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I'm "doing a Jamie" and fannying about with my cross bike choices. My original list has been thrown out of the window, including most notably the Giant TCX SLR 2 (and possible the Cube Cross Race Disc) as it was just a tiny bit too expensive. Use will be commuting, messing about in the woods, one CX race a year and touring.
The two I have narrowed it down to are both Evans only. Which do we reckon is best?
Norco Threshold 3. Tiagra 10 speed (so I can swap the wheels with my other bikes without swapping the cassette), decent chainset, presumably lighter, no guard mounts on the fork legs. I won't get run over. £800.
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Pinaccle Arkose 1- Sora 9 speed so wheel swap would be a faff, crap chainset but a bigger chainset for my ride to work, full guard mounts, presumably heavier. Possibly crap brakes. Cycling Plus love 'em mind.
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As a caveat they will be bought on finance, along with a new hardtail. This will not be coming from Evans- can anyone foresee an issue with getting finance at two shops at once? If so I'll just man up and get the Cube for an extra £2 a month from the same shop.
Internet, make my decisions for me. Thanks.
Finance from two shops will depend on what your current credit history is and how much finance you currently have.
The Giant 🙂
Jase- stop muddying my muddy waters! It is tempting, though...
out of those 2 the Norco looks lighter and sprightlier, and better specced. I'd get an Arkose 3 though 🙂
Get the cube.
you know you want it.
I ogled one at the bike show, lovely in that shiny red.
DT78- that's way over my budget! It's this one that I'd be going for.
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Iainc- once I start pushing my budget there are a lot of bikes I like more than the Pinnacles.
This is my beast Pukey 8)
CX's are a giggle.
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Sadly the Cannondales just don't grab me- the nice ones are out of my budget and the cheap ones look gopping. I'd bite your arm off for a SuperX but it's not going to happen.
Had the same deliberation very recently, test rode a Pinnacle Arkose and it was great. the Norco looks awesome in the Flesh (i got the A1 version)
I bought the Norco and its bloody brilliant. absolute hoot to ride. Neither are light, and i would say the Pinnacle is more of a Road bike capable of offroad, whereas the Norco is a mountain bikers road bike.
OK, the Norco sounds more like what I'm after. I have a real road bike for real road biking. Thanks very much!
What would Jamie do?
I hve the 2014 Norco Threshold 3, been pleased with it, being a roadie first I found the Norco perfectly acceptable on road, in fact I was surprised how good it felt even with cx tyres on. The wheels did need quite a true up after a few weeks but other than that it's been fine so a thumbs up for norco. IMHO that pinnacle is fugly as sin
cloudnine - Member
What would Jamie do?
Probably wait, ask more questions, wait a bit more, ask a bit more.... 😆
My original list has been thrown out of the window, including most notably the Giant TCX SLR 2
[s]Why that then?
[/s]
No matter, I learned to read.
Probably wait, ask more questions, wait a bit more, ask a bit more....
Patience is a virtue, sugar-tits 8)
I've changed the chainset and added the mudguards but these are £850......
DB steel frame, TRP Spyre brakes, and decent M525 hubs (that actually have seals and a freehub body you can replace) were the clincher for me
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15640666781_7f32e23ee9_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15640666781_7f32e23ee9_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pQ7vjD ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/27857042@N00/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
i know it doesn't help but i've had my giant tcx slr for a week now and i love it i even have a cross race line on sunday can't wait
^^ best of luck in your race there.
😀
By the way, there are mudguard mounts on the norco, they are hidden on the inside of the fork legs and they unfurl from the rear drop outs. Really neat solution.
Norco for me. No real well thought out reason, Seems a good price with tiagra, looks fun somehow too. I know the arkose gets a good write up for the more expensive models but that one just looks a bit dull somehow and tiagra over sora and less weight has got to be worth £100 doesn't it?
I have a charge filter which is not light but so much fun on and off-road. Tonight may rank as my most fun commute ever, I'm stoked on cx bikes right now!
'Stoked'... titter 🙂
Sorry, must remember to reserve the surf speak for surf forums!
See here:
http://adventuresintrim.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/boats.html
Don't worry about Boblo. He is of a certain [s]age[/s] vintage.
My spreadsheet will be ready to share with you all soon
PP- I have definitely ruled out the steel Genesiseseses because of their weight and didn't particularly like the ride. I've only ridden one of them and a TCX.
Good to know the Norco has guard mounts. Bigger worry with it now is the gearing (too tall for touring with a BOB and too low for road commuting?) but that's easy to solve with a different cassette.
What size you after, OP? Maybe find a 2014 bike in the sales, as some decent bargains about.
i did a 70 mile sportive on my Norco last weekend with the cross chainset on it and some 28c slicks, never once felt particularly under geared, granted not as fast as a proper road set up, but still averaged a decent speed. For commuting, the lower gearing is fine, i'm topping 25 miles a day on mine on and off-road and i've never even thought about it.
Got to replace a few bits now mind you, found a patch of diesel this morning and made a bit of a mess of things! oops. 🙁
Jamie- generally mediums/55/56cm. Any pointers?
Aha! I have made a decision (not least because my colleague saw me perving on bike shop sites and told me we do the C2W scheme here 😳 ). And it's neither of them. And it's looks better.
And, like Jamie, I'm not going to tell any of you since that's apparently the tradition. Ta for all your help!
And, like Jamie, I'm not going to tell any of you since that's apparently the tradition. Ta for all your help!
Nobody asked me 😥
Well, what have you gone for?
Jamie- generally mediums/55/56cm. Any pointers?
this ticks ALL the STW boxes
1) it fits your bill
2) I'm recommending what I own
3) my recommendation is too late as youve already bought something.
😀
Well, what have you gone for?
Not saying...
😛
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Between the Giant and the Arkose. Went for the Giant as had a local Giant Store near me, and nearest Evans is an hour or so away, so just followed the path of least resistance 😮
...and I could get the Giant for £1150.
shoulda gone for the new Croix De Fer 30 Jamie 🙂 ....maybe next year !
Nah. Getting an Arkose next year 😳
I really should send JamesO a bottle of wine for all the questions I asked him, with no end product from me.
😆
Yeah what did you choose ?
Where's that angry tea drinker gif? : )
(Nice bike though Jamie.. really!)
Jamie, if you don't buy the goods at the end there's a £35 per question fee. Reckon you owe Jameso more than a bottle of plonk 😉
It's ok, I just spent his £50 Evans voucher : )
Jamie, if you don't buy the goods at the end there's a £35 per question fee. Reckon you owe Jameso more than a bottle of plonk
Hmm. Good point.
Can anyone help me wrap up a vineyard?
It's ok, I just spent his £50 Evans voucher : )
Wait...so I don't get the voucher just because I didn't buy they bike?
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😛
Righto Jamie, it's a showdown on a bridleway near you. My CAADX is imminent... Back to back test methinks...
Good god. You got a tcx too? I am definitely not going to be in the clique if my plans work out.
Good god. You got a tcx too? I am definitely not going to be in the clique if my plans work out.
After we got you the special TCX Ownerz jacket as well 🙁
Jamie bought the TcX
Jamie bought the TCX,
Jamie bought the TCX
Jamie bought the TCX..
Yay!!
Well you are gonna Luv It. 😀
I've just hacked mine on the first stage of the Wessex Ridgeway and its pretty damn perfect 8)
So I did my cross race on my Giant tcx SLR 1 and i really enjoyed it. Some people do take it very seriously though ! But overall it was a great atmosphere. Finished in the middle of the field so well chuffed. Now to choose some lighter wheels . . . . . . .