Recommend Cyclocross

[vickster]

The comp has alloy fork and sora group set

The team looks much better, carbon fork, sram apex groupset. Lighter than sora, much nicer hood shape but works in a different way. Avid bb5 brakes rather than basic tektro ones
I'd say it's worth the extra, especially with the discounts

 

[simonf7]

Thanks, it's probably going to end up being a Boardman purely as in Norwich it seems Halfords are the only ones with anything I can go and sit on.

 

[ayceejay]

This is what I was talking about 33 and Simon seems to be on it. A cyclocross bike will have a higher bottom bracket making the stand over height higher too hence the need to "go and sit on" one or two. Most have a shorter top tube as well which offers less of a stretch than a road bike frame

 

[simonf7]

Ok, last alternative - how about this from Evans which is about £50 cheaper than the CX Team - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/tread-11-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec069179

Thanks

 

[vickster]

Go test ride. Evans will order in if needed for a £60 refundable deposit

If still have the boardman on spec, price and importantly colour!!

 

[EasyPeez]

With the chain set, how do the numbers equate to difference in speed

The numbers don't equate to speed; that's all down to the legs I'm afraid!

If your riding is likely to take in steep climbs or long descents I'd recommend a 50/34 or similar. If it's flatter, or lots of little hills, then a 46/36 will prob be fine. 50/34 offers more gears at the top and bottom ends, but with the downside of bigger jumps between some gears whereas 46/36 = less lower gears for uphills and you'll run out of gears sooner when bombing along on the flat/downhill, but the ratios are closer therefore can be smoother going through the cassette.

CX bikes tend to come specced with 46/36 as they're designed for going quickly off road rather than up and down big hills.

I looked at lots of CX bikes (and am still after one now) but went for a relaxed geometry road bike in the end partly because of this gearing issue. It's flat where I live so 46/36 would be fine for my commute, but I knew I'd be doing lots of long rides in the Peaks, Dales, Wolds etc too, so a 46/36 would have been no good to me there. Hence I went for a road bike, which copes just fine with canal paths incidentally.

 

[EasyPeez]

I want to go faster on the flat bits and am running out of gears.

I'd seriously check what gearing you have on your MTB as if this is a big motivation for you upgrading then a 46/36 might not be much of an improvement over what you already have. Which would then potentially rule out the likes of the Cannondale. The Boardman and Fuji should see you right with a 50 large crank though.
Oh and I agree with @vickster - the Boardman Team is def worth the extra over the lower model. Looks great in that silver finish too.
You do see a lot of Boardmans about though. Same with Spesh and Giant.

 

[John_S]

Hi simonf,

You mentioned Halfords being the only bike shop having something to sit on but there might be some other places to try.

There is Pedal Revolution, Streetlife Cycles, someone has already mentioned Paul's Cycles not far away in Dereham then with respect to chains there is the Halford's option but also Cycles UK and Evans.

Plus there might be some other shops including independents that I've missed and other people could recommend. If you're worried about them not having the type of bike that you want to try once you've already traveled there you could always call them first to talk through your needs to see if they'd have anything that you might like.

Good luck finding the right bike for you.

John

 

[simonf7]

You mentioned Halfords being the only bike shop having something to sit on but there might be some other places to try.

There is Pedal Revolution, Streetlife Cycles, someone has already mentioned Paul's Cycles not far away in Dereham then with respect to chains there is the Halford's option but also Cycles UK and Evans.

I did those at the weekend, loads of road bikes and hybrids but not really anything in the way of cyclocrosses.

With all the options that keep rearing up, beginning to wish I'd impulse bought the Boardman when I first saw it or at least looked a few weeks ago instead of rushing around now as 15% of the Boardmans ends tomorrow.

Good luck finding the right bike for you.

Thanks - if nothing else I'm getting a crash course in cycle components!

Simon

 

[vickster]

Join British cycling for another 10% off at halfords although it may now be too late. Not sure if their admin is immediate

 

[EasyPeez]

but not really anything in the way of cyclocrosses

That's because we're out of cyclocross season. You'll have a lot more to look at/sit on if you give it 2 or 3 months. That's in the indies anyway, can't really speak for the big chains.

 

[John_S]

Hi Simonf,

Sorry to hear that you didn't find what you wanted when you visited lots of bike shops and although cyclocross bikes are probably not going to make up the majority of bikes on show in any shop as EasyPeez says the fact that we're not in the cyclocross season will also contribute to that.

If you've already been to Pedal Revolution you might have already ruled this out but I think that they sell Genesis bikes. Reading the comments of EasyPeez above you can have a road bike which can cope perfectly well with some off road paths but I guess that depends on the type & condition of off road path that you use. The Genesis Equilibrium range can take mudguards and racks and so they can be suitable for commuting.

However more to a cyclocross style is the Genesis Croix de Fer range.

Also I've spoken to someone who had a 2014 Genesis Day One Disc single speed which they used for cyclocross racing and so I'm assuming that could cope with the off rad:-
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/img/uploads/files/genesis_cat2014_web.pdf

It sounds like you've had a pretty frustrating time with bike shops but I hope that you get a new bikes sorted in the end.

John

 

[simonf7]

Thanks for all the help - I've learnt a lot!

After thinking about it for a bit, I'm going to work on the 'engine' and getting myself back into cycling more, whilst saving a bit more so I can buy something better.

Si

 

[MrGrumpy]

Thread resurrection but I may also be looking for a CX bike, only caveat is i would like to be able to fit mudguards but also want something racy if you know what I mean never been keen on the sportive geometry which is common amongst bikes.

 

[vickster]

Ridley?