New bike for C2W - CX or Touring?

[atomic]

I've got a nice 58cm 2013 Allez for my weekend ride which fits great but don't want to put guards & rack on it or ride it through winter. Work have started the C2W scheme again (via halfords) and I'm looking to get something to commute on..

It's only 12 miles each way and is pretty flat in Norfolk so not worried about big hills. But my route is along small rural roads which are often very dirty/muddy (due to tractors), with a couple of ford crossings in wet also... so I think disc brakes would be better as normal caliper brakes are gonna wear the rims quickly.

So I'm ideally looking for something reasonably light weight with drop handle bars and disc brakes, must also have fixings for pannier rack and mud guards.

I was looking at the Boardman CX Team, but it seems the new 2014 version doesn't have fixings for guards on the front forks which is a shame.

 

[atomic]

Spent some time looking and found these so far...
Genesis Croix De Fer: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/multi-sport/croix-de-fer
Genesis Vapour Disc: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/cyclocross/vapour
Forme Calver CXS: http://www.formebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road/calvercxs
Trek CrossRip: http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/town/dual_sport/crossrip/crossrip_elite/
Merida Cyclo Cross 4: http://merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike/2013/204/Cross_Cyclo+Cross/Cyclo+Cross+4

 

[MetalPig]

I was asking exactly the same question a couple of months ago, I ended up buying a Dawes Galaxy and love it to bits

 

[wintergreen]

I was asking exactly the same question a couple of months ago, I ended up buying a Dawes Galaxy and love it to bits

I dont want to take the thread off topic but would love to know how you like your new Galaxy. I have a Galaxy Plus arriving at the end of the month, the only experience I have with the Galaxy was a few minutes test ride to see what size frame I felt comfortable on.

 

[mattobrien]

I have just opted for a Kinesis Pro6 frame for winter and a potential future commute. It is a cross frame, but fits the bill for me perfectly.

Happy to report back as soon as it arrives.

I think that Genesis do a bike, the Day One with an alpine hub, which might help reduce the cleaning required from a commute. It is priced at £999, so ought to fit nicely with the cycle to work schemes.

 

[dodgy]

Alfine is a great choice if your route is muddy/filthy. The chainline is a fair bit higher than a conventional derailleur bike.

 

[MetalPig]

I dont want to take the thread off topic but would love to know how you like your new Galaxy. I have a Galaxy Plus arriving at the end of the month, the only experience I have with the Galaxy was a few minutes test ride to see what size frame I felt comfortable on.

Well, first off i was worried about the sizing (as i'd bought it online and the suggested size was a 53cm whereas i'm a 56-ish size on most other bikes) but the more relaxed geometry just fits me perfectly , the steel frame gives me a VERY smooth ride, comes with good quality rack and mudguards, commuting is easier and comfier and ive also been on a couple of 20 - 30 milers and, whilst obviously slower than my road bike, it wasn't by much

 

[wintergreen]

Well, first off i was worried about the sizing (as i'd bought it online and the suggested size was a 53cm whereas i'm a 56-ish size on most other bikes) but the more relaxed geometry just fits me perfectly , the steel frame gives me a VERY smooth ride, comes with good quality rack and mudguards, commuting is easier and comfier and ive also been on a couple of 20 - 30 milers and, whilst obviously slower than my road bike, it wasn't by much

Im pleased to hear you like it, the Galaxy seems to have fallen out of favour over the last few years but after looking around it was the only bike that ticked all the boxes for me. I wasnt going to buy a bike until spring but couldnt resist the offers on 2013 models. I tried the 53cm recomeded by the shop but it felt too small so have ordered the 58cm which felt much more comfortable. I cant wait to get my hands on it at the end of the month

 

[atomic]

I was asking exactly the same question a couple of months ago, I ended up buying a Dawes Galaxy and love it to bits

Looked at those but they seem to have bar-end shifters and I'm not keen on them.

I have just opted for a Kinesis Pro6 frame for winter and a potential future commute. It is a cross frame, but fits the bill for me perfectly.

I think that Genesis do a bike, the Day One with an alpine hub, which might help reduce the cleaning required from a commute. It is priced at £999, so ought to fit nicely with the cycle to work schemes.

You're so lucky that Kinesis looks lovely! But for me it's above the £1000 max limit for C2W. Saw the Alfine also but again it has bar end shifters.

The Merida is looking the best deal as it has 105, not sure if it has rack mounts tho..

 

[mcshroom]

I'd say tourer but I'm biased

If it's for commuting in reasonably flat land then I'd also recommend looking at a fixed/SS. It is significantly easier to clean a non-derailleur bike and strangely addictive.

 

[mattobrien]

Looked at those but they seem to have bar-end shifters and I'm not keen on them.


You're so lucky that Kinesis looks lovely! But for me it's above the £1000 max limit for C2W. Saw the Alfine also but again it has bar end shifters.

The Merida is looking the best deal as it has 105, not sure if it has rack mounts tho..

It came about as one of the guys who works in my LBS was getting a Kinesis frame, albeit one without discs and they suggested I could change the frame in mine for not much money. As it turned out it is easier to list what I am keeping from the old bike , rather than what is new

The frame the guy had was a Five T here, which it looks like there is a carbon fork build suggestion conveniently priced at £999. It is the same colour scheme as the Pro6 too.

 

[evo456]

Spent some time looking and found these so far...
Genesis Croix De Fer: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/multi-sport/croix-de-fer
Genesis Vapour Disc: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/cyclocross/vapour
Forme Calver CXS: http://www.formebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road/calvercxs
Trek CrossRip: http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/town/dual_sport/crossrip/crossrip_elite/
Merida Cyclo Cross 4: http://merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike/2013/204/Cross_Cyclo Cross/Cyclo Cross 4

Vote for CDF from me, the CrossRip seems a bit dear for a Sora equipped machine. The rest I don't like due to the 'cheese cutter' wire running along the top tube !

 

[atomic]

Ruled out steel bikes after taking a CDF out for a test ride and it was heavy, sticking to ally/carbon now... list is now down to these three:
http://www.formebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road/calvercxs
http://www.focus-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/2014/cyclocross/mares-ax/mares-ax-50.html
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.tcx.slr.2/14989/66573/

The Giant is a sweet bike and does have rack mounts via a seatpost clamp adapter.
The Focus is interesting, saw it at my LBS and it was a nice bike. But I've not heard of them before and can't find any reviews of the bike online either...

 

[Helidoc]

I am a great fan of Focus, but I'm biased as I have the current AX 4.0. Mine has Avid Shorty cantilevers not discs, but when I asked the LBS the disc question the owner just shook his head and said they are not like hydraulics, so stick with rim brakes. I have now done £1200 miles on it since September, and it is my favourite bike, even though I have a carbon road bike. It is about 0.5mph slower than my road bike,even with knobbly Racing Ralph tyres. The cantilever brakes have been very good, which I didn't expect. The carbon fork doesn't have mudguard mounts, even though the frame has both mudguard and rack mounts, because of this I have Raceblade XL guards, but they perform pretty well. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Dave