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for c£1000.
Steel frame seems more sensible than ally - for comfort
S/s or geared?
Cantis or discs?
What should I put on my shortlist?
Plan is to be able to ride straight from my house to hills around Bromley and Croydon, linked as much offroad into it as possible
if your not fussed about discs then got to say I am really enjoying my new crosscheck.
Steel and both single speed or geared is fine. Plus loads of room for fatter tyres.
Get a ride on a genesis croix de feux, fantastically well thought out bikes, well specced and great to ride!
i've got a pompino - lovely bike.
i've recently added a front disc to it and it's amazing. i now want a rear one too.
I wouldn't even be entertaining buying a canti braked bike. cantis can be set up with enough power & modulation - but after a couple of weeks of dry weather or a few wet hours riding the pads are so worn the set up has gone & needs to re-done.
I have a 52cm Merida CC4 for sale if interested? Must of only done 300 miles on it. I think it's a 2008 model.
if i was going steel frame i'd probably want to offset some weight so i'd probably SS it and maybe wang a disc brake on the front and leave the back canti for the best compromise, i can lock the back up with my canti's and they are lighter than disc.
i'm looking forward to proper lightweight cx disc brake setups to come along. but for now i'm still with my canti crosslight 5t
My Singular Kite is awesome! Steel and Singlespeedable too:-)
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6904665439_16830183fd.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/6904665439/ ]Singular Kite[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
Well there are ally MTB's and even Ally rigid MTB that are comfortable. Steel frames can be "more" comfotable but it depends on the frame design. As I run a shop I am going to recomend the one's I sell, Tifosi CK1 -campag kit for £900.
Other than that Gensis "make" a decent one (own brand of Madison so they don't make it just like every other bike brand).
Canti's are fine of road is you have decent pads. If you have never tired single speed then it is difficult to recomend it. I love SS but not everyone does.
Cotic X with carbon fork and front only disc/canti rear.
I have an X with disc front and canti rear as described above.
It's almost faultless.
I have a Cotic X with discs front and rear. A lovely bike to ride.
Just buy a Boardman.
+1 Boardman
+2 Boardman. Not steel but I've had no comfort issues - very capable bike.
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