Cyclocross-ish bike

[cubegame]

Last week I decided to plump for a Verenti Substance CX from Wiggle which seemed a bit of a bargain at £498 for a decent (if not light) steel framed all-rounder with disc brakes.

However, they've now said there is no more stock!

Now I could wait for the 2015 model which is coming shortly but I wondered if there were any other good alternatives. I want to use it as a winter road bike and for getting a bit offroad. I'm also intrigued by the idea of the odd Cyclocross race as well.

Now the most obvious alternative I could come up with was a Charge Plug 3, which seems a steal at £500. But I've also had my head turned by the more upspec Boardman CX Team, which with various trickery can be had for around £650.

£700 is probably the top end of my budget (although I will have to knock £200 off that AT LEAST when I tell the missus ) and I'm not sure how hung up I should be on steel (which is why the Plug 3 appeals).

Any suggestions or comments?

 

[PK99]

The new kid on the block as a Cyclocross-ish bike is the Gravel Bike
http://www.bikesoup.com/magazine/review-gravel-bikes-perfect-road-choice/

"The first question that many people ask is ‘Aren’t gravel bikes just rebranded or renamed cyclocross bikes?‘. Well, the short and sweet answer is, ‘No’. More specifically, gravel bikes are designed for stability and endurance, which is achieved by incorporating slacker and taller head tubes plus a lower bottom bracket. The longer wheelbase, more upright riding position and lower centre of gravity, make these bikes (and riders) completely at home doing upwards of 200 miles a day on loose gravel roads and tracks. The frameset is designed around comfort over long distances, rather than power transfer and nimble handling. In many ways the gravel bike’s relationship with the cyclocross bike is very similar to the relationship between road race bikes and endurance / sportive bikes."

Depends what sort of riding you do:
Road + Mud plugging = cyclocross
Road + towpath and forest fire roads = Gravel bike


the basic specialzed Diverge is £750 list
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/diverge-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec070561

 

[vickster]

Genesis?

 

[Rustybucket]

Genesis?

Have you got shares in genesis?

 

[raleighnut]

I'd stick out for a Steel frame meself

 

[Elybazza61]

Couple here;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/search-s3-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec072577

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-one-2014-cyclocross-bike-ec054863

And if you can stretch the budget a bit;


http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caadx-sora-disc-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec071034

 

[Ootini]

I picked up my Ridley XBow for £700 as it was last years model.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I picked up my Ridley XBow for £700 as it was last years model.

Very nice bike but your avatar makes me feel queasy for some reason.

 

[vickster]

Dolan?

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-multi-x-aluminium-cyclo-cross-bike.html

 

[j20nyh]

The new kid on the block as a Cyclocross-ish bike is the Gravel Bike
http://www.bikesoup.com/magazine/review-gravel-bikes-perfect-road-choice/

"The first question that many people ask is ‘Aren’t gravel bikes just rebranded or renamed cyclocross bikes?‘. Well, the short and sweet answer is, ‘No’. More specifically, gravel bikes are designed for stability and endurance, which is achieved by incorporating slacker and taller head tubes plus a lower bottom bracket. The longer wheelbase, more upright riding position and lower centre of gravity, make these bikes (and riders) completely at home doing upwards of 200 miles a day on loose gravel roads and tracks. The frameset is designed around comfort over long distances, rather than power transfer and nimble handling. In many ways the gravel bike’s relationship with the cyclocross bike is very similar to the relationship between road race bikes and endurance / sportive bikes."

Depends what sort of riding you do:
Road + Mud plugging = cyclocross
Road + towpath and forest fire roads = Gravel bike


the basic specialzed Diverge is £750 list
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/diverge-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec070561

I'm looking to buy a road bike but it would be nice to know that it's capable of handling some towpaths and fire tracks, so a 'gravel bike' sounds like it could be ideal.

Anything out there for around £500?

Don't plan on using it in really wet or muddy conditions and not worried about mudguard or rack mounts.

 

[PK99]

I'm looking to buy a road bike but it would be nice to know that it's capable of handling some towpaths and fire tracks, so a 'gravel bike' sounds like it could be ideal.

Anything out there for around £500?

Don't plan on using it in really wet or muddy conditions and not worried about mudguard or rack mounts.

Don't know. They are pretty new to the UK - in the US they have zillions of miles on non tarmacked road and fire trails in the woods, hence the idea of a fast/road geometry bike with fatter tyres. The Specialized Tricross was part of the way there, with the Cruz being the Spesh hardcore Cyclocross bike, the Diverge is the next, very logical step - I've had 3 tri crosses (one crashed, one recalled and my current disc elite) I'll happily switch to the Diverge if my current one dies.

 

[Mike!]

Not sure what size you are but at this price it's a bargain!

http://m.rutlandcycling.com/285290/...-cx-sport-cyclocross-bike.aspx?mredirect=true

 

[cubegame]

So much choice.......maybe I should buy a couple.

Thanks for all the replys so far though.

The struggle now is not to keep adding a couple of hundred quid to the budget for extra shiny bits and bling.

 

[evo456]

Not sure what size you are but at this price it's a bargain!

http://m.rutlandcycling.com/285290/...-cx-sport-cyclocross-bike.aspx?mredirect=true

Nice frame to start with- plus lots of potential to upgrade

 

[SpokeyDokey]

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/revolt.3/19228/77320/#specifications