Cyclocross - Recommend me a bike

Hi all,

I am looking to buy a bike in a few months. I want to have drop handlebars, disc brakes, rear rack mounts and as light as possible.

I am wondering what makes of bike I should be looking at that offer this. I am posting it here because after looking around it seems cyclocross bikes offer what I want.

Thanks,

Daven

In terms of the bigger brands, the only non-cross bike that comes to mind is the Trek Portland and Schwinn DBX, of which I think the Trek would be lighter.

For cross bikes: Lemond Poprad (discontinued), Salsa La Cruz, Soma Double Cross are all good places to start.

Are you dead-set on disc brakes? If not, you can get a little more bang for your buck, with a lot more choice.

the reason i want disc brakes is because this bike will be used as an all weather commuter. at the moment i have a road bike, and i find the rim brakes just don't cut it in the rain (of which we get a lot in london!), so i am pretty set on disc brakes.

thanks for the ideas though.

There's also a thread on this topic in commuting.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=368115

trek portland - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/urban/portland/portland/

cannondale cross xr7 - http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8XR7C.html

Brodie Ronin '08 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2008/2008_bikes/ronin.php
Brodie romax '07 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/romax.php
brodie ronin '07 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/ronin.php

lemond poprad disc - http://www.lemondbikes.com/bikes/cross/poprad_disc.php

rocky mountain sherpa - http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2007/TOURING/sherpa-10.aspx

kona sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/08_sutra_w.htm

orbea diem drop disc - http://www.orbea.com/ingles/interior.php?tipo=1&familia=6&gama=13

focus cross disc - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyclocrossbikes/cyclocross_bikes_cross_disc.php

devinci caribou2 - http://www.devinci.com/10479_an.html

raleighusa sojourn - http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427

rei novara element - http://www.rei.com/product/744808

co-motion mazama - http://www.co-motion.com/mazama.html

rocky mountain Solo CXD - http://bikes.com/2008_preview/2008_preview.html

rotwild rs1cx - http://www.rotwild.de/en/ (street bikes section)

fixie inc. pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/2008/download/pureblood.html

maxx roadmaxx custom (you choose the color and parts at the LBS and the factory puts it together, i.e., not a custom frame) - http://www.maxx.de/frmain_bikes.htm (road - roadmaxx custom)

Salsa la Cruz - http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html

Opus Sentiero - http://opusbike.com/site_route.php?lang=en (see 2009 bikes > road > cyclocross)

don't forget

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/outlaw.htm

Looks pretty nice for the price. I'm getting the Ti version today and will change over to Disc brakes soon.

wow thanks for all the links, most don't have eyelets for a rear rack though :( seems to be only the trek portland and the kona sutra.

i guess this can continue in the thread above.

thanks

Raleigh Sojourn. It's a touring bike, but meets all of your requirments.

only problem is I am based in the UK, the sojourn only seems to be available in the US

I'm getting a cyclocross bike for the same reasons but I've decided to not worry about disc brakes (partly because I want the option of a front rack) but I live in bristol so it's even rainier here and I'm not expecting to many problems tbh.

Personally though I'm probably going to import a motobecane from U.S.A. depending on how much shipping turns out to be and they do a disc version. I would be getting it if the disc fork had rack eyelets.

P.S. If anyone knows of some tough cyclocross forks (preferably carbon) with rack and disc mount's then please let me know, it would be my dream bike.

...P.S. If anyone knows of some tough cyclocross forks (preferably carbon) with rack and disc mount's then please let me know, it would be my dream bike.

Phone Condor Cycles -- they have exactly that. CF fork (Metal steerer tube - not sure if it's Al or Steel) with canti studs, DB tabs, front rack and mudguards mount points.

http://www.condorcycles.com/store.html

Kind of looks like this but in CF with DB tabs as well.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk//images/products/rav2thorn_xl.jpg

There are other options though, e.g., SJS cycles, Wiggle, etc. (Don't go near Evans Cycles)

The Salsa La Cruz would be the bike I would get in your situation, you can always add a rear rack by using p-clamps. I'm guessing there are also some bike available to you that we can't get over here in the US. While at Interbike, I REALLY liked the Stevens cross bikes out of Germany. Great spec for a great price! BTW- The Lemond Poprads are no longer made, however they are now marketed under the Gary Fisher brand for '09...

Well I've found a fork that has disc and rack mounts that I like the look of so that sorts out which bike I'm buying (Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw). Won't get the fork now but just like to know I have it as an option because I want to do some light touring with it at some point.

It was either that or the tricross but that is cheaper (even including shipping cocts - its about 100-150 pounds cheaper (and I'm pretty sure its not £150 less bike... well I hope it's not, looks good as far as I can see, someone shout if it's actually crap) than the entry level tricross depending on what the weight/size comes out to be) and tbh the Fantom cross just looks soooo badass, I'm not sure I can resist. Now all I've got to do is sort out the size and talk nicely to some american relatives.

Just wondering before I do buy it... is there a reason why I see very few cross bikes with disc brakes? Is theres something I should be aware of (I admit, I'm a cycling newbie when it comes to what everyone does, I just know how to ride them)

For UCI Elite racers, disc brakes are illegal. I don't think you have have anything to worry about....:)
Chris

Well I've found a fork that has disc and rack mounts that I like the look of so that sorts out which bike I'm buying (Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw). Won't get the fork now but just like to know I have it as an option because I want to do some light touring with it at some point.

It was either that or the tricross but that is cheaper (even including shipping cocts - its about 100-150 pounds cheaper (and I'm pretty sure its not £150 less bike... well I hope it's not, looks good as far as I can see, someone shout if it's actually crap) than the entry level tricross depending on what the weight/size comes out to be) and tbh the Fantom cross just looks soooo badass, I'm not sure I can resist. Now all I've got to do is sort out the size and talk nicely to some american relatives.

Just wondering before I do buy it... is there a reason why I see very few cross bikes with disc brakes? Is theres something I should be aware of (I admit, I'm a cycling newbie when it comes to what everyone does, I just know how to ride them)

that bike looks so sweet. also has a rear rack mount....:D might have to look around to see if i can get it in the UK on the cycle to work scheme - highly doubt it though :(

The Salsa La Cruz would be the bike I would get in your situation, you can always add a rear rack by using p-clamps. I'm guessing there are also some bike available to you that we can't get over here in the US. While at Interbike, I REALLY liked the Stevens cross bikes out of Germany. Great spec for a great price! BTW- The Lemond Poprads are no longer made, however they are now marketed under the Gary Fisher brand for '09...

i really like the look of the bike but i have been told that adding a rack when one is not meant to be added can damage the frame.

^^ Just get a post mounted Rack. They hold pretty good weight and no worries about damaging the frame^^

Well I've found a fork that has disc and rack mounts that I like the look of so that sorts out which bike I'm buying (Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw). Won't get the fork now but just like to know I have it as an option because I want to do some light touring with it at some point.

It was either that or the tricross but that is cheaper (even including shipping cocts - its about 100-150 pounds cheaper (and I'm pretty sure its not £150 less bike... well I hope it's not, looks good as far as I can see, someone shout if it's actually crap) than the entry level tricross depending on what the weight/size comes out to be) and tbh the Fantom cross just looks soooo badass, I'm not sure I can resist. Now all I've got to do is sort out the size and talk nicely to some american relatives.

Just wondering before I do buy it... is there a reason why I see very few cross bikes with disc brakes? Is theres something I should be aware of (I admit, I'm a cycling newbie when it comes to what everyone does, I just know how to ride them)

You can seriously ship it to me if you need to and I'll repost it to the UK. my brother has a sweet deal w/ fedex that would defray the costs. I promise not to open it and steal your brakes and wheels ;-)

rain on parade/

Before you get too excited about the Outlaw, remember that the rear is spaced at 130mm. There is a noticeable lack of disc brake rear hubs (and prebuilt wheelsets) at that size. If you intend to use the stock wheels forever, then it won't be a problem. Also, there are options to respace some 135mm mountain hubs to 130mm, and build your extra wheelset out of those. It's just something you should consider, and one of the reasons I might go with something similar, but spaced 135mm.

Other than that, it's a fine bike with a fantastic spec for the price. I race a red Fantom Cross, and have nothing but good things to say about it.

/end rain on parade

i really like the look of the bike but i have been told that adding a rack when one is not meant to be added can damage the frame.

There is a thread on the commuting forum about using a cross bike for that, a guy in Oklahoma has a La Cruz that he had an Old Man Mountian rack (stout) mounted on using P-Clamps and he has NO issues... I've honestly never heard p-clamps will damage the frame, I imagine if they are just metal with no rubber coating they could scratch the frame but all the ones I've seen are rubber coated.

What threeflys said - there are pictures on this forum of people with racks on specialized FSRs (mounted using p-clips).

Personally I'd stay away from seatpost racks but that's prejudice talking and nothing to do with actual experience.

oh cool, well it seems bikes without eyelets are now back on my list! Just have to be careful about the length of the chainstay though.

I don't want a seatpost rack, I don't think they'd be stable enough.

The Opus sentrino also appears to have everything your after.

I'm searching for basically the same thing so I'll try and post stuff as I find it.

cool thanks. yes although i can't seem to find it anywhere in the UK, which sucks :(

cool thanks. yes although i can't seem to find it anywhere in the UK, which sucks :(

There's always another option :p :D

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus_Mares_Disc_2009/5360037601/

Do what I'm doing and get someone you trust to ship it over.

Can I do a sub hijack thread though, just wondering, does anyone know of any cross bikes/frames in aluminium with disc and canti and rack mounts (I know, alot to ask but I need a verstile bike because I can only afford/have room to store one)

Do what I'm doing and get someone you trust to ship it over.

Can I do a sub hijack thread though, just wondering, does anyone know of any cross bikes/frames in aluminium with disc and canti and rack mounts (I know, alot to ask but I need a verstile bike because I can only afford/have room to store one)

You might have better luck buyign a frame and building it up. I think therre are a number of either 29er or 700c frames that have most of those options, not sure about all though.

There's always the p-clips option for rack/mudguard/accessory mounting if there are no braze ons.

I'd be hapy to build it up (why I mentioned frames as well as bikes), but am not to keen on clipping stuff to my bike.

how hard is it to build up a bike?

Lol, my desicion just got alot harder. I've decided that I could probably do without discs, I've never had them before and been fine... well, most of the time. And have also decided I'll just get a rack which will fit to the brake mounts rather than needing eyelets... basically I now have choice of every cross bike out there... this could take some thinking about,