CX Quandry

[Rouge79]

I've been lucky enough to be given some money on the condition that it is used on a bike

I already own a PX Pro SL roadie and a Boardman Hybrid for the commute so am looking towards a CX bike.

I really want it for some winter miles, off road trails and tow paths and snow (if we ever have any)

I'm tied between 4

The Planet X XLS 105 for £1000

The Boardman Team £899

Canyon Inflite AL 8.0

Kineses Crosslight Pro 6.

The boardman is the cheapest but only BB5 brakes and the heaviest of the lot and PF30 BB which could be an issue. Wheelset probably needs upgrading as well. Plus it screams halfords

The PX full carbon is a light bike plus proper CX ratio with BB7 and 105. Just no mudguard mounting points plus the fear of smashing the carbon fibre. Plus wheelset most likely needs upgrading

Crosslight not the lightest and most expensive, only tektro brakes but no wheel upgrades needed. The green colour is smashing though

Canyon good weight, wheel set not too bad but on upper end of price plus potential warranty issues as sent from Germany.

Seriously confused

Any suggestions??

1st world problems

 

[evo456]

Canyon all the way, great looking bike- if you can put that money down for a bike... why not?

Alternative is to find the previous Boardman Team, which is a 1kg lighter than the 2014 model and can be had for under £800 if Halfords still stocks them.

 

[Rouge79]

Someone just suggested a Rose Pro DX as well My god I'm tempted

 

[vickster]

I like Whyte bikes

 

[mattobrien]

I have just got the kinesis Pro6 (picked it up on Wednesday) and have covered around 120 miles on it since then. Other than the saddle and my backside taking a little time to become friends it is a joy to ride.

I originally had a Spesh Allez that had become my winter bike, with guards etc, but was toying with getting something more suited. When I was int he LBS they showed me a FiveT Kinesis frame that had just arrived and was being built up as a winter bike for one of the guys who worked there. It looked lovely and had clearance for a full set of guards.

I decided to 'upgrade the frame' on my Allez, but it is easier to list the carried over parts rather than the new bits. I opted for the Pro6 as I wanted to have discs as this woudol be for winter / wet weather and most likely commuting in time.

The spec I went for was as follows;
Frame: Kinesis Crosslight pro6
Gruppo - Shimano 105 - carried over from previous bike
Wheels - hand built, H Plus Son rims, Hope Evo Pro 2 hubs & Sapim race spokes, with brass nipples
Brakes - Avid BB7
Handlebars - FSA Team - carried over from previous bike
Pedals - Look Keo Max 2 Carbon - carried over from previous bike
Seat post - FSA K-force
Saddle -Fizik Arione R3
Stem - some cheap BBB thing as a temporary stem until FSA release their gloss black stem to match everything else
Mudguards - SKS
Tyres - Michelin Pro4 Endurance - carried over from previous bike

It weighted in a 9.7kgs when I got it home - I have since added lights and a saddle bag which will have upped that a little.

It rides beautifully, although I am not sure if it is any faster than the Allez I was using previously as my winter steed, I haven't really had a chance to do a sensible comparison just yet. It is stronger and better than the Allez and much more up to the job.

I would like to go hydraulic brakes at some point int he future, but I need Sram to sort our their STI's first and then it to trickle down to a gruppo I would happily use on my winter bike.

@Rouge79 if you have any questions on the Pro6 that I can help answer, just let me know and I will do my best.

I am a happy camper with my Pro6

 

[Andrew Br]

I really wouldn't worry about "smashing" the carbon on the Planet X but the lack of rack mounting could be more of a show-stopper.
I've got the On-One Dirty Disco and it's been/is a fantastic bike to ride.
Mine came in at 8.4kg with pedals and bottle-cages.
I use a Carradice SQR mounting for my various bags; I can carry enough for credit card touring and I've got a frame bag for carrying even more stuff.
When I need them, I fit Race-Blades to keep most of the mud off.

.

 

[Venod]

Here's my P6 I have fitted mudguards since pic took. I have rode a lot of off road on it and its been fine, I don't use CX tyres, I am using Schwalbe Marathon racers 30mm, I got the frame from Winstanleys at a good price and built it myself, it came in cheaper than the price on the Kinesis website, but I got better brakes BB7 from Germany,

 

[Rouge79]

Thanks for input but this beauty wins!!!

The VFM and peace of mind that comes with the alu frame and TBH the weight is almost the same as the PX XLS.

Gonna check it out at the London Bike show before i hit BUY

Just got to decide on 46/36 or 50/34 for the crankset

 

[vickster]

It needs some colour The red bits on the brakes are nice

 

[evo456]

Thanks for input but this beauty wins!!!

The VFM and peace of mind that comes with the alu frame and TBH the weight is almost the same as the PX XLS.

Gonna check it out at the London Bike show before i hit BUY

Just got to decide on 46/36 or 50/34 for the crankset
View attachment 36686

Very nice... what is it? Can't make out the model...

 

[Rouge79]

ROSE PRO DX CROSS-2000 2014 http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-2000-2014/aid:692275

 

[Shrimp_Stu]

ROSE PRO DX CROSS-2000 2014 http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-2000-2014/aid:692275

I actually prefer it in white - also makes it easier to clean

 

[Rouge79]

I actually prefer it in white - also makes it easier to clean

Like hell it does LOL

I've a white hybrid and OMG its a b*tch to keep clean

Once you go black there's no going back

 

[RRCC]

Someone just suggested a Rose Pro DX as well My god I'm tempted

I've got one of those - very nice

 

[Rouge79]

I've got one of those - very nice

do you use the Rose Wheelset that it comes with or did you swap them for another set?