Prettiest CX bike...

[Howard]

Vos' bike has huge saddle-bar drop in comparison. Think I prefer the Giant to the Orbea - not quite sure why they'd run an external battery too - guess they must be pretty weatherproof. Interesting that both seem to be using SPDs.

 

[VamP]

Vos' bike has huge saddle-bar drop in comparison. Think I prefer the Giant to the Orbea - not quite sure why they'd run an external battery too - guess they must be pretty weatherproof. Interesting that both seem to be using SPDs.

mm I prefer the TCX too. The Orbea just has a lot of useful/less shapes. And clearly wasn't designed to run Di2, with all those riveted RD cable holders down the side.
I don't know what those Orbea designer folks were thinking...

contrast with Helen Wyman's bike - pure sex

 

[Howard]

Mmm agreed. Sexh.

 

[VamP]

And then compare with Hannah Payton's bike... although I am obviously biased

 

[Cipollini's Love Child]

I'd love one of these, but my bank balance (and my marriage) wouldn't stand the strain...still an absolute beauty to look at...DROOL..

You can drool all you want until you get a crack in it as most of the Focus bikes seem a little brittle

Whatever turns you on. I'll bet your wife would be more worried about the pink bar tape!

And the cost to replace the frame when it cracks- Most Focus owners I know have suffered from Open Wallet Syndrome as a result

 

[Rob3rt]

If it cracked during normal use and not during a crash, then Focus shouldn't be charging for a replacement, it should be considered a manufacturing defect and thus replaced under warranty.

 

[Howard]

And then compare with Hannah Payton's bike... although I am obviously biased

View attachment 23634

Hah yeah. Simple looking. Is she running 1 * 9?

 

[VamP]

Yep. On one of the lighter cross frames going. Whole rig probably comes in very close to 7 kg.

 

[Howard]

I'm considering 1 * 10 with a retroshifter for the coming season. Won't be pretty but will be light and bombproof, fingers crossed.

 

[VamP]

I am somewhat considering it too. It's pretty rare for me to enagage big ring in races, probably less than 2% of the time.

 

[Howard]

Yeah - I know I'm doing well if I'm in the 44t ring and not cross-chaining it. Thinking a 38 tooth with a 12-28.

Interesting looking Gravel Grinder from Tonic Fab:

 

[smutchin]

I'm considering 1 * 10 with a retroshifter for the coming season. Won't be pretty but will be light and bombproof, fingers crossed.

I am somewhat considering it too. It's pretty rare for me to enagage big ring in races, probably less than 2% of the time.

More than one chainring doesn't make sense to me on a CX bike. But then I race singlespeed - and for good looks, you can't beat the purity of singlespeed...

 

[VamP]

Yeah - I know I'm doing well if I'm in the 44t ring and not cross-chaining it. Thinking a 38 tooth with a 12-28.

Interesting looking Gravel Grinder from Tonic Fab:

Looks cool, but weirdly worrying seatstay connecting piece.

 

[Howard]

Yeah it's a titanium ring. They have one in TFG / Kinoko in London on display. I asked a chap who worked there if it made any contribution to the handling and he glibly said: 'no'!

 

[Howard]

More than one chainring doesn't make sense to me on a CX bike. But then I race singlespeed - and for good looks, you can't beat the purity of singlespeed...

Depends on context. I've used both rings in CX sportives. Vos' rig above has two rings and it doesn't slow her down - but broadly for the weekend warrior, a single ring is probably a good idea if only for simplicity's sake.

But agreed there are some very pretty SS crossers.