Suggestions for Cyclocross £1000-£1300

Ghuraba · 21 Sep 2014 at 12:22

Hi there

I am looking to get a Cyclocross and have little knowledge on these bikes. My friend has a Giant TCX SLR2 from 2014 which cost him about £1000. I like the look of the Giant TCX SLR2 2015 version for £1300.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/tcx.slr1/19221/77316/

Is this worth the money or are there any better value bikes around?

Thanks

Michael

[DOD]Asprilla · 21 Sep 2014 at 12:52

Are you using it for racing or social rides / commuting?

Ghuraba · 21 Sep 2014 at 12:56

Social rides & commuting.

grudas · 21 Sep 2014 at 13:07

"Planet x London road" is a very nice bike for the money! Or whyte Suffolk!

[DOD]Asprilla · 21 Sep 2014 at 13:26

Mudguards are uncool. There's no two ways around this. It's always been the case and it always will be.

But for commuting, unless you like a big brown stain up the back of your jacket and your bag, you want something you can fit guards to.

What grudas said, or an Pinnacle Arkose, or a Charge Plug 4 or 5.

I've just been through exactly the same process and got the Plug 5.

InQ · 21 Sep 2014 at 17:41

Rose Pro DX with Ultegra 6800.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-dx-cross-3000-2014/aid:692362

Phil99 · 22 Sep 2014 at 19:59

I have a TCX SLR2 2014. It's a very good bike, though I'm currently without it due to a cracked frame

I've had a look at the 2015 offerings and I'm not really sure what else you get for your £250 going from the TCX SLR2 to TCX SLR1? Looks like it's just 15mm Thru Axle for the wheels and a different crankset? The brakes and main components are identical.

For the money the Rose that InQ posted looks pretty good, personally I'd avoid the Planet X London Road due to the brakes - the BB7s are nowhere near as easily adjustable as the Spyres.

Phil99 · 22 Sep 2014 at 20:04

Also, if ordering online beware of sizing. They come up a little big - I have a Giant Defy in size L, but I'm a M/L on the TCX.

There's a thread specifically on this bike here: http://forums.mtbr.com/cyclocross/my-new-2014-giant-tcx-slr-2-a-885113.html

Saundie · 23 Sep 2014 at 10:09

The Rose does look very good for the money - it's about 1.5kg lighter than the Arkose Three. I'm not sure if the brakes are actually better than the BB7s on the Arkose Three, but I would expect that the brakes on the Arkose Four would be even better as they're hydraulic. It's a shame Evans don't list the weights of their Arkose models, it'd make it a lot easier to decide between them.

Wilkotron · 23 Sep 2014 at 13:52

I've got a Cube Cross Race Disc. It has been faultless since I got it almost two years ago.

I use it mainly for riding through our local nature reserve, which is 20 miles long. I used it to commute for over a year though and it is stupidly fast in both environments.

http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/road-race/cross-race/cube-cross-race-disc-blacknrednblue-2015/

InQ · 25 Sep 2014 at 19:07

Seems Rose have updated their models to 2015 and the spec now cannot be changed.....poor from Rose, one of their main plus points over other brands!

Eliot · 26 Sep 2014 at 16:25

You can on other bikes, Think its just those

arknor · 26 Sep 2014 at 21:08

I've got a merida cx with shimano 105 that can take full mudguards.
700 miles later and all I've done with it apart from ride it is clean it. (actually I lie I re greased the crank shaft)

well worth the £999 it cost

Dis86 · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:48

I've got a Whyte Saxon Cross. Great little bike!