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I'm toying with the idea of getting a bike to commute 11 miles to work (950ft of climbing involved) but also like the idea of taking it off road or on mixed surface rides. I'm vertically challenged at 5ft 5" so need something small/tiny. Probably 2nd hand and about£500.
Any pointers on what to start looking at?
until you said small i'd have said Cotic X but they only do medium upwards
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Genesis Croix De Fer would be my first choice, like the idea of disks on a daily commute bike.
Cantilever brakes:
Specialized Tricross, Kona Jake, Surly Cross Check.
My Forme hiver cx is fantastic, bought that for £500 (plus 50 for shipping) and I have ridden that around dalby, whinlatter and the fred whitton, I think it can handle pretty much anything really!
I'm the same height and went for a 48cm caadx (£750 new I think, in a sale). It's done a 100 mile road ride, been on all the local converted railway lines and cycle paths, and some pretty rough farm tracks/fire roads. Cannondale was recommended by a friend who said they did smaller sizes than most other companies - it's small but there is no toe overlap like on a 46cm Ridley that I tried.
Pretty much any cx bike will do what you ask, folk will recommend what they ride.
In that case I'm going to recommend a Boardman CX Team
You want to ask yourself a few questions, and then just go for the bike that fits the answers. For example, do you want discs? Ally or steel frame? Bar top levers? etc etc.
In that case I'm going to recommend a Boardman CX Team
Might just be me, but at 5'7" I found the small boardman cx, the smallest they do, still a bit long with it's 540mm TT. The OP being 5'5" might have similar issues....well, that and you won't be getting one for £500.
I have a caadx and love it. I commute every day (50/50 on/offroad) on it and use it at the weekends for proper offroad. At the end of the month I'll be riding the 3 peaks on it.
How crap are canti brakes?? Had em years ago on an old spesh mtb but cant remember. Will probably end up increasing my budget by at least 2x as per usually happens with bike acquisitions.
Cantis will be fine, but if your spending more than £600/£700 then you should be looking at disc brakes. If you do double your budget, there are loads if decent options around the £1k mark. Pinnacle Arkose 3, Planet-X XLS, Cannondale CAADX 105, Merida Cyclo Cross 4, Boardman CX 2014 (when they are announced), Giant TCX SLR 2, plus others I have forgotten.
On a different tack, the maxxis raze tyres I use are quite good on the road as well (considering the 35psi they are at) because of their tread pattern which has a ridge down the centre.
My son picked up a new condition Spesh Tricross on Gumtree, genuine sale, for £350. I have the disc braked version and it makes an excellent all-round bike so I would recommend that if you can find second-hand.
Genesis Croix de Fer is terribly heavy.
Pinnacle Arkose 3, Planet-X XLS, Cannondale CAADX 105, Merida Cyclo Cross 4, Boardman CX 2014 (when they are announced), Giant TCX SLR 2.....
.....Specialized Tricross, Genesis Vapour Disc, Genesis Croix De Fer, Ridley Xbow, Whyte Charing Cross, Felt F65x, Rose Bikes do some as well, Trek CrossRip Elite, Kinesis Pro 6 etc.
Basically, sub £500 you will get a very nice 2013 bike second hand, but possibly with Cantis. Nearer 1k you can get a new disc CX bike, or one second hand for about £6/700+. The only issue is finding one for sale in a small size.
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/surly-straggler-complete-bike-3988-p.asp
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Or a cross check, or a macho man, or a vaya, or a warbird, or a Fargo with slicks.
And sizing on the surly is not a problem, they go down to a 42cm frame and up to 62cm.
Found a few specialized tricross with 48cm frames on the bay... Will have a look at the others too.
Thanks for the suggestions
I'm looking for a CycloCross too - and having looked around, the Planet X XLS takes some beating. Is there anything of a similar price range that offers so much?
Its certainly the only carbon framed one at 1K, Firmo.
Apart from that there are a few ali ones at a similar price and spec.
Anyone actually ridden the Giant TCX SLR2 yet?
I have a Kinesis Crosslight. On a good day I enjoy it... very harsh ride though.
Anyone actually ridden the Giant TCX SLR2 yet?
Don't think they are even in the country yet.