Best CX?

[david k]

Over the years i have dabbled with pretty much every type of bike in my quest for finding one that's light, quick (for me, leisurely) and comfortable enough. I have a chronic neck injury that will never get better and have struggled with aggressive geometry road bikes; instead finding hybrids or flat bars more comfortable. I have also tended to favour Specialized as a brand however I don't intend to buy any more given what I perceive are much inferior kit levels on their current offerings over what I've had historically. (In addition to every bug**r) having one round here.
So, I have kinda decided that I want a CX bike as a jack of all trades. (Ok that's a lie as I have a Ridgeback hybrid which is going nowhere). I will use it for commuting, fitness, holidays, canal/railway rides etc and just generally getting off the couch. I don't want a speed machine, rather one that fits the criteria above but that is reliable enough to be a 'ride and forget' kinda thing. Needs to have eyelets back and front for full guards and rack.
Budget is intended to be around £750.
I was pretty much set on the Boardman CX Comp but am put off by them, bizarrely, omitting the eyelets on the front fork and some tales of woe about constant brake adjustment.
So what's are some really decent CX bikes available in my price/criteria range please guys?
The other conundrum I have, because of my injury, is about a bike fit. Ideally I'd like to get fitted for the bike before I buy so I can ensure I can get the right size rather than take a chance and have to spend additional cash buying new bits. Any thoughts? Thanks again - off for a ride now[/SIZE]

Also from st helens and i have ordered the boardman team CX which i should be able to collect in Jan through C2W scheme

I have a hybrid and a roady but the hybrid is slow but strong enough for winter and trail rides, the roady is good and fast but im nearly 18 stone so not ideal on anything other than super flat roads, so i though a CX was a good compromise, may just put slicks on it in summer

 

[david k]

Over the years i have dabbled with pretty much every type of bike in my quest for finding one that's light, quick (for me, leisurely) and comfortable enough. I have a chronic neck injury that will never get better and have struggled with aggressive geometry road bikes; instead finding hybrids or flat bars more comfortable. I have also tended to favour Specialized as a brand however I don't intend to buy any more given what I perceive are much inferior kit levels on their current offerings over what I've had historically. (In addition to every bug**r) having one round here.
So, I have kinda decided that I want a CX bike as a jack of all trades. (Ok that's a lie as I have a Ridgeback hybrid which is going nowhere). I will use it for commuting, fitness, holidays, canal/railway rides etc and just generally getting off the couch. I don't want a speed machine, rather one that fits the criteria above but that is reliable enough to be a 'ride and forget' kinda thing. Needs to have eyelets back and front for full guards and rack.
Budget is intended to be around £750.
I was pretty much set on the Boardman CX Comp but am put off by them, bizarrely, omitting the eyelets on the front fork and some tales of woe about constant brake adjustment.
So what's are some really decent CX bikes available in my price/criteria range please guys?
The other conundrum I have, because of my injury, is about a bike fit. Ideally I'd like to get fitted for the bike before I buy so I can ensure I can get the right size rather than take a chance and have to spend additional cash buying new bits. Any thoughts? Thanks again - off for a ride now[/SIZE]

Also from st helens and i have ordered the boardman team CX which i should be able to collect in Jan through C2W scheme

I have a hybrid and a roady but the hybrid is slow but strong enough for winter and trail rides, the roady is good and fast but im nearly 18 stone so not ideal on anything other than super flat roads, so i though a CX was a good compromise, may just put slicks on it in summer. Considered a tourer for same reasons but a CX is lighter

 

[ayceejay]

No bike with carbon forks or indeed all carbon will have eyelets for rack and mudguards, Also if you get a CX with cantilever brakes no matter where it comes from this will be a fiddle. Another thing is that some CX bikes (Ridley for instance) have a shorter top tube than a road bike and this will effect the fit, there is also a highwe stand over to consider.

 

[rowdin]

I have just got the new genesis day-one cx disc bike, http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/day-one-disc-2015-singlespeed-bike-ec073921 very good bit of kit.

 

[vickster]

No bike with carbon forks or indeed all carbon will have eyelets for rack and mudguards, Also if you get a CX with cantilever brakes no matter where it comes from this will be a fiddle. Another thing is that some CX bikes (Ridley for instance) have a shorter top tube than a road bike and this will effect the fit, there is also a highwe stand over to consider.

My disc braked hybrid has a carbon fork and mudguard lugs (and full Bontrager mudguards). It wears a rack too (although the stays aren't carbon)

 

[SteCenturion]

Dolan are based in Merseyside so should be easy to get over there & try them out for fit.

Ribble are Preston based.