Getting ready for winter... CX bike/frameset for 42C tyres?

[mrmacmusic]

I'm looking for new winter-specific bike that has enough clearance to run 700x40/42C studded winter tyres and mudguards... my Trek Madone 3.5 will get locked up for the season shortly, and my Boardman Hybrid Comp only just managed to run Marathon Winters 35C tyres under the guards for the past 2 winters.

This year I'd like to be able to run wider Nokian or Continental tyres (37/40/42C) so that seems like a nice excuse to swap the Boardman for something that better 'compliments' the Trek... whilst a 29er or European-style hybrid complete with dynamo lighting, rack etc might seem ideal, I really would prefer something with drops so am leaning towards an all-road, cyclo-cross type affair and something that won't feel laborious on my 28 mile round-trip commute on the days it isn't icy or snowing... There seems to be quite a few cx bikes in the marketplace that come factory-shod with 35C semi-knobblies, but would any actually take wider (40/42C) tyres and guards?

I'm also not averse to robbing bits off the Boardman and just buying a frame given I've upgraded the wheels and drivetrain already but the same question arises over tyres clearances of those frames...

Thoughts anyone?

 

[vickster]

Maybe one of the kinesis ones?

What's your budget?

 

[mrmacmusic]

Oops... well, I haven't really set a budget! The only thing I know is I'd love a Shand Stoater Rohloff but can't afford one

Seriously, if I can keep it under £1k then that would be good, but given this is a 140-mile a week, 28 mile a day all-weather winter mile muncher it needs to be up to the job. As far as specs go, I'd be happy with Sora 3500 (which is what I fitted to the Boardman) I just need to be able to run those 42C studded tyres on snowy days...

Just did a spot of lunchtime surfing and the 2015 Genesis CdA 20 looks interesting... (already appears to have 42C tyres)

 

[samsbike]

Other options would be a build using a surly straggler or lht, but neither are cheap. Salsa Vaya Planet X On one or something are other contenders.

 

[John the Monkey]

I can recommend an LHT - mine's been my commuter since 2009 (28 mile /day). I run (unstudded) 42s on mine with mudguards.

 

[tiermat]

I have a On-One Inbred 29er, setup with drop bars and BB7 Road brakes. Loads of clearence (2.2's fit no problem, 2.3s are a bit tight), so 42mm studded will go.

the only problem used to be getting mudguards to fit (I ended up buying some from the US) but SKS now produce some 29er specific mudguards. I use the rack mounts to fix my guards to the Inbred.

The major advatnage is that it is relatively cheap and will do most things (on road/off road/touring etc)

 

[KneesUp]

Similar to @tiermat, I have a hybrid frame that might have been called a 29er if it hadn't been made in the early/mid 90s. I run 37s on it, but the 2.2s off my MTB fit (although being 26" they don't line up with the brakes, obviously) I have 'universal' mudguards from Halfords on mine - they're a bit shorter than normal so look odd, but they're long enough to keep most of the water off.

I have drop bars, which needed a short stem and a raised steerer in order to be comfortable, but the cost was very low.

 

[Bodhbh]

Hrmm, this is basically a Roadrat with a shorter frame for drops, they do the bike or frame on it's own. I'm pretty sure it'll take 42mm easy, probably larger if you shift the wheel back in the dropout. (I have an old Roadrat, when they used to make a dropped bar version)

 

[mrmacmusic]

Thanks everyone – food for thought!

I'm planning on checking out a few shops in Glasgow on Saturday but managed a quick trip into Halfords last night – I thought the Boardman CX Comp had the same frame as my hybrid comp? Perhaps it isn't though, as the assistant was kind enough to try fitting the wheels from one of the display Carrera hybrids which was shod with 42C rubber and they fitted the CX with plenty room for guards... given the price (currently reduced and with my BC 10% discount it would be under £500), I'm beginning to think that it might be sensible to stick with Boardman for my winter bike..?

 

[tiermat]

Having had a look at the Boardman, I would JFDI. they look lovely, time (both on the work and on the QA) is obviously spent on making sure the frames look good. Apparently they are pretty good to ride, too.

 

[rowdin]

After reading your post I took a look at the genesis Cda and love it, Seems perfect for what I want. Although like you I didn't know the boardman CX Comp took 40+ wide tyres and full mudguards.
More money but the Cda seems worth it.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Having had a look at the Boardman, I would JFDI. they look lovely, time (both on the work and on the QA) is obviously spent on making sure the frames look good. Apparently they are pretty good to ride, too.

My only reservation about the Boardman is, well, you know...

It does look pretty good, I'll give you that, although I do prefer the look of the CX Team (but then that doesn't have front mudguard eyelets and is 10-speed SRAM), however I had problems with my Hybrid Comp that saw the rear hub disintegrate after a few hundred miles and the bottom bracket start creaking not long after... Having nursed it through the first winter I upgraded the entire drive train around this time last year (Sora 3500/Tiagra flat-bar shifters/5500 bottom bracket and 105 triple chainset) and bought some inexpensive wheels with Shimano Deore hubs and that solved all the running problems. I've just replaced the bearings in the headset too so am well aware too that cartridge bearings would be nice and better seals a bonus considering this is my all-weather commuter we're talking about. It never rains here in Central Scotland you know...

So a few reservations re the Boardman, but I can't help but wonder if spending more money would be worth it... the Boardman looks like it ticks the necessary boxes for now – drops, fat(ter) tyres, mudguard/rack compatible, Sora 9-speed etc..etc... OK I'm hoping to see the Genesis CdA at the weekend and there might well be something else that catches my eye, but for less than £500 the CX Comp seems ideal. I'd even have a spare wheelset complete with disc rotors and 9-speed cassette (as well as those upgraded drivetrain bits'n'bobs) assuming I don't punt the Hybrid which means I wouldn't need to run the 40/42C studded tyres all winter.

 

[samsbike]

Personally I cant see any reason to spend more than you need to for commuting. However, (and I fall to this all the time), its nice to commute on something you really like riding (and invariably for me that is always something more expensive!). So get something that makes you want to ride, life is too short.

 

[John the Monkey]

Personally I cant see any reason to spend more than you need to for commuting. However, (and I fall to this all the time), its nice to commute on something you really like riding (and invariably for me that is always something more expensive!). So get something that makes you want to ride, life is too short.

Problem is, for most of us, the commuter isn't just the commuter. Mine's my tourer & gravel path bike. For a long while, the SCR2 was my road bike, errand bike, commuting bike...because it was my only bike.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Well it turns out that I went and saw a few things and decided that the Genesis CdA 20 was the bike for me! On paper (I only saw a CdA 10 in store) it seems to fit the bill perfectly – I liked the style, the simple 1x10 drivetrain and the ability to run wider winter tyres (if needs be)... however there ain't any in stock until March

So all I am spending this year is £37 on skinny 700x30c Schwalbe Winters for the Boardman – despite not wanting to run Schwalbes again (and hoping to run something wider) at that price I don't mind if they end up wrecked after one year... after all I should be able to run some Nokians or Conti next winter

Actually that's not all I'm spending: dynamo lighting just ordered from Spa Cycles