[Closed] Do It All CX/Road Bike Options?

Norco Threshold?

Giant tcx slr.

GT Grade seems well reviewed. Personally I'm looking at Ti and it's a toss up between a Pickenflick or possibly the New Alpkit Sonder Camino.

I bought a Planet X - XLS for these duties a couple of years back. So far the only downside is that it hasn't got rack mounts but I've done over night trips using Alpkit bikepacking gear strapped on.

Other than that it's good for 100 mile sportives, bridleways, and the odd bit of singletrack depending on tyre choice.

If i had to choose again I might go an On-One Dirty Disco because it is meant to have a more relaxed frame geo BUT I've never ridden one so who knows!

Jamis Renegade at what price point takes your fancy.

I was looking at getting a gt grade but picked up an on -one Dirty Disco second hand. Great bike, very comfy,nimble and fun.
If it's good enough for a record setting ride around the world on...

Arkose?
I've got a 2016 Arkose 3, it isn't perfect, but the frame is gorgeous, and the spec is pretty unbeatable for £1000.

Got to be a Genesis datum if you can find one in your size. I've had my Datum 10 for 3 weeks now and it is unbelievably good, very fast on the road and even on the stock tyres it feels super confident off the beaten path. Can't praise it highly enough!

Niner RLT 9 is definitely worth a look

A second vote for the Arkose 3. It's a very versatile bike. I've used it for off road commuting, off road riding and its currently got slicks on and I'm using it as a road bike.

I have a 2015 CDF30, which I really like. If I was replacing it I'd be going for a Cannondale Slate. I do asso have a summer road bike though

Tripster is just about to have a facelift with internal cables and flat mount disc brakes- but it is going up by a few hundred pounds.

I bought one in the autumn and it is bloody awesome on cx or road, haven't tried to do proper mtb on it yet, but will certainly take it to the next trail center with the kids rather than the full sus

Try one and you will be hooked- most kinesis dealers will have a demo around

I bought an arkose 4 yesterday, can't recommend it yet though as I won't get it until the weekend. Great spec though and I'm so looking forward to having hydraulic discs on a wet commute, no more 'oh shit I can't stop' moments 🙂

Before buying a diverge don't you have to think long and hard about the weird rear hub spacing?

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/damn-you-specialized-and-your-scs-standard

But that maybe history now

Another day another standard

I'm a little biased (OK, more than a little...) but since riding the Kite disc I've had to re-think my answer to the 'if you could only have one bike' question. I like it, a lot. And I think once we get some folks out on them they will too 🙂

Second for the hydro discs, they are flippin awesome as well, did a wet, leaf covered, gravelly descent and felt in control all the way down, even with slicks on

I'm a little biased (OK, more than a little...) but since riding the Kite disc I've had to re-think my answer to the 'if you could only have one bike' question. I like it, a lot. And I think once we get some folks out on them they will too

Are you likely to have any demo bikes about in a Large by any chance?

Second for the hydro discs, they are flippin awesome as well, did a wet, leaf covered, gravelly descent and felt in control all the way down, even with slicks on

Without a doubt it'll have hydraulic disc brakes on it 🙂

I do exactly all this on my tripster - 2 sets of wheels (identical, bar the tyres) makes switching from'lycra clad roadie grumpwagon' to 'gnarmac bridleslayer' a breeze...

I'm sure other bike would do the same too though.

Drp

Edit - wrong post !

I've recently bought a PX Bish Bash Bosh - loving it so far!

[img] [/img]

@bumpy - yes I will do, drop me a line.

Rose Pro DX Cross. £1400, Ultegra, hyd discs, DT Swiss wheels.

Oooh - quite interested I. The bush bash bosh as a winter bike / turbo bike - the latter causing me an issue buying a Ti bike as it'll be too good to sit on the turbo. Has it got reader guard mounts, and how does it ride to winter road bike?

@Kryton - yes, has mud guard mounts.

Not had it long, but using it for commute which can be on-road, or mixed on trails through Richmond Park and/or riverside paths etc. Also had a blast down to Oxshot Common/Esher Heath at the weekend - was lots of fun in the mud!

It's pretty firm, but I had the tyres pumped overly hard and it comes with a pretty unforgiving stock saddle. Also needs a shorter stem than the 110mm version I have (PX were out of stock of shorter ones when I ordered, but I've just bought a 90mm Deda stem that should arrive tomorrow).

Overall I'm really enjoying it - it's the perfect up-to-date successor to my old Kona Jake the Snake, that was also bright orange!

I've gone from this:
[img] [/img]

to this:
[img] [/img]

🙂

Thanks for the feedback!

I am currently thinking about a Giant Anyroad Comax. Might be too relaxed for you though.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/anyroad.comax/22308/84270/

[img] [/img]

Diverge is more on the road/gravel end of the spectrum, rather than the gravel/CX end. If that makes sense.

Fast, comfortable, tough. Takes guards and racks, too. It's not a CX bike, though. It's a toughened road bike that'll take some beating.
[img] [/img]
Like this sort of thing.

Wheels aren't really an issue. Hope and DT hubs/wheels as well as Spesh own should give you plenty of options. Failing that, a rebuild on existing hubs is easy as well.

[img][url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1527/24729856536_f56cbc958e_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1527/24729856536_f56cbc958e_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/DFhYLQ ]InstagramCapture_64373bb5-87bc-4c55-acb3-ae0a8aeb2f56[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/16899333@N03/ ]IamDeathside[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Loving my GT grade sora, was cheap as chips and has become my go to bike. Got some other wheels with CX tyres on, and sold my road winter bike. More bling models are available.

Mango Bikes

Another online brand mixing great value and limited size options

But I realise that this is sour grapes from a tall person

Pinnacle arkose 4.

From evans cycles.

That Arkose 4 - am I right in that only substantial difference between the '15 and 16 bike is the colour and the bolt through fork on the '16?

I've got to say, the Canyon Inflite 8.0 S looks great for the money at £1099, if you want a winter road bike with occasional CX as I do.

Decent weight - 8.9kg - 105, 'tweener rings x 2, 32/11 cassette, guard mounts and the only issue i can see is a a PF BB.

Change tyres and off you go CX'ing. I could also just swap the rear wheel for my road/powertap and off I go on the turbo.

Hmmm

Tripster is just about to have a facelift with internal cables and flat mount disc brakes- but it is going up by a few hundred pounds.

Might make the current (externally routed) frame even more of a good deal then if some offers pop up.

Merlin has a compatible full-hydro Ultegra groupset for £620

https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-disc-brake-groupset-83417.html

I have mine Tripster built up with this and it is fantastic.

Sam - Member
I'm a little biased (OK, more than a little...) but since riding the Kite disc I've had to re-think my answer to the 'if you could only have one bike' question. I like it, a lot. And I think once we get some folks out on them they will too

London Road for me
Good value for money at £799 with the Rival 22 groupset ... especially if you can get it through a C2W scheme.

I've changed the bars on mine for some flared genetic digest and its great on and off road.
Not the lightest at 9.5kg but not bad either.

and unlike the London Road thread ... I've had no issues with the fit of the seatpost 🙂

Kryton57 - Member

I've got to say, the Canyon Inflite 8.0 S looks great for the money at £1099, if you want a winter road bike with occasional CX as I do.

Decent weight - 8.9kg - 105, 'tweener rings x 2, 32/11 cassette, guard mounts and the only issue i can see is a a PF BB.

Change tyres and off you go CX'ing. I could also just swap the rear wheel for my road/powertap and off I go on the turbo.

Hmmm

Canyon no longer do the mudguards for them, you'd have to try and fashion something from aftermarket and deal with the weird 'halfway up the fork' front mount.
As for weight, my Inflite race bike is 8.4kg ready to race with as much lightweight stuff on it as I could fit and Ultegra 1x10. I'd love to weigh their 8.9kg bike to see the real world weight.
Oh and I'm selling my race bike if you're interested...

[img] [/img]

Van Nicholas Amazon?

Does this:

[IMG] [/IMG]

This:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Also this:

[IMG] [/IMG]

So pick holes in [url= https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-x20-105-ar-commuter-cx-bike-2016-86641.html ]this [/url] from Merlin.

Apart from the CX chainrings and less than boutique paint job, it ticks my boxes... but?

[with tongue in cheek]

you are either monumentally indecisive or must be able to afford, and more importantly store, about 20 bikes... you always seem to be looking

Arkose FTW

(Although I've spent the last 2 days trying to justify purchase of a bike that is really pretty but actually less use than the bikes I already have, plus I have no space for it)

monumentally indecisive

Right the first time.

I haven't bought a bike for 2 years now 😥

What I really want is the Enigma Ecroix, but I've decided I can't justfy 3k on a bike that will sit on a turbo trainer 50% of the time.

So its a gravel capable road bike, with compact gearing, good clearances and ability to take guards circa £1k that I want to replace my Defy 3 with. I'd keep the Defy if only proper gravel tyres fitted.

I think the Rose CX AR is closest, if you exclude the negative feedback I'm hearing re Canyons order process, otherwise it'd be the Inflite Al8.0S all the way.

I just see the Arkrose as too much of a burden on winter Club road rides.

Why not just stick the Defy on the trainer and use the Enigma Ecroix for everything else

Seeing as you have a dream bike, you might as well go for it, if you can afford it, than lust after something else only to be let down by the fact it's still not your dream bike. In a perverse way getting the Enigma will stop you wasting money on stuff you don't [u]really[/u] want

Tripster is just about to have a facelift with internal cables and flat mount disc brakes- but it is going up by a few hundred pounds.

I've just read the article on Road.cc about the updated Tripster and it's not really going to be worth it for me as I already have some post-mount Ultegra brakes to use along with some Kinesis CX Disc wheels which are QR only so I may just need to keep an eye out for deals on the current version.

Those Mango bikes look stonking value, my wallet is now twitching 🙂

New Boardman cx Team looks decent £999 and 0%...

Love the look of those Mango bikes. Anyone got a Point AR?

I've just read the article on Road.cc about the updated Tripster and it's not really going to be worth it for me as I already have some post-mount Ultegra brakes to use along with some Kinesis CX Disc wheels which are QR only so I may just need to keep an eye out for deals on the current version.

Not sure there will be many bargains around as Kinesis don't tend to bring in the new ones to quickly, but its a great bike for the price

I have a 56cm diverge smartweld for sale (2016). Its immaculate, only been used with mudgaurds for 2 months. It has a hope hub upgrade with the non scs hangar so all disc rear hubs will fit fine. Its currently set up with 38c trigger gravel tyres running tubeless. Will be supplied with plug and play fenders and roubaix 28c road tyres. These bikes are £1800 new and I will take £850. Based in Hebden bridge. Give me a text if anyone's interested as I never venture on here. Matt - 07734914933

Bought one of these frames last year. Love it. Its been on the local trails and lots of road rides the past 6 weeks.

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/23401328633_f98dba59e8_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/23401328633_f98dba59e8_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BDTVHk ]WP_20151223_12_04_57_Pro[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/quantocks/ ]hwe pang[/url], on Flickr

td75 - Member
Love the look of those Mango bikes. Anyone got a Point AR?

POSTED 4 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

I have a point AR built up from a frameset. I like it. I am running 37c tyres with mudguards and it is serving well as a bit of a do-it-all bike.

Some of the finishing on the frameset was a bit rubbish (patchy paint and painted-over threads on BB shell and eyelets) but they are cheap, and you get what you pay for.

The green color is a bit gruesome in the flesh but I suppose it is high-vis for the commute!

Some of the finishing on the frameset was a bit rubbish (patchy paint and painted-over threads on BB shell and eyelets) but they are cheap, and you get what you pay for.

The one I [i]had[/i] came with a cracked weld.

They are cheap, that's for sure.

Eek! Which bit was cracked?

I've got a GT grade, decide on a price and pick a model. There were some serious do discounting last summer. I've taken mine up some serious cols in the pyranees and done a 140 mile Audax on it. It's just had mudguards fitted for winter road riding. It's the most comfortable drop bar bike I've had. I also taken it off road and it felt better than my last cross bike.

Well happy with my Arkose Single speed.

Though far from happy with Evans after sales

[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/stoater/ ]Stoater?[/url]

Handbuilt in UK, Columbus toobs, 105 hydro, 28 colours (not all at once), £1950

Eek! Which bit was cracked?

On the welding of the braced 'opening' just by the BB that spits the internally routed cables back out.

I imagine it would have been fine, if I'd discovered it on an already owned bike I'd still be riding it after a quick "meh".

I'm still collecting bike parts for this build, so watching this thread carefully. Looks like I'm going steel at the very least and have doubled (and a bit) my frame budget.

Handbuilt in UK, Columbus toobs, 105 hydro, [b]28 colours (not all at once), [/b]£1950

Potential customer lost!

Sam - Member
I'm a little biased (OK, more than a little...) but since riding the Kite disc I've had to re-think my answer to the 'if you could only have one bike' question. I like it, a lot. And I think once we get some folks out on them they will too

Sam - how would you describe the difference between the Peregrine and the Kite?

Geometry figures for the Peregrine are no longer on your site but I was thinking in more general terms?

andcarson - Member

I have a point AR built up from a frameset. I like it. I am running 37c tyres with mudguards and it is serving well as a bit of a do-it-all bike.

Some of the finishing on the frameset was a bit rubbish (patchy paint and painted-over threads on BB shell and eyelets) but they are cheap, and you get what you pay for.

The green color is a bit gruesome in the flesh but I suppose it is high-vis for the commute!

Thanks for the info, looks like it could be a good option. Also looking at the Genesis CDA20, they have changed the geometry for the 2016 bike.

A bit left field but I believe BTR are bringing out a cx style bike as their next model, you'd have to drop Tam an email directly though. Personally I love their ethos and product but appreciate it may not be for everyone.

Mine (2015 Arkose 5 that I got in the Evans end of season sale) -

[img] [/img]

Not the sexiest option and the colour wouldn't be my first choice but for the price it was hard to ignore. It's had a few upgrades already although there was nothing really wrong with the original spec. I've also got a second set of wheels with tubeless road tyres on so it's pretty flexible.

After a bit of comparing the different options and a helpful conversation with Sam yesterday I've decided to go with the Kite.
I've seen Sam's around at a few races over the last 18 months or so and I've always liked the looks of them, on top of that I've always fancied a Singular but for various reasons never tried one. Hopefully the frame will arrive next week 🙂

As a bonus I'm only working two days over the next fortnight so plenty of time to be out riding it!

@lawman91 - Do You think that Datum frameset has enouth clearance for 35c tire like tubeless Schwalbe G-one 35c? I know that Datum has 33c tire as standard but I think that the real width of these tires are much lower and real 35 mm tire like G-one may be to much. Or is it?

@sweetspot, the 33mm challenge tyres come in bang on 33mm on my Verniers and there's masses of clearance in the fork and back end. You'd fit a 35mm g-one in no problem. I would have thought anything up to a 40mm tyre would fit front or rear, the fork clearance is huge so could possibly go a little bigger up front.

@lawman91 - thanks for Your info. Very encouraging. I have one more question: have You done a proper gravel ridding on this bike? How well does it cope with rough roads?

I am looking for a fast bike with rather short chainstay that will also be comfortable on the gravel roads (at least 35c tire). Genesis Datum is on my short list among with Kona RoadHouse and Specialized Diverge Smartweld. Datum is the most tempting choice but also the most expensive so I have to be sure that it is really a best choice 🙂

News is that Enigma have built an Ecroix in steel (Ecroix ST). I'm hanging out to see this as its what I want in a material I don't have and hopeful a cheaper price than the Ti version.

It's rumoured to be on display at the London bike show.

No gravel riding as of yet, but my commute consists of mainly country lanes that this time of year are covered in mud/general crap and the surface is horrendous in places, super bumpy and not remotely smooth. My old Scott road bike on 25mm gp 4 seasons was stiff as and sketchy as hell, the Datum is loads more comfortable and much more confidence inspiring. I'd often lose the front end on the Scott but not happened on the Datum yet, it's just a super nice ride and very very good alround. I looked at a few bikes, GT grades and also had a brief look the Kona, but I just loved the Datum from when I first saw it. They are rare as hens teeth in certain sizes at the minute though, so you may have trouble tracking one down.

Love my diverge smartweld (2016), so comfortable and more than capable on roadie rides with the benefit of canal / bridletrack and touring options.

Not up to speed with the scs but think there are more options now and it shifts so will (despite being tiagra) which I think is the purpose of the design.

Can't recommend one enough.