Hey,
with the season coming up I've been in the market for a cyclocross bike and wondering about some recommendations or even picking up something used.
I've been looking for a bike for a while and came to the conclusion (after long deliberation) that this is more along the lines of what I need if I want something tough and yet fast for the city.
I have about a 1200 price cap, and range in size from 46 to 50. I've been leaning towards a Surly Cross Check (46cm), but at almost a thousand dollars out the door I started thinking about what I could pick up which would be lighter and faster...
Any ideas? I've really hit a wall to what are my options because a straight rode bike doesn't really appeal when I can't even run full fenders.
Cheers and Thanks! :)
martin
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:46 pm
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
NoideKites wrote:
Hey,
with the season coming up I've been in the market for a cyclocross bike and wondering about some recommendations or even picking up something used.
I've been looking for a bike for a while and came to the conclusion (after long deliberation) that this is more along the lines of what I need if I want something tough and yet fast for the city.
I have about a 1200 price cap, and range in size from 46 to 50. I've been leaning towards a Surly Cross Check (46cm), but at almost a thousand dollars out the door I started thinking about what I could pick up which would be lighter and faster...
Any ideas? I've really hit a wall to what are my options because a straight rode bike doesn't really appeal when I can't even run full fenders.
Cheers and Thanks! :)
Nashbar has their Al frame for $99 right now in both a 46 and 50.
john
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:32 pm
AAAARRRRRGGGGbllll pppphtt!Joined: 26 Aug 2006Posts: 725Location: In the lab.
I'm of course very partial to the Bianchi Axis. They have a few at second ascent right now for around $1200 I think... might be a little more... it's worth it.
I like the frame better than the top of the line "cross concept" frame that bianchi sells. It is very durable, my frame has a slight bend in it, but that was the result of getting hit by a volvo hard enough head on to fly over the entire length of the car (25moh+15mph head on). It has a carbon fork... I beat the hell out of the fork, it has about 5k miles on it of consistent curb jumping and off road crashes and it is fine.
The crosscheck is friggin heavy for racing, but if you want it multipurpose... it is a smoother commuter than the axis. The axis is a no nonsense -fast- cyclocross bike. But it will pummel you if you are not in shape or do not know how to absirb road noise. It reminds me of my 5 speed floval flyer I had as a kid. It get's up and goes... stiff rear triangle.
Matt Hill swears by the readline conquests, and they have a conquest pro at Eliott bay that was on sale. I got my wife one and I rode it... I still like my axis -alot- better.
I have heard amazing things about the lyonsport big fish. That might soar over your price range.
If you want to take mine for a spin it's a 52. I will be riding thursday for a little bit I think... otherwise I get back from spain on the 18th you can try it out then... I'll let you take the redline for a spin also.
[/i]
_________________ In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen.
Joined: 23 Jan 2006Posts: 311Location: Capitol Hill
If you know anyone on a team see if you can slide into their team order. I know redline gives some significant deals to local teams. The cross check is heavy but the steal frame and 132.5 rear spacing make it very flexible.
martin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:34 am
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
john wrote:
I'm of course very partial to the Bianchi Axis.
Great bike for the money. I don't know anybody who owns one who doesn't love it.
Don't get caught up in having to get a nice cross bike though. I raced a REALLY old frame with long-reach caliper brakes for a couple seasons. You don't need STI - one bar-end shifter is plenty. You'll find that shifting to the big-ring is over-rated.
Oh - and Cross is a blast even for the non-competitive (present company included - I suck).
TrikerTrev
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:05 am
Joined: 23 Oct 2006Posts: 2303Location: FOCO, MOFO!!!
NoideKites wrote:
Hey,
with the season coming up I've been in the market for a cyclocross bike and wondering about some recommendations or even picking up something used.
I've been looking for a bike for a while and came to the conclusion (after long deliberation) that this is more along the lines of what I need if I want something tough and yet fast for the city.
I have about a 1200 price cap, and range in size from 46 to 50. I've been leaning towards a Surly Cross Check (46cm), but at almost a thousand dollars out the door I started thinking about what I could pick up which would be lighter and faster...
Any ideas? I've really hit a wall to what are my options because a straight rode bike doesn't really appeal when I can't even run full fenders.
Cheers and Thanks! :)
not sure where you're at, but Revolution Cycles on Roosevelt and 92/93 has some new cross bikes in house... just built last week. I dont remember the brands, but I do know they were nice, nice, nice and under your proce range.
Stop by and ask for Trask. If they don't have what your lookin for exactly, he'll do his damnest to set you up.
_________________ Insufferable ass, est. 1969
surlykat
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:45 am
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
My $.02: Not that I've ever raced cross (hoping to start this season), but I love love LOVE my crosscheck. It's steel, yeah, so it's not as light as an aluminum/carbon frame, but it really isn't that heavy, especially when it's stripped down to race mode. (I, a wimpy little scrawny girl, can pick it up one-handed and sling it over my shoulder... so a guy with male upper-body strength should have no problem with it.) Might not win you any races, but then again, you probably won't be winning anyway if this is your first season, so... yeah.
If you want something solid that will double as a burly commuter bike, able to deal with seattle's rough roads, I can't recommend the crosscheck highly enough. It freaking loves rough pavement - I swear the bike sings when I go over some really fast bumps. An Al/C bike won't do that. If, on the other hand, you're only concerned about weight and go-fast (not that the cc doesn't have go-fast) then you might want something lighter.
.83 cross racing team? anyone? anyone?
martin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:53 am
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
surlykat wrote:
Might not win you any races, but then again, you probably won't be winning anyway if this is your first season, so... yeah.
Unless your name is Denny.
surlykat wrote:
I swear the bike sings when I go over some really fast bumps. An Al/C bike won't do that. If, on the other hand, you're only concerned about weight and go-fast (not that the cc doesn't have go-fast) then you might want something lighter.
Oh yeah - I forgot about that part. If you ride an aluminum cross bike, be ready for some serious lower back pain. By minute 30 at Star-crossed last year I couldn't sit down any more. I'm getting a steel single-speed for just that reason.
rlotz
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:11 pm
Joined: 23 Jan 2006Posts: 311Location: Capitol Hill
surlykat wrote:
.83 cross racing team? anyone? anyone?
I'm planning to make a serious effort at cross this season. Monday was my first race (ever) and I christened it with a nice endo into the sand and getting up close and personal with some brambles. I met my goal of not being last. Cycle U is doing a beginners development team which I plan to join if offered. However, I'm going to need serious practice. I'd be game to setup a semi regular practice session with .83ers and share whatever I've learned from my 6 weeks of cross boot camp.
joeball
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:17 pm
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
rlotz wrote:
I'm planning to make a serious effort at cross this season. Monday was my first race (ever) and I christened it with a nice endo into the sand and getting up close and personal with some brambles.
Ditto, Labor day races as S. SeaTac bite, the sand basically creates invisible pot holes. Where you have firm sand and a pot hole then filled into the hole is soft sand that eats your wheel when you hit it. On the surface it all looks the same though. That and the dust inhalation. Cyclocross is definitely best in the mud, ie later in the season.
I'll probably go back to Single Speed if I do any races this year.
rlotz
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:54 pm
Joined: 23 Jan 2006Posts: 311Location: Capitol Hill
joeball wrote:
I'll probably go back to Single Speed if I do any races this year.
I might be too dumb to know how and when to shift. All through the race and in training I rarely shift. If I had the expendable income to invest in a single speed cross bike right now I certainly would.
martin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:55 pm
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
joeball wrote:
rlotz wrote:
I'm planning to make a serious effort at cross this season. Monday was my first race (ever) and I christened it with a nice endo into the sand and getting up close and personal with some brambles.
Ditto, Labor day races as S. SeaTac bite, the sand basically creates invisible pot holes. Where you have firm sand and a pot hole then filled into the hole is soft sand that eats your wheel when you hit it. On the surface it all looks the same though. That and the dust inhalation. Cyclocross is definitely best in the mud, ie later in the season.
I'll probably go back to Single Speed if I do any races this year.
There's a good loop at Woodland Park and the North Loop at St. Edwards that are great for cross bikes. If you guys want to put together some "training" sessions I'm glad to come help out where I can once my new frame shows up.
surlykat
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:43 pm
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
martin wrote:
There's a good loop at Woodland Park and the North Loop at St. Edwards that are great for cross bikes. If you guys want to put together some "training" sessions I'm glad to come help out where I can once my new frame shows up.
Yes yes yes!
I'm out of town from next Thursday until the end of Sept, but after that I'd definitely be down to give it a go. I'd really like to get a few loops of a cross-style course in, perfect the dismount-lift-remount motions etc before actually racing. So as to look like less of an idiot, of course.
rlotz
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:12 pm
Joined: 23 Jan 2006Posts: 311Location: Capitol Hill
surlykat wrote:
Yes yes yes!
I'm out of town from next Thursday until the end of Sept, but after that I'd definitely be down to give it a go. I'd really like to get a few loops of a cross-style course in, perfect the dismount-lift-remount motions etc before actually racing. So as to look like less of an idiot, of course.
If you're going to be gone that long and with out a bike I suggest bringing some running shoes if you'll be a place you can run. Find steep hills to run up and keep the cardio working. A short quick stride seems to be easier than the long strides on the loose and rocky stuff.
I could definitely use some showing around Woodland Park and St Eds. I rode through woodland park last month but kept ending up down paths unsuitable for biking, unusually ending in an unexpected drop.
Alex
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:22 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
Quote:
There's a good loop at Woodland Park and the North Loop at St. Edwards that are great for cross bikes. If you guys want to put together some "training" sessions I'm glad to come help out where I can once my new frame shows up.
I can use practice, it's been two years since I've raced. I need to get my cyclocross bike back together and might work on that tonight.
martin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:41 pm
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
rlotz wrote:
surlykat wrote:
Yes yes yes!
I'm out of town from next Thursday until the end of Sept, but after that I'd definitely be down to give it a go. I'd really like to get a few loops of a cross-style course in, perfect the dismount-lift-remount motions etc before actually racing. So as to look like less of an idiot, of course.
If you're going to be gone that long and with out a bike I suggest bringing some running shoes if you'll be a place you can run. Find steep hills to run up and keep the cardio working. A short quick stride seems to be easier than the long strides on the loose and rocky stuff.
I could definitely use some showing around Woodland Park and St Eds. I rode through woodland park last month but kept ending up down paths unsuitable for biking, unusually ending in an unexpected drop.
Good tips. Unless you're an aerobic monster (stanglor), short, choppy steps are your best bet. Trail running, stairs, and hill running are all good. I can get some barriers out to St. Edwards if we want to practice dismounts. The only thing we can't very well duplicate is the sand at south seatac. I hate that shit. I just ordered my frame, so I doubt I'll be riding all that soon, but I can certainly hang out and offer some knowledge transfer.
BTW - for all you "anti-lycra" types...it's a good thing in cross. Hopping on and off the bike with pockets or baggy shirts or whatever can have some not-so-hot results. You'll want shorts at a min, and probably at least a tighter fitting shirt.
Joined: 28 Jan 2006Posts: 555Location: Wallingford
whatever, I had to chug your beer for you mister "I'm on the wagon"
No more leadouts for you.
Ever!
_________________ Confidential to everybody: "Pearl necklace" is out. "Cheney" is in. Pass it on.
martin
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:59 am
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
Stanglor wrote:
whatever, I had to chug your beer for you mister "I'm on the wagon"
Bullshit! I did pushups like the rest of the <21yo's.
If Crosstoberfest happens again this year, I'm DEFINITELY going. Maybe no shower costume this year.
NoideKites
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:30 pm
Joined: 30 Nov 2006Posts: 41
Thanks a lot for the info everyone!
I've been out of town and away from the board for a while, but it was awesome to find so many replied when I got back because I'm still bike shopping :)
Since I still haven't bought anyting I've actually been leaning towards the salsa casserole for an everyday bike, an old beater with a mish mash of parts sounds like a great way to just get out and race.
I'll seriously get on that and pick something up at maybe recycled (?) to start building around :)
Back in school so kind of a hectic few weeks.
Cheers!
martin
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:05 am
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
NoideKites wrote:
Thanks a lot for the info everyone!
I'll seriously get on that and pick something up at maybe recycled (?) to start building around :)
Back in school so kind of a hectic few weeks.
Cheers!
Post your "needs" here and we'll try to help you get it assembled.
BTW - the new Cassarole is HOT. So is the new Raleigh Sojourn.
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