad heavy, but reckon suits your sister down to the ground. Totally bomb proof! I have a 56 cm one, she would want one size up if she is 6 ft, and go for 58.

Good luck!

[Hanneke]

I am almost 5'10'' Emmi... with super long legs... If she doesn't have super long legs she may want the same size as me... ask her what her inside leg measurement is, that would be helpful

The CAADX is the one she likes the 'look' of more. The 105 retails at £1099.99 so it would be hard to get it under the 1k mark even with discount from the LBS it seems well spec'd though?

She's 5ft 11 - how tall are you?

I'll look at the Specialised too thanks - she's entrusting this task to me so I have to get it right.