Genesis CdA 10 vs GT Grade Sora vs Upgrading a Falcon vs a new Camera

[wesfoster]

I want to get something that's a good all round bike - a bit off road but mainly on, light (ish) and comfy for what Americans seems to call Adventure or Endurance riding. I've been looking at quite a few cyclocross bikes - I'd love to get disc brakes, and a good standard group set (neither bike has a mind blowing set up, but still pretty decent for the price). It's really between the GT Grade Sora, good spec (ish) and I like the triangle frame design, though don't like the SunTour cassette derailleur and the Genesis CdA 10, don't like the design as much but still a nice frame plus more tyre clearance as well as a good set up. Rather it wasn't claris but I want a frame that will last and I'll probably upgrade it anyway. Anything they have on them is better than the five/six speeds on my Falcon (because of chain skipping/only one cog on front) which I would probably turn into a fixie when I get a second bike.

Originally I was just going to upgrade my trusty Falcon - I started totting it up though and I can't decide if it's better to get a whole new bike because it would be similar money spent (whole new groupset, wheels, cabling, tools and tape not to mention hoping it will all come together okay and fit properly, running as smoothly as I want it to. I do love my Falcon, and the ride can be superb when you can't hear the hub bearings turning over, or the chain skips on the rear cassette haha. Plus because of the solid steel frame it can go basically anywhere, though is a little heavier than I'd like. I'm unsure about taking it to a bike shop or just doing it myself, I could do it, it's just finding the time and buying the tools but on the other hand if I use a bike shop the costs could just spiral. I was thinking Veloce groupset (without brakes), lizard skins, jagwire black elite cabling and some wheels for around £200 to finish it off, preferably not too racy, just nice and plain but lightish and strong really.

Or I could buy a new camera (Canon 6D) and just slowly carry on with my Falcon, most expensive option and also probably slowly upgrade my Falcon as I have been.

What does anyone recommend? and thanks in advance for any help. Forgive my rambling.

 

[outlash]

What sort of bike is your Falcon? If it's a road bike and you want to go off road then it's a new bike isn't it?


Tony.

 

[Cycleops]

I am also looking for something similar too. Having also got a few steel frame vintage bikes and would like a a similar frame for the new bike. The Genesis and CdF looked good but I was also drawn to the Kona range. They have the Honky Tonk (stupid name I know) which has a Reynolds Cro-mo frame and fork, has 28c tyres but can take bigger, has fittings for a rack too. No discs though.
http://www.konaworld.com/honky_tonk.cfm about £750.
I want to go for the higher speced Kapu as I will save the VAT and this will pay for shipping here. The only problem I am facing is that UK dealers won't ship outside the EU!
You could upgrade the Falcon but you will never get the cost back come selling time.

PS You can't ride a camera!

 

[Berties]

Genesis all the way for me ,but not sure about some of the stickers on the cda
I have a croix and run 35s in the mucky times and 28 for the road,also a equilibrium on 25 (mega deal 105 set up under 1k)for winter smiles,when the carbon hibernates

 

[Mike!]

I've linked on another thread recently - think you'll find it hard to get a better spec at this price;

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/285290/products/forme-calver-cx-sport-cyclocross-bike.aspx

I too liked the look of the GT Grade but couldn't find any stocked locally