What do you think of these bikes?

[lesley_x]

Quite interested in getting a cyclocross bike as I do a lot of riding on canal towpaths and miss drop bars, road bike geometry and SPEED!

I am no expert but I like the look of these two

http://www.eastwaybikes.com/product/eastway-cx-2-0-alloy-cx-bike/
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-energie-vr-carbon-bike-2013/rp-prod81031

Don't know much about these brands so would appreciate any input or suggestions. Getting a bike in my size is such a pain!!

 

[DooDah]

I don't know but I would consider this one.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_777845_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

A friend has one and it is excellent, and very good value.

 

[vickster]

I'll chuck the Whyte Saxon Cross into the mix

What size do you need? It is a shame there are no WSD CX bikes

Doodah - link doesn't work for me - just goes to the Halfords home page

 

[Peter88]

May i throw one of these in for consideration
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-disc-2013-cyclocross-bike-ec041207
I have one my self and the only thing I am thinking of changing is the chainset to a higher geared one.

 

[DooDah]

I'll chuck the Whyte Saxon Cross into the mix

What size do you need? It is a shame there are no WSD CX bikes

Doodah - link doesn't work for me - just goes to the Halfords home page

Apologies, I missed off the end, edited now and I think it works.

 

[VamP]

Quite interested in getting a cyclocross bike as I do a lot of riding on canal towpaths and miss drop bars, road bike geometry and SPEED!

I am no expert but I like the look of these two

http://www.eastwaybikes.com/product/eastway-cx-2-0-alloy-cx-bike/
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-energie-vr-carbon-bike-2013/rp-prod81031

Don't know much about these brands so would appreciate any input or suggestions. Getting a bike in my size is such a pain!!

That Vitus is great value if you can get one in your size. It's an order of magnitude better than all the other bikes listed in this thread thus far. Looks good too.

 

[DooDah]

That Vitus is great value if you can get one in your size. It's an order of magnitude better than all the other bikes listed in this thread thus far. Looks good too.

It should be at 400 pounds more

 

[VamP]

It should be at 400 pounds more

I think the budget is the OP's concern. It's only £50 more than the other bike he is looking at. It's a bargain at that price.

 

[SquareDaff]

I don't know but I would consider this one.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_777845_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

A friend has one and it is excellent, and very good value.

+1 for this bike. I have one. It's a dream to ride.
The only things you need to do for trouble free riding are a) change the tyres - the ones it comes with are useless and puncture continually - you'd get more protection if they were made of paper! and b) check the Bottom Bracket. Apparently a lot of these bikes suffer from "dry" bearings in the BB. It's easy enough to regrease these and it makes a huge difference.

 

[lesley_x]

I am slightly confused at size to be honest. I ride a 52cm Specialized Secteur Comp. I went to the LBS today (they had a gorgeous bianchi cyclocross but it was such poor value for money - £1200 for alu and tiagra?!) and he measured my inseam (29 inches) and said 49/50. That puts most bikes off the market for me For example I would love that Vitus, it's a great piece of kit for the cash but the smallest is 52cm. Is the cyclocross geometry really different? I'm kind of thinking the Secteur is quite 'relaxed' geometry and that's why I can get away with a bigger size??

I really do love the Boardman, the trouble is the incompetent staff. My local one had a small frame size so I asked her to measure it and it seemed to be my size, I could clear the top tube no bother. But I felt so stretched out and the test I was told to look for by LBS was to look to see if you can see the front hub, and going by that it was far too big. But the staff are so unhelpful, I mean the saddle was completely loose so I couldn't get a decent feel for it.

I had a look at Norco today, some nice looking bikes but I don't like Sora... Don't like the little clickers and the fact you can't shift from the drops. They had a lovely full carbon at £1600 sitting in my size but the husband said no!!!

I don't want to buy a bike without riding it first, it's too risky given my small stature and the fact I'm a lady. I had to ride loads of bikes to find a proper fit on my road bike. So what happens if I order a bike and it doesn't fit?? Am I obliged to take it or what?

 

[HLaB]

I had a look at Norco today, some nice looking bikes but I don't like Sora... Don't like the little clickers and the fact you can't shift from the drops.

What year of Sora, I think they did away with thumb shifters last year.

 

[vickster]

I am slightly confused at size to be honest. I ride a 52cm Specialized Secteur Comp. I went to the LBS today (they had a gorgeous bianchi cyclocross but it was such poor value for money - £1200 for alu and tiagra?!) and he measured my inseam (29 inches) and said 49/50. That puts most bikes off the market for me For example I would love that Vitus, it's a great piece of kit for the cash but the smallest is 52cm. Is the cyclocross geometry really different? I'm kind of thinking the Secteur is quite 'relaxed' geometry and that's why I can get away with a bigger size??

I really do love the Boardman, the trouble is the incompetent staff. My local one had a small frame size so I asked her to measure it and it seemed to be my size, I could clear the top tube no bother. But I felt so stretched out and the test I was told to look for by LBS was to look to see if you can see the front hub, and going by that it was far too big. But the staff are so unhelpful, I mean the saddle was completely loose so I couldn't get a decent feel for it.

I had a look at Norco today, some nice looking bikes but I don't like Sora... Don't like the little clickers and the fact you can't shift from the drops. They had a lovely full carbon at £1600 sitting in my size but the husband said no!!!

I don't want to buy a bike without riding it first, it's too risky given my small stature and the fact I'm a lady. I had to ride loads of bikes to find a proper fit on my road bike. So what happens if I order a bike and it doesn't fit?? Am I obliged to take it or what?

Why not have have a look at WSD bikes If you are petite the dimensions may well be better for you. I realise the choice isn't a great but there are some super bikes out there, no more expensive than the unisex ones and probably cheaper if the stem, bars, saddle, cranks etc are right

2013 Sora doesn't have thumb buttons now

 

[Peter88]

[quote="vickster, post: 2606857, member: 10217"2013 Sora doesn't have thumb buttons now[/quote]

The Norco does have the 2013 sora shifters, sora FD and Tiagra RD and Hayes CX5 brakes not the Tektro ones on the product description.

 

[vickster]

CX is a big gap in WSD, Giant do a gorgeous one but not in the UK

Someone on here recommended this rather gorgeous beast to me...I may have to get a green one to match my new car

Comes in a 48cm and 51cm frame http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/crosslight/pro6

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/dealers/

Even got dealers up in Scotland

Otherwise take a butchers at Ridley CX, they come in smaller sizes too

 

[DooDah]

CX is a big gap in WSD, Giant do a gorgeous one but not in the UK

Someone on here recommended this rather gorgeous beast to me...I may have to get a green one to match my new car

Comes in a 48cm and 51cm frame http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/crosslight/pro6

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/dealers/

Even got dealers up in Scotland

Otherwise take a butchers at Ridley CX, they come in smaller sizes too

I think that is one good looking CX bike. Not sure about the slime green one though. Actually same colour as him<<<<